STAR*TECH Journal
February 1987 (4)
Arachnid ENGLISH MARK
Darts Service Tips
By Gene Harlan, Chief Engineer
Arachnid, Inc.
Rockford, Illinois
4. Coin meters were added to the 4500
Series Game at S/N 3850. To instigate this
change, the top power supply board was
changed to provide an extra +5 VOC
connection. The new power supplies will
work with older ganes, but the older ones
won't work in the new games -as the wires
which are supposed to have +SVOC will be
grounded preventing coin-up from occuring.
SUBJECT: 4500 Series Games
The following service tips should help
with possible problem areas on the 4500
Series Game.
5. If a problem occurs on coin-up or
when any sound happens on the game,
re-solder or replace C19 (1 ufd/50V). It
appears that if this capacitor is not
functioning properly, that the sound is
getting into the power supply causing
logic problems.
1. Make sure that the screws on the top
printed circuit board, of the power supply
that hold the 5V regulator in, are tight.
If these screws come loose, the regulator
looses its ground connection -allowing the
unregulated 11 volts to go directly to the
logic board. The roost sensitive part is
the Eprom, and it, if not other integrated
circuits, can be affected. We have
switched in production to a screw with a
lock washer. Adding a lock washer to
existing ganes \t,'OUld also be a good idea.
2. If a problem occurs with the target
lamp so that it stays on continuously, the
cause is usually that the triac (under the
power supply. CAUTION - 120 VAC PRESENI'!
UNPLUG BEFORE SERVICING) has shorted. ftk>st
reports indicate that it happens when a
bulb bums out. When the new bulb is
inserted, it stays on all the time. When a
bulb bums out, the filament breaks and
can fall across the posts in a fashion
that causes a much higher current draw
than normal -which will make the triac
short.
Replace the triac with an SC146D (we've
had the best luck with Motorola) . We are
currently investigating what seems to be a
problem with triacs made by Thonpson
labeled BTB 10400 B. Initial reports
indicate a higher than normal failure rate
in the field.
3. If the target larnp doesn't come on at
all yet the lamp is good, the problem
usually lies with the MCX::3030 opto
isolator located under the power supply
(CAUTION - 120 VAC PRESENI' - UNPLUG BEFORE
SERVICING!).
For further questions or assistance, you
may call 800/435-8319.
In Illinois, 815/654-0212.
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