Tempest / WG6100 Monitor

raz0red

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Hey all-

I am having trouble with my Wells 6100 on my Tempest. The monitor currently has the "shakes" (I will post a video later tonight). For the most part it isn't too bad when playing the game, but seems to shake quite a bit more when you are at the high score screen or it is displaying the demo screen w/ additional text at the bottom.

I installed the "deluxe" cap kit from Bob Roberts w/ the additional parts. The only thing that I didn't install was the pot (R918) that is part of the high voltage PCB. I also didn't install the extra transistors that are listed as now being too expensive (Q603, Q604, Q703, Q704).

After reading through old forum posts, I decided to measure B+. It hovers between 176 and 179 but doesn't ever remain stable. There are slight fluctuations all the time.

One more quick note, I tested Tempest w/ a 6100 from my Space Duel and it is completely stable, so the problem appears to be isolated to the monitor.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

--Chris.
 
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Hey all-

I am having trouble with my Wells 6100 on my Tempest. The monitor currently has the "shakes" (I will post a video later tonight). For the most part it isn't too bad when playing the game, but seems to shake quite a bit more when you are at the high score screen or it is displaying the demo screen w/ additional text at the bottom.

I installed the "deluxe" cap kit from Bob Roberts w/ the additional parts. The only thing that I didn't install was the pot (R918) that is part of the high voltage PCB. I also didn't install the extra transistors that are listed as now being too expensive (Q603, Q604, Q703, Q704).

After reading through old forum posts, I decided to measure B+. It hovers between 176 and 179 but doesn't ever remain stable. There are slight fluctuations all the time.

One more quick note, I tested Tempest w/ a 6100 from my Space Duel and it is completely stable, so the problem appears to be isolated to the monitor.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

--Chris.

The video will help get the ball rolling so people know what the exact issue is. A couple things. I know that the HV fluctuates when the monitor is drawing. To get the most stable readings, you are supposed to do the test with the game board disconnected according to the FAQ. Of course I don't think the manual requires that step.

Do both your HV units have the cage on them? This can cause minor interference sometimes.

-VJ
 
I have heard that the pots on the pcb that control he x and y can get a little crusty and cause the pic to jump sometimes. Might try adjusting them back and forth some. Is the image just shifting up and down or are certain parts of the picture shaky. If so which quadrant as it can help diagnose the problem.
 
When testing your B+ you're supposed to have the monitor on for ~15 minutes. Your B+ is acceptable.
Does your monitor have the HV cage on it?
Adding a ground between the monitor, the PCB and the ARII is also a good idea. Speaking of ground you do have the ground pin on the plug in right?
 
Yes, the HV cage is present. All of the plugs also appear fine (ground, etc.). Also it works fine w/ the other monitor (Actually it is from the Space Duel I bought from Deadly... heh) so I am assuming everything external to the monitor itself is ok.

Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLQVXTLQOJE

Unfortunately, my iPhone does a terrible job picking up the subtle shakes. However if you fast forward the video to :30 and look at the bottom of the screen, where it displays the copyright info and "Bonus Every", you can see it shake. It is actually doing that on the entire screen, but it isn't as bad as that particular area. You will also notice when it zooms after clearing a level, that there is some oddness on the right side of the screen, after the "avoid spikes" (at approximately :25).

--Chris.
 
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Check the zener diode in the HV cage. I'd replace it. ZD102? maybe. I haven't dug around in the HV section lately. Also I think this thread is supposed to be in the monitor section.
 
Check the zener diode in the HV cage. I'd replace it. ZD102? maybe. I haven't dug around in the HV section lately. Also I think this thread is supposed to be in the monitor section.

I think you might be referring to ZD902, which was replaced w/ the cap kit.

Ugh, sorry about posting to the wrong section...

--Chris.
 
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Yes, the HV cage is present. All of the plugs also appear fine (ground, etc.). Also it works fine w/ the other monitor (Actually it is from the Space Duel I bought from Deadly... heh) so I am assuming everything external to the monitor itself is ok.

Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLQVXTLQOJE

Unfortunately, my iPhone does a terrible job picking up the subtle shakes. However if you fast forward the video to :30 and look at the bottom of the screen, where it displays the copyright info and "Bonus Every", you can see it shake. It is actually doing that on the entire screen, but it isn't as bad as that particular area. You will also notice when it zooms after clearing a level, that there is some oddness on the right side of the screen, after the "avoid spikes" (at approximately :25).

--Chris.

The oddness on the right side is corrected in the later ROM images. It has been said that you should update the ROMs because that issue really stresses the monitor. I still need to update mine. I will probably do the tempest tubes mod when I update mine.

I will watch the video a little later to see if there is anything I can add.

-VJ
 
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The oddness on the right side is corrected in the later ROM images. It has been said that you should update the ROMs because that issue really stresses the monitor. I still need to update mine. I will probably do the tempest tubes mod when I update mine.

-VJ

Ah, that makes sense. Although, the monitor from the Space Duel doesn't exhibit that issue w/ the same boardset... odd.

I might purchase the extra transistors (Q603, Q604, Q703, and Q704) and see if they help.

--Chris.
 
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Found my post to RGVAC bck in January of 2008. After extensive Googling, these were possible solutions I found and tested when I had that same issue. I shall relist them here for future Googlers. BTW, none of these fixed my problem and I am now working on that very same monitor again however with a different issue.

1. Possibly the Zener diode in the HV section. You listed it as ZD902.

2. Wrong resistors being used in the R610/R710 position of the Deflection board. These need to be NON-Inductive (NI)

3. Screen adjustments off and perhaps the Bip pots and Lin pots need adjusting via the setup mode.

4. Bad caps on the incoming power lines into the HV section.

5. 2nd anode wire (fat red one) is too close to the yoke

6. HV cage missing

7. Cold solder joints

8. On Star Wars machines, R81 (I think) needs to be increased from 10K ohms to 20K ohms on the ARII board. (Please google for this to make sure I have the right resistor listed)

9. Ripple on the Low voltage side of the Defl. Board Change C100-C103

10. Removing the .47uf box caps next to R610 and R710. (These were removed in later revisions of the board)

11. Bad grounds

12. Interference from Transformer (Heck its in the bottom of the cabinet separated by the monitor frame and a shelf of wood so I don't think so, but listed nevertheless)

13. Degaussing coilisn't turning off completely


what did I leave out?
 
Found my post to RGVAC bck in January of 2008. After extensive Googling, these were possible solutions I found and tested when I had that same issue. I shall relist them here for future Googlers.

Nice, I will check each of these out.

2. Wrong resistors being used in the R610/R710 position of the Deflection board. These need to be NON-Inductive (NI)

Did you replace these resistors?

--Chris.
 
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