My Atari's acting up

[+SpiceWare]

 

Was playing a game using my Krok Cart when the Atari acted like I fried it. Turned it off and on and it does it consistently. Sometimes it'll do it at the initiall menu, others when I'm playing a game. Other games appear to be working OK - just the Krok Cart.

 

I've tried the Krok Cart in a friend's system and it works fine there so I suspect the problem lies in my unit.

 

I suspect the Krok Cart is drawing more power than other cartridges so that would make my problem power related.

 

Ideas?

[D.Yancey]

Power supply going on the fritz- try swapping that out.

 

Power switch getting glitchy- check, clean and/or replace.

 

Cartridge port dusty or dirty- clean.

[+SpiceWare]

I've tried 2 power adapters (I bought a new one for programming the Krok Cart) and have cleaned up the cartridges and the cart port.

 

Haven't done anything to the power switch - I'll have to check that out.

 

After some other research, I think it might be the regulator since it only happens with the Krok Cart and I think it needs more power.

 

I'll be taking apart my Atari on Monday as I've got plans for the weekend.

[Kroko]

I've tried 2 power adapters (I bought a new one for programming the Krok Cart) and have cleaned up the cartridges and the cart port.

 

Haven't done anything to the power switch - I'll have to check that out.

 

After some other research, I think it might be the regulator since it only happens with the Krok Cart and I think it needs more power.

 

I'll be taking apart my Atari on Monday as I've got plans for the weekend.

1019893[/snapback]

 

Have you also cleaned the Krokodile Cart ? It needs to be cleaned from time to time. You can try what happens if you let the power supply connected to the Krokodile after programming. Then you should no longer have power problems, because then the external Krokodile supply will feed the Krokodile and the other supply will only be powering the Atari (at least almost). Would be interesting to see, if the Krokodile behaves differently if it has its own power-supply connected..

[+SpiceWare]

Yep - I cleaned it last week, then again last night when the problem started.

 

I'll try using 2 power supplies and report pack, though may not be able to until Monday.

[+SpiceWare]

Had some time to try it. Works perfectly with both power adapters in use.

[A.J. Franzman]

Had some time to try it.  Works perfectly with both power adapters in use.

1020105[/snapback]

This verifies what D.Yancey and Kroko suspected - you have a problem with your console being marginal in the power department. If you have the same problem when using either of your wallcubes going to the console alone, it's probably somewhere in the console itself. Most likely the power switch or jack, but could also be poor heatsinking on the regulator or a poor solder connection on the jack, switch or regulator. Another possibility is a bad (electrically leaky) power filter capacitor, but I would think one that leaks that badly would probably have burst already. (BTW it does happen - I recently replaced a burst cap on a 2600 mobo here.)

 

I would start by testing the switch and jack with any other cartridge that does not normally exhibit problems. Turn it on and jiggle the switch lever and power plug gently side to side. If the game glitches, you've found a problem.

[Kroko]

Had some time to try it.  Works perfectly with both power adapters in use.

1020105[/snapback]

Great ! Can you please look on the supplies and tell me the specs. I guess 9V, but I would be interested in the current specs (mA) and what type of console you are using.

[+SpiceWare]

Spoke too soon. It started glitching after 3 games instead of right away.

 

I'm not going to have time to try anything until Monday. I'll dig out my multimeter and follow up with y'all then.

[+SpiceWare]

Last week I opened up the Atari and tested the voltage and it was OK. I played some games with it open thinking it might need to warm up and it never freaked out. Put it back together and it happened again. Reopened it and took the Atari totally apart, reseated all the socketed chips and reassembled it.

 

Been working fine ever since.

[Kroko]

Been working fine ever since.

Hope you didn't speak too soon

[+SpiceWare]

It's been a week - though I knocked on wood anyway

[+SpiceWare]

guess I didn't knock hard enough. It started acting up again when I was testing a batch of cartridges I won off ebay. Covers back off and it's working again.

[D.Yancey]

Power switch getting glitchy- check, clean and/or replace.

 

Cartridge port dusty or dirty- clean.

1019821[/snapback]

 

So now it is happening with other carts besides the Kroko?? I always say, go back to basics. I'd bypass the powerswitch temporarily just to take it out of the equation and see if the problem goes away.

 

Don't forget to try and clean down inside the cart port on the unit itself. Swapping in alot of used carts can get it dirty quickly.

 

Maybe the cover of the unit is causing the jack for the power supply not to remain seated properly?

 

Make sure your wall socket or surge protector is not going bad.

Edited February 28, 2006 by D.Yancey

[+SpiceWare]

Yep - I clean the cartridges before I try them out. I've tried cleaning the cart port too, but don't think that's the problem as it's working fine with the cover off.

 

I'll try bypassing the power switch this weekend.

 

I'm thinking there's one other possible culprit - I have a CyberTech S-Video Card, and the video and audio cables are routed thru 2 of the holes on top of the heavy-duty RF Shield. There's very little space for them and it's possible there's pressure being put on something when the cover is closed due to the thickness of the cables.

[D.Yancey]

Aha! That's very possible. I didn't know we were dealing with a modified unit. That is another angle to consider. I think the video mods would only lose picture unless they were shorted to something momentarialy. Also, I hadn't considered it before, but static electricity could be playing a factor in this. The air is extremely dry this time of the year and static is much more prevalent.

 

Also, do you notice that the problem occurs only when an appliance in your home is starting or running (like the fridge starting or the heater). This could be causing a slight power surge at that time. If you've got a UPS, try plugging into it and see if it makes any difference.

Edited March 1, 2006 by D.Yancey

[keilbaca]

I'm thinking there's one other possible culprit - I have a CyberTech S-Video Card, and the video and audio cables are routed thru 2 of the holes on top of the heavy-duty RF Shield.  There's very little space for them and it's possible there's pressure being put on something when the cover is closed due to the thickness of the cables.

1026261[/snapback]

 

If it works fine open, then that's the culprit by far. Try using electrical tape to isolate the board from other components, where you think it might be touching.

[+SpiceWare]

I started happening when it was open too. I ended up with an extra 6 switch on an ebay win (had some good carts with it!) so I moved the video board over to it and the problem reappeared. I redid the soldering and it seems to be OK now - knock on wood

 

I also trimmed off cord that had pinched between the case and the top of the RF shield, and dremelled hole on the side of the RF shield so I could reroute the cables that way and not have them get pinched anymore.

Edited March 8, 2006 by SpiceWare

[D.Yancey]

I predict success for you this time!