[Roadtrip] It's not a race (anymore), it's a RALLY

[level42]

Yeah, that wouldn't be unlikely at all...

Ully, put your meter in AC voltage and put the test leads on both legs of the capacitors (the big one, but also try the smaller one's).
Then power on the machine.

Let's hear what you measure....

(the thing is that the capacitor is supposed to filter out any "left over" AC voltage. When the capacitor is bad (like Lascheck mentions) you will see a certain AC voltage there.

After you've done the AC voltage measuring switch the meter to Voltage DC measuring for the big capacitor..and let's see the result.

[level42]

Make a pic of the pots and check the value (ohms).

[Superully]

Ully, put your meter in AC voltage and put the test leads on both legs of the capacitors (the big one, but also try the smaller one's).
Then power on the machine.
Let's hear what you measure....

AC measured the big silver capacitor right next to the edge connector. result: 0.47 volts
AC measured the smaller silver capacitor right next to the big silver capacitor. result: 0.014 volts

 

After you've done the AC voltage measuring switch the meter to Voltage DC measuring for the big capacitor..and let's see the result.

switched to DC took some measures:

DC measured the big silver capacitor right next to the edge connector. result: 8.7 volts
DC measured the smaller silver capacitor right next to the big silver capacitor. result: 5.1 volts

[ckong]

Guys, you should be on skype or something like that. This topic shows almost live communication at the moment. and it's great to follow.

Ully, don't feel ashamed, I'm sure I know much less of electronics then you do. But them again, I'm great in business finance and control.  

Edit: this is exactly what I mean, there was another new post while writing my brief message.  

Edit2: This road trip report completely derails! 

[Superully]

BTW:

THX FOR YOUR HELP GUYS

[Superully]

But them again, I'm great in business finance and control.  

and i'm a pretty good teacher i think

[Laschek]

Maybe flicking that switch does the trick? 

[Brry71]

question: where's the ball?

<silly mode>Well, you did transport it laying flat... Didn't they roll out of the cab? </silly mode>

[Superully]

You should check if the board gets a good +5V. I recommend measuring at the voltage regulator (that thing surrounded by the heatsink). This part should be the last part in the +5V circuit and give out, well, around +5V DC...

just did the measuring at the voltage regulator (thx for the link, sascha): steady at +5.10 volts. so we're good here!

[Laschek]

So everything's fine, congratulations!  

[Superully]

something else wrong with the board then?

[Etienne MacGyver]

Replace "SW 2" 

[level42]

Well, there's a shit-load of 74xx logic chips there that can have a fault.

It's probably only one or two, but the difficulty is: which.

Here is where my limits start to come up.

Oh, and I never meant to be "insulting" guys (you know). Just want to prevent explosions

[Superully]

i've found a guy in the usa who's specialized in PONG board repairs. he agreed to have a look at my RALLY board and do the necessary repairs. would you guys send it off?

or is there someone around here who wants to have a go at it?

@sascha: who repaired your boards?
@andré: do you think speleo would be able to fix it?

[Laschek]

@sascha: who repaired your boards?

If I can't fix it myself then nobody can  
Just kidding, we had our Super Bug repaired by Speleo and where very pleased with his service, I would ask him before sending it off to the US.

Then we had sent our Crystal Castles PCB to Golytronic in Pforzheim..., I am sure he would be able to repair your PCB... Thing is we never got our board back...  

That's one reason why I try to learn as much as possible and do it myself...