looking for someone that repairs arcade boards

[berlincam86]

I have a arcade jamma board i would like repaired. It is police trainer. All that happens is the red and green lights come on and thats it. Does anyone know how to fix this board? I do know a little about electronics so if you could give me something that it could be and what i could check that would be great. Otherwise i would like someone to fix it. Or if someone knows where i could get it fixed please let me know. Thanks.

[psik0tik]

I do but I live in Florida...Tampa to be exact. It could be a number of things

[berlincam86]

How much would it cost to fix?

[ChadTower]

That's like saying "my car won't start, how much will it cost to fix?"

Based on the desc we can't even be sure the problem is the board.

[berlincam86]

Well i thought maybe there would be a flat charge then parts or something.

[ChadTower]

Usually there is, but it's based on labor time spent, when the tech can't assess the board before quoting.

[grantspain]

you need to check your monitor is running and the power supply voltages are present and correct,normally a very quick check is give the machine a credit and if you get sounds but no picture then you need to look at the monitor a bit closer,if you don't get any sounds or coin door lights then look at the psu

[berlincam86]

I have a rig that i use to check boards. It works fine for my other boards but this one does nothing. I bought this board on e-bay and i test them before i build a cabinet for them. I'm Pretty sure its something with the board.

[ChadTower]

If you're that into it, and have built yourself a rig and custom cabs, you may as well start learning how to troubleshoot a board now.  It is the next logical step.

[berlincam86]

Yea Thats true and i want too. but i don't know where to start all those components are so small and i'm not sure how to test them or what to look for. If it was something easy that i could visually see. (hardly ever) I could figure it out.

[grantspain]

when you referred to green/red lights are you talking about the leds on the game board

[ChadTower]

Buy this book.

It will start from "this is a rock" and go all the way though to "you just built a functioning game console from scratch".

[berlincam86]

Yes its the red and green lights on the board itself and they are both on. I will look into that book. Thank you.

[grantspain]

sometimes the actions of those led's act as a fault code,the manual should have this info

[ChadTower]

Not being familiar with this board, I wonder... does the light of those LEDs at all indicate a good 5v?  Or would they be on a 12v line on that board?

[berlincam86]

Im thinking the green one is a ok signal and the red is a error signal. Im not sure the referance the voltages. I can take a pic of the board if that will help.

[ChadTower]

What I mean is that the without enough voltage going to the line that the LEDs are sitting on, they wouldn't be on in the first place. 

Red doesn't necessarily mean error.  Most power indicators are red.

[berlincam86]

Ok i just noticed that a big IC has a crack in its casing could that be it?

[grantspain]

Ok i just noticed that a big IC has a crack in its casing could that be it?

yes,a very good chance thats the problem-hopefully not a custom i/c

[berlincam86]

Here is a pic. My luck its special.

[ChadTower]

That might be your video driver chip.  Either way, unless this is an expensive board, that chip being cracked makes it a parts board to anyone but a really good solderer, IMO.

EDIT:  what rev is that board?

[berlincam86]

Ill attempt it but where could i get that chip?

[shardian]

That might be your video driver chip.  Either way, unless this is an expensive board, that chip being cracked makes it a parts board to anyone but a really good solderer, IMO.

by really good solder do you mean training an ant to wield a tiny soldering iron? The one time I tried to repair a SMD chip in a PDA docking station resulted in disaster, and it was nowhere near the detail and number of contacts as that chip.

[berlincam86]

Ok maybe i wont try it then. Thanks for the help.

[grantspain]

you would need the correct smt desolder socket to change that chip,does anyone know if that company are still in business

[berlincam86]

1.3 is the revision.

[ChadTower]

It can be done.  I saw a guy do a chip much like that once, but it was very slow and precise, and he was an EE PhD candidate using solder paste and a Hakko rework station.  He ended up bridging more than a few pins and cleaning them up after the fact with wick.  He was also using a jeweler's magnifier headset.

Just pulled this up:

The main video chip is stamped:

Rev 2 PCB Rev 3 PCB Rev 5B PCB
------------------------------------------------------------
XILINX P & P P & P
XC4310 Marketing Marketing
PQ160C 5380 AJ001 AT001
PC5380-9651 5380-JY3306A 5380-N1045503A
PROTO AKI9749

That is his video chip.

[berlincam86]

Ok its worth a shot to me anyway any idea where i could get a replacement?

[ChadTower]

No, but easiest answer would be a parts Police Trainer board.

[berlincam86]

ok Thanks ill look for another parts board then. You know anyone that would have one for sale?

[psik0tik]

It's not that hard to solder those on..like he said you just need the right socket. I wouldn't do it with a regular soldering iron you will...I repeat..You will mess it up. I don't really have a going rate like Chad said it all depends on whats wrong with it. Get a voltmeter and put the red probe on pin 1 it should be marked on there somewhere..see where it says u118 on the board right in the corner of that chip that's pin 1. Take the black probe of the voltmeter and go around to each pin on the other side of the chip opposite from pin 1 (with the board plugged in) be very very careful no to touch any pins together..you could blow something up. Also you could wrap a thin piece of wire around each probe end if the tip is to big to touch each individual pin.  And see if you get any variable readings. That's a start Those little lights tell a huge problem list..anywhere from a blow cap to a faulty resistor. So just reading the lights without a manual will get you no where. The lights should be blinking in sequence if they aren't then reading those lights isn't going to tell you anything.

[ChadTower]

A socket is a good idea but it could probably be done without it.  I'm picturing dipping the leads in solder paste, dropping the chip into place, and then using the reflow air gun to make the connections... would that do it?

[berlincam86]

The lights arent blinking they are both on steady.

[psik0tik]

Those pins are super close together..with solder paste you may bridge a connection. You could try it but you might want to put the solder paste on with a toothpic or something small and use little tiny amounts. Solder paste has a tendency to spread out. But all in all if you use small amounts it shouldn't wonder off the solder pad.

[ChadTower]

I don't think there is any possible way to do it without bridging at least a few pins at first.

[shardian]

Those pins are super close together..with solder paste you may bridge a connection. You could try it but you might want to put the solder paste on with a toothpic or something small and use little tiny amounts. Solder paste has a tendency to spread out. But all in all if you use small amounts it shouldn't wonder off the solder pad.

Hence my disastrous experience.

[psik0tik]

Yeah I'm sure you will bridge a few..all in all it's going to be a pain in the ass but if you have a steady hand and patience you may be able to do it. Just follow the golden with solder paste "a little goes a loooong way"


As for the chip I'll call around and get you in touch with someone that's got one.

[ChadTower]

What is the value of this board?  Is it even worth the trouble?

[psik0tik]

It's this board..they go for around 200 to 300..by the way you didn't mess with the dip switches did you?

[shardian]

I've seen several police trainer boards go for around $100 on ebay.