Asteroids Deflection PCB Problem

[raam]

Hi everyone. This is my fisrt post here and I'd like to say this forum is a blessing. I've seen lots of expert advice and great tips. As for my issue, I've search this site and many, many others to no avail. I am now the proud owner of an Asteroids game. It's in nice shape overall. When I picked up the game it was functioning perfectly but I believe transport may have losened something. When I powered up the game at home, Half the monitor was viewable, meaniing when the vector graphics scrolled past the middle of the screen they dissapeared into the left half of the screen. So I unplugged and took a look around the deflection amp pcb. I found a neon tube with one lead snapped off with the other still attached to the board. So I proceeded to reposition the tube when it totally broke off the leads. So I was currious to see the effect and I powered up the game and noticied that both halfs were now blank. So logic leads me to believe that this is responsible for the problem. After searching everywhere, I located the manual/schematics for the Electrohome G05-802 vector xy monitor. Seems this neon lamp acts as a switch of sorts where it is normally a open circuit until 90vac goes across and ignites the gas and shorts the circuit. I've tried Radioshack, mousers, mmc and few other onlin places to locate this part or a suitable replacement but can't find anything. Other then purchasing a whole crt does anyone have a suggestion as to what to do ? Thanks

Edited November 11, 2006 by raam

[arcadebasement]

I [edit -successfully] capped an asteroids machine recently and whilst not an expert it sounds like the spot killer might have kicked in. But you talk about neon tubes on the pcb and that confuses me but it could be that I'm from across the pond (UK). Can you take some pics of the broken pcb part? Do you mean LED?

Edited November 11, 2006 by arcadebasement

[raam]

I [edit -successfully] capped an asteroids machine recently and whilst not an expert it sounds like the spot killer might have kicked in. But you talk about neon tubes on the pcb and that confuses me but it could be that I'm from across the pond (UK). Can you take some pics of the broken pcb part? Do you mean LED?

 

Hi, thanks for the reply. I'm not up on the spot killer so I'll have to skim through my manual. What exactally does this function do ? I suppose you can consider it an LED. I'm new to all this. I'm going to take a pic and post it tonight.

[raam]

Ok, here are two pics. The first one is a wide view with the arrow on the location of the neon lamp (NE501). The second is a close up of one of the other neon lamps (NE502, NE503). All I know about the neon lamp is the Electrohome P/N is 27-11-10.

[raam]

Ok, I found out the neon lamps are NE-2H indicator bulbs. I can get them at mouser but I'll try the local hobby shop first. I hope that is the problem and would make some sense considering it act as a simple voltage regulator. I'll update my progress for the benifit of the forum. Here's a pic of game.

Edited November 11, 2006 by raam

[raam]

Here's an update. I'm back up and running. I got a neon bulb at radioshack and snipped off the resistor and soddered it up. I also found a few crack sodder joints around the pin connectors as well. I took care off those and a few other suspected ones. Works great. If I up the brightness a little I get a few dots, so it may have had some burn in, but I don't know. No problem though cause it's only when you turn it up past the normal. Thanks again for all the help. I hope I can contribute some in the future.