sound cuts out

[bigbacon]

Anyone else ever have this problem?

 

Sound seems fine but it cuts out every so often and then comes back. Sometimes I can fiddle with the volume and it will come back and other times that doesn't work unitl it decides to just come back on its own.

 

 

[fiddlepaddle]

My guess is either old cap(s) or dirty volume switch.

[+save2600]

Yeah, if the volume control produces scratchy sounds when turning, time to clean the pot with contact cleaner. Might be the reason the sound randomly cuts in/out. Failing that, could try reseating the speaker connector.

[bigbacon]

since this is new to me, I assume to spray the pot I need to take the whole thing apart or can I take the power knob off and spray from there?

[+save2600]

Gotta tackle it from the inside. There are some precautions to take when dealing with monitors too, so you'll want to YouTube and Google taking one of these apart, discharging tubes, etc. When it comes to the potentiometer, usually an opening when you can spray the cleaner into. DeOxit D5 is one of my favorite sprays... can be found at Amazon, eBay, etc.

[bigbacon]

How long does one need to sit unplugged before it is safe? The discharging scares the bejesus out of me.

[+save2600]

You don't wait for it to discharge (unless you have years to wait, doesn't discharge itself), you initiate it. Very simple and only takes a second or two once you're all setup:

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1NZ10PG1LU4

 

https://m.youtube.com/results?q=discharging%20crt&sm=3

[Keatah]

That loud snapping noise of a good discharge will make a newbie discharge!

[bigbacon]

I guess these are old enough to not have bleeder resistors?

[SiLic0ne t0aD]

Nope, just a really long screwdriver the grounded to the chassis ground and some rubber gloves.. it was pretty easy and not as scary as I thought it would be.

 

Before you mess with the inside, I'd try spraying some DeOxit into the switch from the outside.. I've done it before and it definitely helped. Pop the knob off, squirt it in the switch the best you can and work it back and forth for a minute or two. If that doesn't work, you'll probably have to dig in. Watch those videos and be cautious, you should be fine..Nobody's dies from discharging a Vectrex that I'm aware of.

[vtk]

with the vectrex unplugged from mains socket, you could try turning the volume knob all the way up, then all the way down (not switched off though), then all the way up again, all the way down, repeat doing that about 30 times...

then when u try the vectrex again, see if the behaviour of the sound issue has changed at all

 

you could try reseating the soundchip if you are confident with removing and reinserting socketed chips (it's prob not the problem but if comfortable removing/reinserting chips, might as well try)

 

also as already mentioned, some switch cleaner spray in the on/off/volume pot, but as you may have already guessed, you have to take half the vectrex apart to get to it, unfortunately

Edited December 24, 2016 by vtk

[+KylJoy]

I've had volume drop out that is not related to the volume potentiometer. It came back in a moment. Happened today in Armor Attack which is the only game that this has happened in that I am aware of. I will be doing a full capacitor replacement soon. Not sure that the sound dropout is related to caps but we'll see.

[bigbacon]

how n the world do you get the knob off?? holy crap feel like I'm going to break it.

[+KylJoy]

Well, I just pull the volume knob straight forward. Mine did not break. If you break yours it isn't my fault!