TECH: TZ DMD problem

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Post the area you live in. Maybe a collector in your area will let you try
your DMD and DMD driver board in their game and help you narrow down your
problem. LTG  

"kingsize" <racerx@zoomtown.com> wrote in message
news:1126487923.828950.130480@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Just recently my TZ DMD has started to be jumbled and missing
> information. When I ran the DMD test the first two test passed fine
> and showed all of the "dots". When the "all on" tests started I
> basically got a jumbled mess in the DMD. I reseated all of the ribbon
> cables on all of the boards without it making a difference. I then
> checked the voltages with the connector in place and got:
>
> Pin 1: -113V
> Pin 2: -102.6V
> Pin 3: key
> Pin 4: Gnd
> Pin 5: Gnd
> Pin 6: 4.87V
> Pin 7: 11.8V
> Pin 8: 29.8V
>
> When I unplugged the connector and checked the voltages again I got
> 60.5V on pin 8. In Clay's guide it says this could be the DMD or the
> HV section of the controller board could be bad. Is there anything
> else I can check to narrow it down since I don't have easy access to
> another machine to try either the DMD or board in (maybe it's time to
> buy that second machine!). Also if I pull the board to check the trace
> under R9 as Clay suggests, shouldn't I just go ahead and rebuild the HV
> section, since it's inexpensive? Any suggestions or second opinions
> are always welcomed.
>
> Thanks, Phil
>

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

You've narrowed it down enough! You have
a problem in the high voltage section.

Repair or replace as needed.

--
Fred
TX
CARGPB#8
******************


"kingsize" <racerx@zoomtown.com> wrote

> When I unplugged the connector and checked the voltages again I got
> 60.5V on pin 8. In Clay's guide it says this could be the DMD or the
> HV section of the controller board could be bad. Is there anything
> else I can check to narrow it down since I don't have easy access to
> another machine to try either the DMD or board in (maybe it's time to
> buy that second machine!). Also if I pull the board to check the trace
> under R9 as Clay suggests, shouldn't I just go ahead and rebuild the HV
> section, since it's inexpensive? Any suggestions or second opinions
> are always welcomed.

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

The DMD controller HV piggyback boards are great for this.

Can be installed in a few minutes and if the problem clears up the HV
section on the original board is bad. In addition, the display works great
and the problem is fixed until the parts are available to fix the HV section
of the dmd controller board.

Great kits here to fix the original board :

http://www.greatplainselectronics.com/products.asp?cat=...

Order extras. You will use them and Ed is wonderful.


You can also buy a replacement dmd controller board.

Otto

CARGPB11

My web page: http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-Ottoslanding

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Thanks for everyone's help as always. I purchased the HV piggyback
board and everything is perfect in my world again.

Phil

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

Otto,

I think I am going to buy a replacement dmd controller board and then
the kit to fix my original. Right now I only have the one machine but
of course the ultimate goal is to own them all  

Thanks for your wisdom and suggestions,

Phil

Archived from groups: rec.games.pinball (More info?)

A thought for your consideration.

I use the HV piggyback as a stop gap measure and as a troubleshooting tool.

Display start acting up or dies and HV problem suspected--pop in the HV
piggyback. Problem fixed?--I know it is the HV section. When time and
conditions permit, I pull the original DMD board and rebuild it with one of
Ed's rebuild kits($5). Put the rebuilt Dmd controller board, problem fixed,
now I have my piggyback for the next board that goes out in another game.

If you want to get crazy with it like me, you have a spare, rebuilt dmd
controller board so that you have the option, once the piggyback determines
the problem is the HV section, to just swap the boards and rebuild the bad
one at your leisure. Plus you have the piggyback on hand for the next
failure.

Of course, if you only have one Wpc style game no need for this. If you have
mutliple games, it can help. The HV sections have a funny way of failing
right at the beginning of a gathering of friends.

--
Otto

CARGPB11

My web page: http://home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-Ottoslanding

"kingsize" <racerx@zoomtown.com> wrote in message
news:1127313658.856219.66970@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Thanks for everyone's help as always. I purchased the HV piggyback
> board and everything is perfect in my world again.
>
> Phil
>