Setting Up a Test Bench

nerdygrrl

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OK, I have the collecting bug bad. I have three non working units and at least three boards that I am unaware of their status.

I want to setup a test bench. What do I need? What do you guys use?

Monitor, Jamma harness.....
 
I currently use one of my Jamma cabs plus a set of harness extenders for a test bench. I can plug any Jamma and most classics (via adaptors) into the cab and test functions. However, here is my long term plan:

A rolling table (got it) with a Jamma harness and monitor (got 'em) that I slightly modify in order to allow me to install and run two boards at once. This will give me the ability to test non-working boards along side a fully working board expediting repairs.

If you are really serious about testing/repairing boards then you will need the following tools:

Multimeter
Soldering/desoldering equipment
Logic probe
Logic pulser
Oscilloscope
ROM burner

and most importantly, patience... lots and lots of patience.
 
I have a 13" monitor, a filter/fuse/iso set up on a board to power it, JAMMA harness with 2 players worth of controls, and a power supply. I also keep a selection of solder eye edge connectors and a host of clip on jumpers. I use those for non JAMMA boards so I can wire them up on the table. That covers the basics to get them powered and viewable.
 
If you are really serious about testing/repairing boards then you will need the following tools:

Multimeter
Soldering/desoldering equipment
Logic probe
Logic pulser
Oscilloscope
ROM burner

and most importantly, patience... lots and lots of patience.

I'd say even if you're not serious, you'll need a multimeter. And if you're even slightly serious, soldering/desoldering equip and a logic probe. I agree that the o-scope and EPROM programmer fall into the "really serious" camp, as do other specialized equipment such as an ESR tester, ring tester, CRT rejuvinator, logic analyzer, signature analyzer, and Fluke micro-system troubleshooter.

Some other, lower-tech, items you also may consider: various pin extractors, pin crimping tools for common molex and amp pins, some jumper wires with clips on the ends, good automatic wire strippers, a lighted magnifier, an IC extrator, some plastic TV adjustment tools, and a pair of Xcelite 170M diagonal cutters :p
 
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I'd say even if you're not serious, you'll need a miltimeter. And if you're even slightly serious, soldering/desoldering equip and a logic probe. I agree that the o-scope and EPROM programmer fall into the "really serious" camp, as do other specialized equipment such as an ESR tester, ring tester, CRT rejuvinator, logic analyzer, signature analyzer, and Fluke micro-system troubleshooter.

Some other, lower-tech, items you also may consider: various pin extractors, pin crimping tools for common molex and amp pins, some jumper wires with clips on the ends, good automatic wire strippers, a lighted magnifier, an IC extrator, some plastic TV adjustment tools, and a pair of Xcelite 170M diagonal cutters :p

Damn...I must be uber serious...I think I literally have every item on that list, including an extra o-scope to use as a vector test monitor.
 
I currently use one of my Jamma cabs plus a set of harness extenders for a test bench. I can plug any Jamma and most classics (via adaptors) into the cab and test functions. However, here is my long term plan:

A rolling table (got it) with a Jamma harness and monitor (got 'em) that I slightly modify in order to allow me to install and run two boards at once. This will give me the ability to test non-working boards along side a fully working board expediting repairs.

If you are really serious about testing/repairing boards then you will need the following tools:

Multimeter
Soldering/desoldering equipment
Logic probe
Logic pulser
Oscilloscope
ROM burner

and most importantly, patience... lots and lots of patience.

I have one of those medical carts that I use for mine. Actually, I have 2. Need to get rid of the other... :)

Interested?
 
...thread for people new to the hobby (like me!)

It's starting to show some age, but the introductory page at pinrepair is a good all-around intro to basic tools/techniques/equipment:

http://www.pinrepair.com/begin/

Don't be bothered by the fact that it's "for pinball" if you're more interested in video games. Solid state pinball machines have pretty much all of the same electronic anatomy as video games, except for lacking a monitor (well, a few pins even have that). Just ignore any reference to a "coil" or "solenoid" and you've got an intro to video game repair. (And if you have a Q*Bert, don't ignore the coil/solenoid bits: you've got a knocker coil.)
 
Don't forget a well equipped repair bench is worthless if you don't have a well stocked parts bin. You don't have to go out and buy one of everything but when you need some IC chips and sockets, buy a few extras and put them in the parts bin.:)
 
You will also need a decent sized bench, fixing boards takes a fair amount of space, especially if you ever work on multi board games where you have to fold them out to power them up and get access at the same time. Aim for at least a metre of clear space, more is always better.

Heres the gear I have on my bench, or under it.

Arcade PSU hard wired to JAMMA biscuit.*
Commodore 1084S monitor wired to the JAMMA biscuit for AV.*
Control wires connected to a floating DIN socket so I can plug in a controller box I made when needed.
Soldering Iron*
Desoldering Station**
Oscilloscope**
Eprom burner*
Eprom eraser
Logic probe*
HP Logic comparator
Fluke 9010A Troubleshooter with Z80 and 68000 pods.
Sets of component drawers

If you are just starting out then the minimum requirements are the items marked with a * above. Once you have those you should really get the ** items as soon as possible, they make your life so much easier.

If you have a desolder station then you really should start hoarding scrap boards, having to buy parts when you need them is expensive and very slow, if you have a dozen or so scrap boards then you rarely have to buy anything. When you do have to buy a part you should buy 10 and build up a stock.

Oh yes, plus tonnes and tonnes of patience but thats already been mentioned.
 
I posted this picture to emphasize my point. This is my bench out of all the stuff on here and most of the stuff mentioned in this thread is here. The three things I could not work with out are
1. The parts bins
I cant believe how quickly I massed parts
2. The panavise
It only takes shorting a board once or having to wrestle the board while soldering to convince you.
3 The paintbrush
Man!!! PCB's Get dusty!

Oh and for extra credit A flux pen and 99% alcohol
 

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