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Repairing PCB'S worth the time and trouble ?
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ctozzi:
So i have a few old Mortal kombat boards that power up without picture but sound works, i was thinking since it's winter to troubleshoot the pcb and repair them. However i have no idea what i'm doing, the worst that could happen is a broken board gets more broken...... Anyways if anyone has advise on what to look at and mess with let me know.
MonMotha:
Fortunately with those older boards, schematics are readily available as they came in the game manuals.  Grab the schematic and start backtracing from the problem point (in this case, no video - also check sync) until you find the problem (in this case, that would be a place that has video on the "input" but not the "output").  If you're not familiar with electronics, it's kinda tough, and you'll need some equipment you might not have (logic probe, true RMS meter is handy, o'scope is handy, etc.).
ctozzi:
k thanks
SavannahLion:

--- Quote from: ctozzi on December 17, 2008, 05:02:43 pm ---However i have no idea what i'm doing, the worst that could happen is a broken board gets more broken......

--- End quote ---

In that regards, my advice to you would be as follows. Either find someone to trade the boards for working boards you do want/need. Or put the boards into storage and start down the path with learning basic electronics before tackling board repair.

Case in point. Back in the early days of not knowing anything, I got a hold of a PCB from an electronic supply clearing house with the intent of ripping the video modulator out for a different project. Around the same time I got a hold of a dead NES board. Since I already worked with the NES board, I gutted the components I needed out of it instead. The other PCB was put away into storage. Flash forward to now and my improved GoogleFu skills. I rediscover the board and from what I can tell, it's actually the PCB to a gaming system that farted and died on release. At this point, I have enough knowledge and parts to repair the board (sans game roms).

I just need the time to do it.  :-\
AndyWarne:
Around 50% of faults on older boards are caused by bad contacts on corroded chip pins in sockets. Removing all socketed chips and cleaning the pins with fine emery is a good start.

Andy
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