Reproduction Playchoice Timer LED

EvilEmuOfDoom

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Before I got my PC10 cab I had a single-monitor PCB and a bunch of games that I was going to build into my own custom PC10 Bartop. At the time, I didn't have a wiring harness or Timer LED and had trouble finding them so I decided to make my own. I had got as far as doing a full PCB layout for the timer and even sourcing parts when I unexpectedly got a single-monitor PC10 in a trade. Despite being 95% done, I shelved the project until one night last week when I didn't really have anything I could do for my MVS project. So, I took about an hour and finished up and ordered a prototype PCB since I already had most of the parts. They showed up today, I soldered it together real quick and tested it out ;).

Despite a couple very minor tweaks (I need to move the digits .5mm-1mm) and not having the correct 12-pin header yet, it came out great! I doubt this is something that will be in demand much since it's kind of an oddball part but I figured it would help at least a few people out at some point.

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PC10_Timer_NewVsOld.jpg


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Wow. Great work! The playchoice replacement and accessories parts have really flurished every since I have started collecting Playchoice stuff. It's great to see.
 
Wow. Great work! The playchoice replacement and accessories parts have really flurished every since I have started collecting Playchoice stuff. It's great to see.

Yeah and me and friend of mine are working on a pcb that would input credits for 9999 seconds, before time is over, refills the credits. Also, when controls are inactive for whatever amount of time (except if paused), it starts going throught the different games. Maybe 2 minutes each, go back to main menu, select next game for two minutes and so on.

It'll require hacking the harness but ho well. Unless someone wants to make another bios that looks like the original and have lots of options.
 
Yeah and me and friend of mine are working on a pcb that would input credits for 9999 seconds, before time is over, refills the credits. Also, when controls are inactive for whatever amount of time (except if paused), it starts going throught the different games. Maybe 2 minutes each, go back to main menu, select next game for two minutes and so on.

It'll require hacking the harness but ho well. Unless someone wants to make another bios that looks like the original and have lots of options.

Not to be a downer, but why not just enable free play? I can see a possible use to automatically switch games to prevent burn-in though.
 
Before I got my PC10 cab I had a single-monitor PCB and a bunch of games that I was going to build into my own custom PC10 Bartop. At the time, I didn't have a wiring harness or Timer LED and had trouble finding them so I decided to make my own. I had got as far as doing a full PCB layout for the timer and even sourcing parts when I unexpectedly got a single-monitor PC10 in a trade. Despite being 95% done, I shelved the project until one night last week when I didn't really have anything I could do for my MVS project. So, I took about an hour and finished up and ordered a prototype PCB since I already had most of the parts. They showed up today, I soldered it together real quick and tested it out ;).

Despite a couple very minor tweaks (I need to move the digits .5mm-1mm) and not having the correct 12-pin header yet, it came out great! I doubt this is something that will be in demand much since it's kind of an oddball part but I figured it would help at least a few people out at some point.

IMG_1492.jpg


PC10_Timer_NewVsOld.jpg


IMG_1487.jpg


IMG_1483.jpg


IMG_1486.jpg

Another great job, man!
 
Not to be a downer, but why not just enable free play? I can see a possible use to automatically switch games to prevent burn-in though.

The problem is, when it's on free play, the led will always show 9999. Might as well unplug it. And on free play, games won't switch automaticaly.
 
The problem is, when it's on free play, the led will always show 9999. Might as well unplug it. And on free play, games won't switch automaticaly.

I see. Kind of an enhanced free play. Cool. Would be nice to switch on and off either of those features from behind the coin door so that you can change settings without pulling off the back panel or the cpo.
 
Thanks guys :)

Yeah and me and friend of mine are working on a pcb that would input credits for 9999 seconds, before time is over, refills the credits. Also, when controls are inactive for whatever amount of time (except if paused), it starts going throught the different games. Maybe 2 minutes each, go back to main menu, select next game for two minutes and so on.

It'll require hacking the harness but ho well. Unless someone wants to make another bios that looks like the original and have lots of options.
After reading the dialog between you and DackR, I see how that could be a really cool project. I think a lot of people would want to avoid hacking up their harness though. However, what about just doing it inline? If you did it at the connectors to the main PCB there would need to be two versions to accommodate single and dual monitor cabs. However, if you did it so that it hooked up inline before the Timer and also at the CP, it would require more wire and connectors adding cost but would be more universal I think.

Ideally, the BIOS mod would be the way to go. I wish I had the knowledge to do that one!
 
If you did it at the connectors to the main PCB there would need to be two versions to accommodate single and dual monitor cabs. However, if you did it so that it hooked up inline before the Timer and also at the CP, it would require more wire and connectors adding cost but would be more universal I think.

most of the dual monitors have the timer on the top screen so I think this would be more of a single monitor thing
 
most of the dual monitors have the timer on the top screen so I think this would be more of a single monitor thing
Ah, it's funny that I didn't even notice that!

I placed an order for a small batch of real PCBs :). I also got some Red and Blue 7-segment LEDs to try out. I think Red would look really good and fit well with the rest of the cabinet. I plan on getting good pictures of the Red, Green, and Blue LEDs installed this weekend compared to the original Yellow-Green LEDs which are incredibly hard to find. The only part I'm waiting on is the stupid AMP right-angle header. I found a place that has some but they have a $100 and 100 piece minimum order :(.
 
