Taito Colony 7, power supply problem?

doodlesdaddy

New member

Donor 2011
Joined
May 1, 2010
Messages
894
Reaction score
8
Location
Charleston, South Carolina
Well i took some time to look into why Colony 7 isnt working. On powerup, marquee works, coindoor lights work, monitor comes on, with screen all white. There is a game board, and a cpu board. The led lights on the game board will not come on unless the main power plug on the cpu board is disconnected. When i plug that plug into the cpu board, the led lights go out. Playing with the plug, i heard a few game sounds, but somethings not right. The power supply board has a few cracked fuse holders, but the voltages are all correct.
Im reading that you cant just install a switcher in this game? It requires 5, -5, 12, and -12 volts. Modern switchers dont have -12 volts i guess????

I did reseat all the chips and plugs, coin counter also works when coins inserted. Im thinking i need those led lights on the board to stay on, but the manual isnt very specific. Also, there was no battery, so i installed a remote battery holder.

Any suggestions apprexiated as usual!!!!!!!
 
Im thinking the voltage is getting through to the boards, hence the leds coming on, then going off, then coming on, etc. I think the problem is the amps arnt getting all the way to the board due to the two cracked fuse holders. i might be selling the game, but if not right away, im gonna get some new fuse holders. Im also trying to figure out if a modern switcher can be installed, which would also correct the possible amperage loss.
Still soliciting suggestions.
 
Cool,
i had read that somewhere also, i have a switcher, im gonna have to figure out the wireing, my question is, i know the AC input comes straight from the line, but all the DC voltages are made in the switcher? Is the transformer eliminated then?
Basically, is this correct..... Wire AC into the switcher, then wire the game in to the respective switcher output voltages? i.e. 5, -5, and 12 v, and putting the -12 onto the -5 outputs? big transformer is not used?
 
The transformer supplies power to the monitor and the marquee lighting via a built in isolation coils in the transformer. Switchers cause problems with settings and scores saved in the CMOS with older Williams games.

The -12V is only used for the sound circuit and -5V will work. The sound will be a little softer.

If the fuse holders are cracked or not making a solid connection, the power supply will often show those symptoms. The voltage is getting through, but the current is limited by the bad connections so the voltages drop to compensate. Try fixing the fuse holders and see if that will fix the problems. Also check the fuse ratings against the manual. Very often operators just slam whatever fuse they have handy and that can cause issues as well.

If you go to install a switcher, remember the coin door power connector also supplies the ground connection to the 3 diagnostic switches on the coin door. I don't know if Taito followed the same wiring as Williams, but it is likely.

Also when tapping the switcher power, unless this is just to see if it will work, don't just put a power plug on it and plug it into the utility socket on the power brick. That is an unswitched socket and you will end up having to unplug the game to power it off. Tap into the main power lugs on the transformer to access 120VAC switched power for the switcher.

ken
 
If you're going to rig it up, try to stay clean.

Try to cut the DC power supply wires in one place and think about hooking up some 1/4" disconnects (fully insulated)

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104018

This way, if someone wants to fix the supply later, it's no big deal. I've never seen anybody convert BACK from a switching supply to an original though.

Good luck-
Kerry
 
Thanks guys, i think the game is sold, so i should probably quit messin with it!! Im pretty sure the broken fuse holders are the problem. If the buyer changes his mind next week, ill go ahead and work on it and fix it before i sell it so i can try it out. Who know, i may like it and add it to my own collection!!!
 
I've never seen anybody convert BACK from a switching supply to an original though.

Good luck-
Kerry

I do it all the time. It usually involves adding a little extra wire to replace what was chopped off, unless they chopped it right at the connector. There is usually a few inches to spare in the harness and if it is chopped right at the connector then there is no problem putting a new connector back on later.

The cleanest way of doing it is to take a 15 pin header soldering wires to the approriate pins and crimping terminal connectors to the other ends of the wires. That way the harness remains intact and you can switch back later.

ken
 
Back
Top Bottom