Isn't Tron supposed to save the High Scores?

[Bender]

Anyone know if Tron is supposed to save the high scores?

I have a Tron cabinet that I'm working on and it doesn't save the High scores, I think I remember reading about a battery on the board or something, It's not the same battery connected to the power supply is it?
god the power supply inside that thing looks like a nightmare!

[helpmebuild]

I found this for you man. It's from http://users.erols.com/mowerman/webbat.htm

Batteries on circuit boards has become a pet peeve (nightmare) of mine and I want to see everyone out there learn how to alleviate this problem.
Games use batteries to keep high scores, bookkeeping and game setting in memory even when off or unplugged. Different manufactures use different styles. The early 80's method, borrowed from pinball design, was most commonly a rechargeable ni-cad battery. The ni-cads worked well but over time they leak, corroding the solder and circuit board traces. Once the solder is corroded, desoldering becomes very difficult requiring considerably more heat to flow solder. Damage from the corrosion can quickly become a incurable cancer destroying the board beyond repair. Batteries, depending on style and usage, will leak in as little as 3 years. Most of the boards using these batteries are now more than 10 years old.
Battery Formats
AA Batteries - Common on Williams Games Defender -> Star Rider
Ni- Cads in several forms....

White or Orange AA sized battery - Common on Bally systems (Tron powers supplies), also . Pole Positions, early Taito games, Stern games (Berzerk, Frenzy).

Hopefully that helps.

[Bender]

I took the board out and don't see any AA or any type of battery or a space for then to go.
Any one know exactly where they are?

there are two huge blue batteries looking things next to the power supply, if that's them where does one get a replacement for that?

[LPZ]

I attached a pic of the power supply board for your tron.  I have a spy hunter which is the same setup.  When I replaced my battery, I used a cordless phone battery, which I located off the board, just in case it started to leak so it wouldn't ruin the board.  In this pic, bob used a watch type battery, but it is still in the same location(V batt on pic).  I'll bet your battery is leaking/removed.  Just wire in a new one and you'll be saving once again.

LPZ

[Bender]

I attached a pic of the power supply board for your tron.  I have a spy hunter which is the same setup.  When I replaced my battery, I used a cordless phone battery, which I located off the board, just in case it started to leak so it wouldn't ruin the board.  In this pic, bob used a watch type battery, but it is still in the same location(V batt on pic).  I'll bet your battery is leaking/removed.  Just wire in a new one and you'll be saving once again.

LPZ

Just found it  or where it was supposed to be, it had already been removed, and thankfully no damage to the board!

Would you mind telling me which phone battery you used?
Attaching it off the board is a great idea, I'm definitely going to do that!
Thanks so much for the Info!

I was feeling pretty stupid not being able to see a battery somewhere, but I feel a little better now cause there wasn't one there to see!

[lcddream]

OT, but this reminds me of the Seinfeld episode when George hooks a car battery? to a Frogger machine from his youth to keep his old Hi-Score in it while he moves it.

edit here it is 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/v/nLgckRf9H78&rel=1[/youtube]

[LPZ]

I just used one that was 3.6 volts and the cheapest.  Some of those phone connectors can get pretty pricey.  I think I grabbed mine @ kmart on closeout.  I also wired in a terminal connector in case I every had to remove the board from the machine(which actually happened).

[Bender]

I just used one that was 3.6 volts and the cheapest.  Some of those phone connectors can get pretty pricey.  I think I grabbed mine @ kmart on closeout.  I also wired in a terminal connector in case I every had to remove the board from the machine(which actually happened).

I grabbed one a radio shack (Nickel metalhydride) $14
I ued termial connectors too, and velcroed it to next to the board so I can remove it and incase it leaks it can't damage anything
Do you know how long the battery will hold up with out turning on the machine?
Thanks so much for the info!

OT, but this reminds me of the Seinfeld episode when George hooks a car battery? to a Frogger machine from his youth to keep his old Hi-Score in it while he moves it.

edit here it is 

 Love that episode

[LPZ]

After I initially installed it, I left the machine on for 2 hours or so just to "charge" the battery.  I'll bet it's been weeks sometimes in between turning on my machines, but it always retained the scores.  As for the life of it......maybe a couple of years?  I changed batteries in my cordless phones and those batteries lasted for years with plenty of daily use.  I was bummed when I had to disconnect the board one time for some work on it.  The high score wasn't too impressive, but alot of friends had initials up there.

p.s.  Did the battery cure the problem of saving the high scores?

[Bender]

After I initially installed it, I left the machine on for 2 hours or so just to "charge" the battery.  I'll bet it's been weeks sometimes in between turning on my machines, but it always retained the scores.  As for the life of it......maybe a couple of years?  I changed batteries in my cordless phones and those batteries lasted for years with plenty of daily use.  I was bummed when I had to disconnect the board one time for some work on it.  The high score wasn't too impressive, but alot of friends had initials up there.

p.s.  Did the battery cure the problem of saving the high scores?

I was wondering mostly how long you went without firing up it up, unless I go away, I can't see not playing it at least every couple of weeks

Yes! Saves High scores now!
Thanks again for the info, I was starting to get a little frustrated not being able to locate the battery

[Ummon]

OT, but this reminds me of the Seinfeld episode when George hooks a car battery? to a Frogger machine from his youth to keep his old Hi-Score in it while he moves it.

edit here it is 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/v/nLgckRf9H78&rel=1[/youtube]

Ahem, no one else caught this?

[protokatie]

I was wondering mostly how long you went without firing up it up, unless I go away, I can't see not playing it at least every couple of weeks

You could always have it on a timer that clicks on for 15 minutes a day to ensure that the battery gets charged, even if you were to go away for an extended period of time...