Space Invaders Trimline monitor troubles

[arctic_blizzard]

Hey everyone,

I am currently having difficulties with my Space Invaders Trimline's monitor.

Here are some pictures of the monitor and the board.  I tried to get a decent picture of the monitor's label - but failed, it is in Japanese anyway.





I have tried to do some research (this page's faqs were some help) to figure out the exact type of monitor, but to no avail.

When I turn on the unit, I get a white horizontal line (raster?) across the entire display, and then quickly dissapears.

I am not looking for a quick and easy solution or a cureall from everyone here, but if you could point me in the direction of a common or likely problem, I would greatly appreciate it.


If you need anymore info from me feel free to ask.


Thanks

~AB

[qrz]

if u have a flat line l/r across the screen, it is loss of vertical deflection ,
this is likely a transistorised output . so, look for faulty 'lytics , open resistors, bad xistors.

if a vertical line ( up/dwn) it is loss of horizontal deflection .
look for burn marks on pcb ( from loose connections), faulty yoke return circuitry ( poly-caps)


qrz

[arctic_blizzard]

Hey everyone, I have done some fiddling with the arcade (replacing some fuses, reseating the connections ect), and have had a breakthrough (well, sort of)...

I turned the arcade on one night - and it worked! I had to adjust the image alot, but it worked!


We decided to leave it on and see how long it worked - it lasted about 1.5 - 2 hours before the screen went black again.
We tried to turn it back on again, and got the white raster again.


After letting it sit overnight, I turned it on again in the morning and was treated to this lovely screen:


I am not quite sure if this will help in troubleshooting, but from my best guess about this units behavior it has something to do with an overheating problem.  Maybe one or several of the components is overheating and eventually failing.

This is the second iteration of these screens that I have gotten (I tried it this weekend): vertical lines, works, raster, set overnight, vertical lines, works.

Would anyone have any idea the best candidate for this component, or have any other ideas?

Thanks for the help!

~AB

[qrz]

reseat any socketed ic's on the game board. check/clean edge connectors.....

looks more like a game issue, rather than monitor.

[arctic_blizzard]

I had wondered about that, mainly because when the graphics go all funky like that you cannot enter a game (tried entering coin, and selecting player options, I got no sound or anything).

Thanks for the info, I hate being a n00b, but what are (and how would I locate) socketed ic's (integrated chip maybe)?

~AB

[Kevin Mullins]

I had wondered about that, mainly because when the graphics go all funky like that you cannot enter a game (tried entering coin, and selecting player options, I got no sound or anything).

Seems you have the right idea though..... with or without a working monitor you should be able to "play blind". i.e coin it up, start a game, hear games sounds, etc.
And when you can't play it blind, then you backtrack to the game board side of things.

Thanks for the info, I hate being a n00b, but what are (and how would I locate) socketed ic's (integrated chip maybe)?

You literally have to look for them on the game board itself.
"Socketed IC's" are just that - Integrated Chips in "sockets", not directly soldered to the pcb.
You still must be gentle with them so as not to break off any chip legs. Best done with a chip puller, but can be done with a small flat bladed screwdriver of sorts by prying gently between the chip and the socket from one side to the other, a little each time.

** There is a NOTCH or a DOT of some kind on each chip which determines which way the chip goes in, do NOT plug a chip back in backwards, it will fry it immediately when powered on. This is also generally marked on the socket and pcb, so be sure to look at them closely before ever pulling a chip completely out of it's socket. **

"Re-seating" chips and wire harness connectors really just consist of removing, cleaning a little if need be and then plugging it right back in.
One at a time is the best routine to use.

[arctic_blizzard]

Thanks for the help, I will give it a go and hopefully get somewhere on this thing!

~AB