What could cause Space Invaders to crash? Heat?

cwales

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Ever since it's been warmer out, my Space Invaders machine has been crashing once in a while. When it's like 80 in here, it crashes, you reset it and it crashes again within a few minutes. Other times resetting it lets it work for an hour or so.

By crashing I mean there is a strange combination of sounds and the picture is all scrambled, kind of as if the v-hold was screwed up. It sounds as if it's playing a shooting noise, explosion and ufo noise all at once.
 
If you are measuring it with a DVOM you may not see the problem... If the supply is flaking out on you after its been running for a while it can cause this issue as the reset circuitry is on the power supply board.

If you could camp a scope on the +5 for a while you may be able to see it dropping out.
 
Start with the caps... then the regulators and power transistor...

Usually shotgunning the supplies is pretty successful. Also before you go down this path make sure your cab connections are good.
 
Try also resetting the two boards. Mine was crashing. I pulled the boards apart and put them back together and everything has ben fine.
 
If you are measuring it with a DVOM you may not see the problem... If the supply is flaking out on you after its been running for a while it can cause this issue as the reset circuitry is on the power supply board.

If you could camp a scope on the +5 for a while you may be able to see it dropping out.

Not too mention AC ripple.

Edward
 
I MIGHT have solved my problem after testing all sorts of stuff and reseating everything. I think it was this big old power strip I have thins plugged into. I plugged it directly into the wall and it didn't crash all day.. We'll see what tomorrow shows.
 
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