The PCBs arrived a day early and look great! I'm trying to source the correct right-angle connectors though, grrrr. I might have to start testing alternatives soon. I placed all the parts on one board to test out spacing and how it lines up compared to the original and it's dead-on! Once I get some connectors I can test these new boards. I have 7-Segment LED digits in Green, Red, Blue, and the exact original "yellow-green" (which are freaking hard to find).

EEOD-PC10Timerv10PCB.jpg

EEOD-PC10Timerv10.jpg
 
This looks great! I might get one in blue just cause its so cool!
That's the one I'm most curious to see actually :). Although, I would think Red might end up looking the best considering it's so close to the black and read marquee. The the original "yellow-green" seems an odd choice when I think about it.

I'm planning on trying to get pictures of the different ones installed in the same lighting and from the same distance.

I'm hoping I can find alternative LEDs that are the same color or really close to the originals though. I lucked out finding that first batch of 20 for $1 each. I've found another place that could get me 40 more but they wanted $10 EACH!!! Insane... So for now it looks like I might have to limit the 100% original yellow-green ones to 5 boards unless I can find more for a reasonable price.
 
Interesting .. I never thought the timer would be in such demand.. Especially since I still have the one I've tried to sell for a couple of years. Looks cool
 
Was just curious what the allure of the PlayChoice system is?

For me, I could never stand the machine when it was in the arcades because you could pretty much never play a full game, it was always a rip off to me. It was basically just one big advertisement for getting the home system.

With the VS system, Nintendo had a legitimate arcade system that gave players a run for their money, and it made sense to me. And there were some differences to the home version that made it worth playing. I just picked up a VS Red Tent system. Too bad they didn't convert more of the home games for the VS system, but it's like they gave up and settled for the PlayChoice instead.

Another annoyance was that because it was basically the home system, many of the games were just ports of real arcade games which were a huge let down, even Nintendo's own games like the original Mario were inferior. It was sort of a technology going backwards...

SH
 
Was just curious what the allure of the PlayChoice system is?

Interesting rant. :D

Well, the Playchoice has a superior RGB PPU which makes graphics more sharp, clear, and clean. Playing on arcade controls is superior to the home system where the sharp edges of the controls dig into your hands. Not to mention that you can switch between 10 games on a whim. With an adapter you can play just about any game that was originally available for the NES console. However, I would agree that the appeal of the Playchoice just wasn't there as a timer based system, but for use as a home arcade system it is quite fun.

The timer is easily disabled with a jumper. There are also mods that can also be used to coin up the machine in intervals for those who like the timer look without the annoyance of actually being limited by it.

I play mine quite often while my NES collects dust.
 
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Interesting .. I never thought the timer would be in such demand.. Especially since I still have the one I've tried to sell for a couple of years. Looks cool
It's not really, I had put the design together because I needed one and couldn't find one anywhere (I must have missed yours somehow, LOL). This is also why I'm not making many of them. I expect they'll be available on my website for a while ;).

Was just curious what the allure of the PlayChoice system is?

For me, I could never stand the machine when it was in the arcades because you could pretty much never play a full game, it was always a rip off to me. It was basically just one big advertisement for getting the home system.

With the VS system, Nintendo had a legitimate arcade system that gave players a run for their money, and it made sense to me. And there were some differences to the home version that made it worth playing. I just picked up a VS Red Tent system. Too bad they didn't convert more of the home games for the VS system, but it's like they gave up and settled for the PlayChoice instead.

Another annoyance was that because it was basically the home system, many of the games were just ports of real arcade games which were a huge let down, even Nintendo's own games like the original Mario were inferior. It was sort of a technology going backwards...

SH
I dunno, I really like mine. I see your points although I had never played one in an arcade so I guess I never ran into any frustration with them. Right now however, it's one of my favorites.

Interesting rant. :D

Well, the Playchoice has a superior RGB PPU which makes graphics more sharp, clear, and clean. Playing on arcade controls is superior to the home system where the sharp edges of the controls dig into your hands. Not to mention that you can switch between 10 games on a whim. With an adapter you can play just about any game that was originally available for the NES console. However, I would agree that the appeal of the Playchoice just wasn't there as a timer based system, but for use as a home arcade system it is quite fun.

The timer is easily disabled with a jumper. There are also mods that can also be used to coin up the machine in intervals for those who like the timer look without the annoyance of actually being limited by it.

I play mine quite often while my NES collects dust.
One other good thing about the timer is that I can give my kids a definite time limit, LOL.
 
After not being able to find a reasonable source for the original connector, I found an alternate that works really well. It's actually two 6-pin 2.5mm pitch Molex connectors and it works amazingly well :).

And here is the final version next to the original:
IMG_1546.jpg
 
Thanks guys :)

After reading the dialog between you and DackR, I see how that could be a really cool project. I think a lot of people would want to avoid hacking up their harness though. However, what about just doing it inline? If you did it at the connectors to the main PCB there would need to be two versions to accommodate single and dual monitor cabs. However, if you did it so that it hooked up inline before the Timer and also at the CP, it would require more wire and connectors adding cost but would be more universal I think.

Ideally, the BIOS mod would be the way to go. I wish I had the knowledge to do that one!

Kind of late to respond but yeah. Agreed. But for sure I'll make it plug and play. Maybe many plugs... but we'll work on that this summer. If there could be a very good bios that would still look authentic that would be great.
 
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