Space Invaders with vibrating picture

Vectorman

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Guys,

I have a Midway Space Invaders with an odd picture problem. The picture just vibrates very rapidly. It is worst in the center, and gets more normal toward the left and right sides, but still is vibrating everywhere.

I am fairly certain that the problem is in the monitor and not the boards. But tell me if you know I'm wrong.

It has one of the standard 19V1001 or whatever it is...the standard monitor that was in a S.I.

Any ideas?

John
 
Not sure about the cause (I suspect a monitor issue as well) but i picked up a cap kit for my SID. Have you done any work on the monitor?
 
Usually a symptom like that is the big cap on the monitor, which is really I believe 3 caps in a can. If you do some searches you'll find a source for the caps and even a guy who can recreate the original looking cap.
 
Usually a symptom like that is the big cap on the monitor, which is really I believe 3 caps in a can. If you do some searches you'll find a source for the caps and even a guy who can recreate the original looking cap.

I'm gonna agree, I'd first check that big can cap.....and it's actually four caps in one package :). Most Space Invaders came with the Wells-Gardner V1000 series or a Motorola M series. Check which you have....this cap is different between the two. If you have another working black & white of the same model, you could swap the cap to rule it out (but this is a pain in the butt). I've still got a good stash of NOS Motorola can caps, if you find you need one of those.

Edward
 
Yeah, definitely does sound like a problem with the can cap. Remember, it's just multiple capacitors in one package, and you can very easily replace it with individual capacitors of the proper ratings.

-Ian
 
Yeah, definitely does sound like a problem with the can cap. Remember, it's just multiple capacitors in one package, and you can very easily replace it with individual capacitors of the proper ratings.

-Ian

Good info, all. I had no idea as I haven't messed with my SID yet but suspect it will need the fix mentioned.
 
Yeah, definitely does sound like a problem with the can cap. Remember, it's just multiple capacitors in one package, and you can very easily replace it with individual capacitors of the proper ratings.

-Ian

Yup, if you can narrow it down to just one of the caps inside the multi-cap....you can snip the leg off it's rail of the multi-cap....and just replace that one cap. It can get messy and ugly, but very effective.

Edward
 
This is GREAT guys! Thanks so much for the help. I will dig into this today.

I'm trying to get this thing working down in Tasmania before the show (Game-on 2.0) opens in two days, and I'm not sure if there is a good source here for caps. But if there is, I'll find it!

I really appreciate the help on this.

John
 
I've still got a good stash of NOS Motorola can caps, if you find you need one of those.

Edward

Edward,

I've got the Wells 19v1001 in this. It has the can with 4 caps in it. Do have any of those? I'd be interested in one. If not, I'm unsure of the values to use to replace the inner 4. They are mostly obsolete values. I suppose they don't need to be precise, but what do you think? They have:
A: 800uF @ 125V Red (whatever Red means)
B: 200uF @ 100V
C: 200uF @ 50V
D: 20uF @ 200V

Let me know...
John
 
These are power filters. Value is not critical. For this application, you can always safely go up in value. Just round up to the next most common modern value:

A: 820uF
B: 220uF
C: 220uF
D: 22uF

Voltage can also be higher, of course. Honestly, for that 800uf one, you can probably get away with 1000uf.

The "red" designation on the can is probably referring to a red colored terminal or mark on the bottom of the can. Usually they use shapes to designate the different caps - half circle, square, triangle, etc.

-Ian
 
Edward,

I've got the Wells 19v1001 in this. It has the can with 4 caps in it. Do have any of those? I'd be interested in one. If not, I'm unsure of the values to use to replace the inner 4. They are mostly obsolete values. I suppose they don't need to be precise, but what do you think? They have:
A: 800uF @ 125V Red (whatever Red means)
B: 200uF @ 100V
C: 200uF @ 50V
D: 20uF @ 200V

Let me know...
John

Sorry John, I don't have any Wells-Gardner caps left. The Motorola multi-cap values are slightly different...
A: 600µf100V
B: 400µf125V
C: 200µf 50V
D: 20µf200V

Edward
 
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