STAR*TECH Journal
~
Various And Sundry Problems
Concerning Electronics, Part 3
By
Sam Cross
Godwin Distributing Co.
North Little Rock, Arkansas
STAR'icT:OCH JOORNAL has asked Sam Cross to
reply to an assortment of service problems
most often encountered in everyday
maintenance of coin-operated electronic
entertainment equipnent. What follows is
the third in an ongoing series of
discussions identifying the most coII100n
trouble areas as seen by the service
coITmunity of our Industry.
PREVIOUS ISSUES: Power supply voltage
measurements and adjustments. Also, p:>wer
terminals on ICs -identification and
precautions. Line filters and MOVs.
Circuit board tie-downs.
HF.AT SIRCS AR> VENl'IIATI~
On some games, this is a very important
consideration. STAR WARS, older Sega X-Y
~. games, and alroost any high heat generating
video game would fair far better with a
well ventilated cabinet. This also means
cabinets which already have fans in place,
yet the fan grills have been stopped up
with dust.
Rernerrber this observation about engineers
of video games. 'Ibey are very smart in
terms of designing games, but may be
somewhat disregarding of actual operative
conditions. Besides, they can't take into
account every p:>ssible operating condition
in the short time they are given by
marketing to get a product out into the
marketplace. So give them a break.
If you, in your situation, find that a
game cabinet is very hot inside, the need
may arise to install a fan which draws
cool air in from below -and blows it out
at the top. Remember that cool air is
denser and sinks in relation to hot air.
In addition, if there is any particular
part inside the cabinet which is a high
·heat generating unit or is heat prone, you
may have to install an extra fan which
blows over this unit alone, in addition to
the one which draws air through the
~
February 1987
(11)
cabinet. You may end up having a video
game which doubles as a vacuum cleaner
dust bag, but you will probably have fewer
problems in the rooney earning area.
FUSE AND PLm mTA
If the fuses inside a game are not marked
clearly as to what value they are on the
surrounding mounting area, you may want to
pack in your tool case a package of blank
labels you can use to mark fuse holders as
to their proper fuse value. Be sure to
include SB or FB for slow-blow or fast-
blow respectively.
This helps you and others as to what
should really be in that fuse slot. Also,
label conversion kit logic boards "parts
side" and "solder side" on the wire
harness connectors so you or other
servicemen don't plug it in backwards.
This also goes for dedicated games which
have many "unkeyed" plugs. You may want to
label them for other technicians sake, if
not your own. Who knows, you could even
forget yourself. More later.
COIN-OP NAIL LISTS
USA: Over 11,000 names of coin-operated
equipment owners, operators, technicians,
suppliers, Jobbers and distributors.
Newly updated. $575.
EUROPE: Over 2,500 Large operators and
distributors of coin-op equipment. $300.
Lists ere supplied
Lebel& in zip-coda
deliverable. Order
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Merchantville NJ 08109.
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for only $21 eachl Order now.
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