Blast City PSU Repair Question

I basically got my blast almost a year ago. It's been working fine until today. I hadn't test the voltages on my boards recently, but last time I did (who knows maybe a few months ago) everything was in a decent range (+5, +12 were both very close to where they should have been)

Anyways, get a new board today, and start by going through the test mode to change the settings, I'm changing a few dip switches, and then the test screen freezes..I turn it off, back on, and only the initial ram test info shows up (all as good)

I test the voltages on my board and they are at 6.9V and maybe 15V or so...I lower the voltages to about as low as the dial will take them to 5.69 and 13.XX something..Anyways, the new board will now not turn on other than the ram test...Run another jamma board and it powers on, runs/plays fine, and the voltages show the same as before (5.69 etc)..

I guess my question is: Can power supplies just go bad out of nowhere? How often am I supposed to check the voltages on my boards? Did I most likely kill my new game board? How easy it to change a BC psu? Is the PSU most likely the problem?

power supplies can absolutely go bad at a moment's notice. Although, most likely it slowly got worse and worse and you just didn't notice it.

You should check the voltage on your boards periodically. I, too, hardly check mine. Only when there's an issue.

Changing a BC psu is really easy if you can find the replacement. PSU is definitely the problem if your voltages are off. You may be able to open it up and debug the problems by replacing components.

KaPH33n said:

power supplies can absolutely go bad at a moment's notice. Although, most likely it slowly got worse and worse and you just didn't notice it.

You should check the voltage on your boards periodically. I, too, hardly check mine. Only when there's an issue.

Changing a BC psu is really easy if you can find the replacement. PSU is definitely the problem if your voltages are off. You may be able to open it up and debug the problems by replacing components.

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Thanks for the feedback. Well then I guess I'll start by finding a new psu or repairing (having someone else do it..lol) my old one.

I guess I'm curious if I fried my board. The ram tests pop up fine, but it won't actually play (there's a switch for "game mode" and "test mode"). Right now I have to assume the board is dead as it was working, now it isn't, but other boards did work.

Also, I just emailed Ken (haven't heard back) about a replacement. There's that one they sell at riverservice for a "brast city"...Does anyone have any feedback on that replacement model?

Would this be a decent replacement or is there something special about a BC PSU? I figure I'm just looking for a +5, +12, +3.3 PSU (as that's what's in there)... Here's one I found on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NAOMI-3-3-VOLT-POWER-SUPPLY-WITH-CABLE-TO-BOARD-ARCADE-GAME-PART-C50A-/150793063412?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231bf78bf4

Can you borrow another multimeter? I'd check with another one before spending cash on a new PSU. It could just be the multimeter that crapped out.

Yeah, it's always a good idea to reference your meter.

I wouldn't get a replacement psu for the blast if I were you. They're designed to be modular and replaceable. They just slide in and out on rails from the back. When fully inserted they seat into an edge connector which takes the power where it needs to go.

KaPH33n said:

Yeah, it's always a good idea to reference your meter.

I wouldn't get a replacement psu for the blast if I were you. They're designed to be modular and replaceable. They just slide in and out on rails from the back. When fully inserted they seat into an edge connector which takes the power where it needs to go.

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This.

PS: happy 800th post, kaph!

yeah, i'm not sure where I could get another (other than buying one)...but interestingly enough, when I turned on the meter it did show that it was low on power...Sooo...i'll see about getting another meter first...thanks

Change the battery on that meter first.

Mitsurugi-w said:

Change the battery on that meter first.

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Well what do you know??? I go and buy a new battery...ba da boom...The voltages are now coming up normal, at exactly the same levels there were before...I remember this because I have a Negatron installed and it's always at -5.17 (as it's a bit of a pain to adjust itself and I figured that was close enough)...Anyways, thanks for saving me some cash...Now I just have to deal with 3 Wonders not working other than checking the ram..=(