Tron video problems (intermittent)

scamp

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I'm starting to notice that when I start my Tron, sometimes the machine comes up with garbled graphics. If I restart the machine (turn off the power and back on) it comes up fine.

I'm assuming this means something is going...Can someone recommend how to troubleshoot this?

Thanks!!
 
I'm starting to notice that when I start my Tron, sometimes the machine comes up with garbled graphics. If I restart the machine (turn off the power and back on) it comes up fine.

I'm assuming this means something is going...Can someone recommend how to troubleshoot this?

Thanks!!

Oh yeah, This is usually a connection problem and not real easy to track down. Component cooler is probably the best for this issue.

While the game is working you use this "freeze" type spray to find the bad chip/connection. I have some boards that do this and I will replace the sockets.
 
I might try reseating all of your docketed chips and/or replace the interconnect ribbon cables. I had the same issue with Journey and this did the trick.
 
i'd start by replacing the interconnect cables and then go from there.
 
Where do you even measure that on these MCR games? They're not labeled all nice and pretty like Atari games.
There's a filter cap that's pretty easy to measure both sides of on the SSIO board. I'll see I can dig up a photo.

EDIT: Not my game, I grabbed this off the interwebs, but you can just measure on both sides of this guy right here (circled in red):

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Measuring that filter using VAC I get 0.0035...and this is when the image is running properly...

So maybe it's time for me to do a replacement power supply?

It's funny that this happens when the machine is cold. Once it's running and I power cycle it, it comes up properly.....

I've included an image this time of the garbled screen....
 

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Measuring that filter using VDC I get 0.0035...and this is when the image is running properly...

So maybe it's time for me to do a replacement power supply?

It's funny that this happens when the machine is cold. Once it's running and I power cycle it, it comes up properly.....

I've included an image this time of the garbled screen....
Either I told you wrong, or there's something funny about the measurement. At .0035V, nothing would happen at all. Maybe I gave you wrong direction--I'll check one of mine and verify. Are you putting the negative lead on one end of the cap and the positive on the other? Double check DC and not AC also.
 
Either I told you wrong, or there's something funny about the measurement. At .0035V, nothing would happen at all. Maybe I gave you wrong direction--I'll check one of mine and verify. Are you putting the negative lead on one end of the cap and the positive on the other? Double check DC and not AC also.


I tested at VAC...I wrote it wrong......Should I test it at VDC?
 
Either I told you wrong, or there's something funny about the measurement. At .0035V, nothing would happen at all. Maybe I gave you wrong direction--I'll check one of mine and verify. Are you putting the negative lead on one end of the cap and the positive on the other? Double check DC and not AC also.


Okay I re-tested with VDC (not VAC) and got 4.93.....

So does this mean I need to adjust the power supply, or should I just replace it??

Thanks!
 
Okay I re-tested with VDC (not VAC) and got 4.93.....

So does this mean I need to adjust the power supply, or should I just replace it??

Thanks!


I found directions on the web for testing the power supply and adjusting the voltages..I'll try this and see what I can do...
 
I found directions on the web for testing the power supply and adjusting the voltages..I'll try this and see what I can do...

Ok so I tested most things though the directions reference "g" which was not on the diagram...

Here is what I learned:

+5 read 5.16 ...ok
+12 read 11.97 low...I tried to up the pot but it was all the way up
-5 couldn't test..couldn't find connection "g"

I tested the battery and while running the current was fine...When the machine was off it seemed off a bit...

So does this mean it's time to replace it with a switching supply?
 
Okay I re-tested with VDC (not VAC) and got 4.93.....

So does this mean I need to adjust the power supply, or should I just replace it??

Thanks!
I would adjust the power supply until you read 5.1 volts. There are two adjustments on the power supply board, one for +5 and one for +12. Try to adjust the +5 to achieve 5.1V at the filter cap. (Really 5.0 should be fine, but I usually go a little over just in case.)
 
A similar thing happens (or happened, fingers crossed) to my machine. When purchsed, everything was fine. Shortly after, it started with the startup problem. I get a different garbage screen than you, but similar problems. Power cycling generally doesn't help, but after 1-5 minutes it'll reset on it's own and everything is fine. I sent it off to cdjump. He had it working fine for him, but it still did it every so often. Then all of a sudden, the problems just stopped and has pretty much come up 100% of the time first try.

With my MCR PS +5 maxed, I can only get about 4.95 VDC on my SSIO board and when it's up that high the game plays but all the sounds are way off (high pitched, cut in/out). I actually have to lower it so that it's ~ 4.85 VDC for it to play properly. I know this was very little help to you in solving the problem, but 30 years will do quirky things to electronics. If cdjump doesn't think a new switching PS will solve the problem, I'd take his word for it. You could look for a cheap MCR and try it out.
 
I would adjust the power supply until you read 5.1 volts. There are two adjustments on the power supply board, one for +5 and one for +12. Try to adjust the +5 to achieve 5.1V at the filter cap. (Really 5.0 should be fine, but I usually go a little over just in case.)

I tried this but cannot get the resistor on the board to go up to 5v....while the power board will go up a bit higher...so I set the +5 on the power board to 5.1...and left it at that...

Again it seems to be garbled upon a cold-start...once the machine has been on briefly and the machine is reset, all works fine...the machine plays and sounds fine...

My main concern is will this get worse???
 
wasnt there a purple wire going to the ps that alot of people cut? has something to do with the reset circuit.
i had a tron and did it all man..
 
Maybe a little bit of noise but it sounds like something to do with the reset. If you remove the purple wire from the power supply does it still get stuck? If not then the reset circuit is going bad.

Measuring that filter using VAC I get 0.0035...and this is when the image is running properly...

So maybe it's time for me to do a replacement power supply?

It's funny that this happens when the machine is cold. Once it's running and I power cycle it, it comes up properly.....

I've included an image this time of the garbled screen....
 
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