Easy Bally Astrocade overheating fix

[Lord Thag]

I have an easy fix for all of you astrocade owners who are terrified to turn the system on for fear of killing it. It's dead simple, and all it takes is a screewdriver and some tin snips.

 

I took mine apart and removed the RF shielding (the silver metal shield that encases both sides of the internal circuit board. To save your sanity, use the tin snips to cut the shield to the left of the keypad cable and slide the whole deal off. Instant heat relief! The RF signal to my TV is just as good as before! I have yet to have the overheating issues I was having before. No screwed up graphics or fading colors that indicate the system's immenent demise. It works like a champ, and you can play long sessions of games with (so far) no issues at all.

 

This weekend, I'm going to borrow a dremel and cut up some old 486 heat sinks and 'sink all the IC's to make it even more bulletproof.

 

Seriously, this is a very easy fix, and it works.

[Jess Ragan]

For some reason I read this as "Easy Bake Astrocade oven." Now there's a project that's mm-mm good!

 

JR

[Bill Brasky]

I never had an overheating problem with my non-modded Bally. I think as long as you keep it on a flat surface, not shag carpeting, it won't overheat.

[Lord Thag]

I never had an overheating problem with my non-modded Bally. I think as long as you keep it on a flat surface, not shag carpeting, it won't overheat.

 

Not quite true, though the later models were much less prone. Mine was overheating just running it on a flat, very well ventilated surface. Ten to fifteen minutes into play the screen and colors would go all screwy, which is a sign of impending doom. I was playing it with my toe on the power strip switch, it was so bad. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the later 'Astrocade' labeled models were much less likely to overheat, while the original Bally units ('Bally Professional Arcade') were much more finicky. I have the latter, and this fix removed the problem.

Edited January 1, 2006 by Lord Thag

[+remowilliams]

I took mine apart and removed the RF shielding (the silver metal shield that encases both sides of the internal circuit board.

991986[/snapback]

I'm calling the FCC!

[icbrkr]

I never had an overheating problem with my non-modded Bally. I think as long as you keep it on a flat surface, not shag carpeting, it won't overheat.

992207[/snapback]

 

Not always true. I had one running at the OKGE in 2003 on a flat surface.. lasted 5 hours before it died :/

[SteveW]

Was that at OKGE '03? I wasn't able to go to that one. I wish I could have gone, i've never seen a Bally Astrocade in action.

[icbrkr]

Was that at OKGE '03? I wasn't able to go to that one.    I wish I could have gone, i've never seen a Bally Astrocade in action.

992333[/snapback]

 

Yep.. luckily, I found a replacement when I got home - someone on half.com was selling one for $20 It has some issues with it (there's a line of scrambled graphics on the display) but at least I have one that still works

[shadow460]

I know it's not funny to lose a system to heat (I had an Athlon catch fire in my PC one time) but a water cooled '70's video game system is stinking hilarious.

 

I read your other thread, too. As for removing the heat shield--good work.

I'm paranoid about heat myself--I wish my 7800 and N64 didn't heat up as much as they do.

Edited January 3, 2006 by shadow460