Due to a large amount of spamers, accounts will now have to be approved by the Admins so please be patient.
×
- 0
IGNORED
System 11b Reset Issue - Swords of Fury
-
Recently Browsing 0 members
- No registered users viewing this page.
Question
razorsedge
This is an issue with the game since I have had it, and is intermittent, I'm having some trouble identifying the precise cause.
The game plays "fine" for extended periods, then eventually presents with resetting issues that seem to be linked to the sound system somehow (for extended periods).
I have not as yet been able to definitively pinpoint the cause of it, it always seems to "come good" without any known specific intervention. I have carried out many checks and done quite a bit of testing of various kinds across several of the boards, including checking connectors and reflowing suspect looking joints. My trouble is I have limited specific experience with troubleshooting of the system11 boardset, I have however been looking through all the reference material I can find both online and in manuals/guides. I found no logs that quite match this issue. I have found info on a variety of components to try replacing, on the sound board, PSB, and the MPU board, but rather than shotgunning I thought I would put this out there.
Here is what I know of so far, roughly in the order of discovery:
-When I got the game the speaker panel speakers were disconnected (only cabinet speaker connected), it seems as though someone previous could not find a proper solution to this issue either. The game played fine, but would reset if the volume was turned up. I reconnected the backbox speakers to see what difference this made, it made little difference. Work fine with volume at minimum (which incidentally is still fairly loudish?), reset when loud sound effects come up with volume elevated (instant reset where credits are displayed within a second of the cutout, then GI relay flashes). Disconnect Power to J3 on sound board and play all week without sound, reconnect and resets consistently. Exactly the same results by disconnecting the speakers out connector on the sound board.
<proceeded to repair a multitude of (possibly) unrelated issues including lamp matrix and repin many connectors on interconnect board and Aux driver board>
-Investigate Power reset circuits on MPU board. Everything appeared in good visual condition including all pads, and with no alkaline battery damage to the board or components. Doing the ground pin 40 reset overide test prevented all resetting, but also eliminated ALL audio output from the machine.
-Checked power supply voltages with game in attract mode and found solid 5.00v, -14v , but where there should be +12v I was reading +9v or just below. Checked 18 millifarad smoothing cap (on PSB) by desoldering one lead and checking with meter it reads 17millifarad and visually in good shape, so I figured sufficient. When running the AC ripple was 0.59vAC across the cap which I figured is acceptable as well. Also disconnected and checked the two 100microfarad caps above it while I was there, good. Found a connection that looked suspect where a lead is (barely) soldered to the board from the 2N6057 on the heatsink and resoldered that. Reassembled but still reading 9v on the 12v pins.
-Disconnected output connectors at top of board and powered game on, find the +12 pins now all read +12.7vDC unloaded.
-Reconnect to the MPU only (with sound J3 disconnected) and power up to read 10.1v on the J17 connector. Play games all week. Reconnect sound J3 then power up and read 9v or just under on the 12v line at all three boards and the test points. I figured the test points being the same as the line rules out header pads and connector pins, and the pads visually look fine also. With the speakers connector removed, the voltage is still 9v but game does not reset.
-Attempting to play game with meter clipped to 5v reads solid 4.97v and doesn't fluctuate. The same but with meter on 12v point reads 8.9 volts and doesn't fluctuate more than 0.1v as resets occur (to 8.8v at worst).
-Waving the Thermal camera around (in attract mode) reveals no connectors that are even warm. The chip at U3 on sound board is running at around 50-55 degrees. The TDA2002's on the sound board U23 is running slightly warmer than U22 (27 and 22 deg respectively, ambient inside shed is around 19). Nothing else noteworthy to me. Seems normal except <maybe> the U3. Removed and refitted all socketed chips on the sound board, no change.
Right now the game is unplayable even at minimum volume, but if history is anything to go by the game will again become playable at some point. This may be due to temperature or atmospheric conditions? ... it is bloody cold out just now (2deg outside Lol), and some dampness in the air. But anyway, the time is here to get to the bottom of it once and for all.
I am to the point of replacing some components and have a hit list, but no clear or obvious priorities so in no particular order. Some of these components I do have on hand.
-1458 chips on MPU and/or Sound
-YM2151 OPM Sound chip U3 (sound board)
-YM3012 small socketed chip U1 (sound board)
-TDA2002 audio amps U22-U23 (sound board)
-Electrolytic caps on sound board (all/any)
-Electrolytic caps on PSB (other than tested)
-2N6057 on PSB
Is the 2v drop on connecting MPU in any way "normal"? , is there anything obvious on the MPU that would cause such a voltage drain?
Is this all possibly just "weakness" on part of the PSB?
My PSB has no markings on it to describe which fuse holders are which (and have had no success in finding a layout diagram), but it only has the two 7A fuses installed below the heatsink (one of which has Always been blown and I have never replaced it, since the game is fully working (kind of, but no game aspect is inactive). It appears this PSB is from a Different Game (it is a D-8345 though) and some connectors don't even seem to be present in the game anymore. It has an aftermarket LED display and the entire HV section is inactive with No fuses installed.
I also wonder if "minimum volume" setting normally leaves a system 11 with a subdued but still moderate output level? ... is this an issue, or normal?
Anyway, just wondering if anything stands out to anyone before I start getting serious with changing components out, maybe someone can help me with prioritising this list, or has any other thoughts or suggestions. I considered just ordering an aftermarket PSB, but that would be pointless if the issue lies on the MPU or Sound boards...
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers! :)
Edited by razorsedgeLink to comment
Share on other sites
26 answers to this question
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now