Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: ArcaMan on April 14, 2008, 12:25:22 pm
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Hi, I am not sure if I need to completely replace the monitor or if it is something that can be rebuilt more cheaply.
The issue is that periodically (and increasing in frequency) the monitor drops down to a single line in the middle of the screen that is about 1 pixel wide or so. I can usually fix this by playing with various options and restoring the horizontal hold (the monitor is rotated 90 degrees so the line is running from the middle bottom to the middle top of the screen as you look at it) but then it will eventually return to the previous state until I spend the time to fiddle with it again.
So I am looking for someone to either help (paid of course) me repair it, or someone who can help me with removing it and installing a new monitor.
Frankly, the concept of playing with the monitor and electrical stuff scares the crap out of me so I would rather have someone who knows what they are doing help me :)
Let me know how much you would charge.
The games are located in Elgin, IL
Thanks!
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If you're having vertical collapse (which is what it's called when your monitor collapses to the line you describe) but it comes back, it sounds like you've got a broken solder joint. Which is extremely easy to fix.
You'll need a soldering iron and solder, of course. You'll also need to remove the monitor chassis from the tube. I will not go into the specifics of that, there are 1,000 threads on here on how to do that safely.
Then start looking at the solder side of the PCB. You'll likely find a few broken solder joints. You'll have to look closely. Here are some pictures of what it can possibly look like (http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=broken+solder+joint&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi).
You'll need to heat the joint (at the part, not the solder itself) and apply some new solder.
If you've never soldered before, get something dead and practice. It's not hard once you get the hang of it.
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Cool thanks, glad to hear that it is "probably" something easy to fix and cheap.
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That's a first step. If you already have the solder and iron it'll only cost you the time to check it over.
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Unfortunately I don't have a soldering iron or very good skills in that area probably.
but at least I know where the problem lies ... it would also explain why it works sometimes but if the cab is bumped or something it sometimes goes out again.
If anyone reading this is in the Elgin area and wants to help let me know what you charge :)
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You can get a soldering iron - a cheap one - for less than ten bucks.
And as I said, get a scrap board and practice on it removing and replacing components. Boards are everywhere - dead VCRs, stereos, etc.
Don't be afraid of it. Jump right in. You'll surprise yourself.
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Sega/Gremlin used 50 different makes/models of monitors in the production run of Frogger. You need to go here first and identify what you have in your particular machine:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=62016.0