Re: Atari Tempest issue

You keep talking about edge connectors, the usual problem on tempest is the
ribbon cable connectors between the main and aux boards. Where the pins
are soldered to the boards develop very hard to see cracks in the solder.
Usual fix is to wick off the solder and resolder with 63-37 solder (Radio
Shack calls it "high-tech" solder)---best done with the ribbon cable
removed. 63-37 has a high resistance to cold solder joints.

On Wed, May 9, 2012 at 11:48 PM, Elliot Braun <elliotsphone@gmail.com>wrote:

> Ok, here is the latest.
>
> I re-did the interconnect and did a continuity test and all is well. I
> re-did the connector on the aux board (blade connector that attaches to
> side of the PCB) with all new crimp on ends.
>
> Voltages on Aux are: +22 is +23.6 -22 is -23.5 +5 is +5.06 -5 is -5.06
> Voltages on main board are same +-.01
> Voltages on Audio board are same +- .01
> all voltages taken from the loop lugs
>
> Here is a strange thing: if I disconnect the edge connector on the aux
> board the game fires up in to a semi demo mode, full color but things seem
> to be missing.
> When connected it is same old thing, in test mode EPQM is up no response
> to spinner. In normal mode spot killer activates.
>
> I am thinking a new aux board may help but it seems so strange that
> everything is out on the aux!
>
> Is the 23.5 voltage the cause? If so how do I fix it?
>
> Thank you all for the help so far. Hopefully soon I can try to avoid the
> spikes again!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Elliot
>
>
>
> On Tue, May 8, 2012 at 5:28 PM, Matt J. McCullar <mccullar@flash.net>wrote:
>
>> **
>> All those letters make me think that the CPU board believes the Auxiliary
>> board isn't connected. Make SURE the Aux board is getting +5 volts.
>> Reseat all the socketed chips on the Aux board (as in, pull them out, clean
>> contacts, reinstall them). Clean contacts on edge connectors with an
>> eraser. Reseat the Molex connectors on the Reg/Audio II board. (Also
>> reseat all the EPROMs on the CPU board.)
>>
>> Avoid spikes!
>>
>> Matt J. McCullar
>> Fort Worth, TX
>>
>>
>
>

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Received on Thu May 10 16:14:26 2012