Star Tech Journal
Issue: 1987-February - Vol 8 Issue 12 - Page 12
STAR*TECH Journal
February 1987 (12}
SKEE BALL: Potential Lethal Hazard
By Todd Erickson
Sumnit Amuserrent
St. Paul, Minnesota
Atari GAUNTLET Color Ram
T'shooting Tip
By Mark Sherman, Field Service Mgr.
Atari Ganes Corp.
Milpitas, California
Skeeball has been around for years without
any fatalities to my knowledge. This game
now, however, is my number one choice for
the roost dangerous game on location!
PROBLEM: When troubleshooting a color Ram
problem, sometimes the self test screen
will be blank.
PROBLEM: The ball-release solenoid is 110
volts and may be touched by a child
reaching under the side of the game. I was
informed at the recent AivDA by Skeeball,
Inc. personel that everyone who operates
SKEEBALLS knows to protect the sides!
SOLUTION: In order to see the self-test
message, use your video probe on the
address pins to the color Rams. This will
enable you to read the message of which
Ram is bad.
They offer no information regarding this
problem. They feel that there is no
problem, as no one has been killed yet.
No one was ever killed in a space shuttle
mission until the last Challenger mission!
FACI': The solenoid is fused at 1/2 anp,
which is enough current to kill 500
children.
Bally Midway Switching
Power Supply Mod
By Greg McKay, Field Service Rep.
Bally Midway Mfg. Co.
Franklin Park, Illinois
SUBJOCT: Condor Power Supply (#SP1016)
We have found that on Bally Midway video
games, we are operating the Condor Power
SUpply at just under the mininum load
required for proper operation. Because of
this, when turning on a game, the Condor
Power Supply may oscillate on and off.
To correct this situation, change resistor
R9 to a 750 ohm, 1/4 watt. R9 is located
under the heatsink for Q2. It is necessary
to renove Q2 and the heatsink to change
*
Merit Sex MATCH'em UP/Quik Kit
By Jim Kelly, Service Manager
Merit Industries, Inc.
Bensalem, Pennsylvania
Sex MATCH'em UP is another Merit System
Winner. The game was an instant success at
the November AivDA show in Chicago.
Sex MATCH'em UP is available in a Quik Kit
at your local Merit distributor. The kit
will convert all Merit countertops with a
13" monitor.
Contents of the kit include Eproms,
joystick, control panel harness, all
necessary hardware and installation
instructions for your Revision "E-1" or
"F" circuit board. (Not available for "C"
or "D" boards. ) Any handy
operator/technician can install this kit
in less than an hour's time.
R9.
Sex MATCH' em UP is also available in the
fabulous new countertop, dedicated game,
or full conversion kit.
Also, please note that we have put a
ninety (90) day warranty on the Condor
Power Supply.
As always, any service problems can be
answered by calling Merit CUstomer Service
at 1-800-445-9353.
~
February 1987 (12}
SKEE BALL: Potential Lethal Hazard
By Todd Erickson
Sumnit Amuserrent
St. Paul, Minnesota
Atari GAUNTLET Color Ram
T'shooting Tip
By Mark Sherman, Field Service Mgr.
Atari Ganes Corp.
Milpitas, California
Skeeball has been around for years without
any fatalities to my knowledge. This game
now, however, is my number one choice for
the roost dangerous game on location!
PROBLEM: When troubleshooting a color Ram
problem, sometimes the self test screen
will be blank.
PROBLEM: The ball-release solenoid is 110
volts and may be touched by a child
reaching under the side of the game. I was
informed at the recent AivDA by Skeeball,
Inc. personel that everyone who operates
SKEEBALLS knows to protect the sides!
SOLUTION: In order to see the self-test
message, use your video probe on the
address pins to the color Rams. This will
enable you to read the message of which
Ram is bad.
They offer no information regarding this
problem. They feel that there is no
problem, as no one has been killed yet.
No one was ever killed in a space shuttle
mission until the last Challenger mission!
FACI': The solenoid is fused at 1/2 anp,
which is enough current to kill 500
children.
Bally Midway Switching
Power Supply Mod
By Greg McKay, Field Service Rep.
Bally Midway Mfg. Co.
Franklin Park, Illinois
SUBJOCT: Condor Power Supply (#SP1016)
We have found that on Bally Midway video
games, we are operating the Condor Power
SUpply at just under the mininum load
required for proper operation. Because of
this, when turning on a game, the Condor
Power Supply may oscillate on and off.
To correct this situation, change resistor
R9 to a 750 ohm, 1/4 watt. R9 is located
under the heatsink for Q2. It is necessary
to renove Q2 and the heatsink to change
*
Merit Sex MATCH'em UP/Quik Kit
By Jim Kelly, Service Manager
Merit Industries, Inc.
Bensalem, Pennsylvania
Sex MATCH'em UP is another Merit System
Winner. The game was an instant success at
the November AivDA show in Chicago.
Sex MATCH'em UP is available in a Quik Kit
at your local Merit distributor. The kit
will convert all Merit countertops with a
13" monitor.
Contents of the kit include Eproms,
joystick, control panel harness, all
necessary hardware and installation
instructions for your Revision "E-1" or
"F" circuit board. (Not available for "C"
or "D" boards. ) Any handy
operator/technician can install this kit
in less than an hour's time.
R9.
Sex MATCH' em UP is also available in the
fabulous new countertop, dedicated game,
or full conversion kit.
Also, please note that we have put a
ninety (90) day warranty on the Condor
Power Supply.
As always, any service problems can be
answered by calling Merit CUstomer Service
at 1-800-445-9353.
~
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).