Atari 2600

[Trinity]

Originally Posted by Chai

Just 2 months younger than me!

I fixed my original atari!!! I've had it since 1981!

After poking around with a multi-meter I noticed the the voltage regulator was only putting out 1 volt, should be five volts. So I went to Radio Shack and bought a new 7805 voltage regulator for $1.59. And replaced the old one. My soldering skills have become rusty, But I got it in... And WALA!!! IT WORKS AGAIN!!! After all these years! It sure is nice to have my favorite childhood toy work again!

[The_YongGrand]

Originally Posted by Trinity

I fixed my original atari!!! I've had it since 1981!

After poking around with a multi-meter I noticed the the voltage regulator was only putting out 1 volt, should be five volts. So I went to Radio Shack and bought a new 7805 voltage regulator for $1.59. And replaced the old one. My soldering skills have become rusty, But I got it in... And WALA!!! IT WORKS AGAIN!!! After all these years! It sure is nice to have my favorite childhood toy work again!

Wow... that's cool. Now where's my old Micro Genius... kiinda missed it sometimes!

Btw, that sticker in the machine that shouts "5 NOV 1981" or something... my birthday is just the day after this one, and five years later...

[Trinity]

Originally Posted by The_YongGrand

Wow... that's cool. Now where's my old Micro Genius... kiinda missed it sometimes!

Btw, that sticker in the machine that shouts "5 NOV 1981" or something... my birthday is just the day after this one, and five years later...

Yeah, that's the date.

"Now where's my old Micro Genius..."

Here it is, Impressive Famicom Clone: Micro Genius IQ-501 - Retrogaming Roundtable

[The_YongGrand]

Originally Posted by Trinity

Yeah, that's the date.

"Now where's my old Micro Genius..."

Here it is, Impressive Famicom Clone: Micro Genius IQ-501 - Retrogaming Roundtable

Yeah that is the one! Too bad, I guess my ma gave it away. One of the gamepads are broken though... if not it's still playable, with 2 players!

[Trinity]

After a few years Atari made an all black VCS. (1982-1984)


It came to be known as the Darth Vader model. Can guess why?

I bought a lot of two vaders (as is) for $7 bucks on e-bay. One has some serious problems, and won't work. And it has a broken pin on the controller port.

The other working one's case was almost fubor... And it's working mobo was rusted and looked like it was sitting in a muddy leafy garage for the last 20 years.

Took the best of both units to build this. I guess I'll use the other one for parts.

Three hours cleaning and rebuilding later.

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by Trinity

After a few years Atari made an all black VCS. (1982-1984)


It came to be known as the Darth Vader model. Can guess why?

I bought a lot of two vaders (as is) for $7 bucks on e-bay. One has some serious problems, and won't work. And it has a broken pin on the controller port.

The other working one's case was almost fubor... And it's working mobo was rusted and looked like it was sitting in a muddy leafy garage for the last 20 years.

Took the best of both units to build this. I guess I'll use the other one for parts.

Three hours cleaning and rebuilding later.

Can we see pictures of the insides????

[Trinity]

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

Can we see pictures of the insides????

Sorry Adrian, I started cleaning the mobo the second I saw the rust!!! Trin can't have that!!!

But if you go back a few pages and look at the mobo pic I posted, just picture the two metal RFI sheilds rusted all over and a ton of rust and leafs along the bottom of the mobo. It fits in it's case at an angle.

Here are a few pics of the 'leftover' Atari... Still dirty. And dead... I'm afraid it needs one of her three main ic's replaced... Not sure what one though.

And it smells like spray paint...

[Adrian Wong]

Rust on the motherboard? Or you mean the casing?

[Trinity]

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

Rust on the motherboard? Or you mean the casing?

Both. The rust all came from the steel RFI shields. What I think happened is that the unit must have been got wet a few times and then the RFI shields rusted (surface rust, mind you). Then it must have got wet again and again over the years,,, rinsing the rust down off the shields and onto the mobo and also onto the bottom of the inside of the plastic shell. Even the black painted switchs along the top of the mobo were rusted. For all I know,,, It may have even been submerged at one point in time.

Good thing I had a can of electronics cleaner/lubricant to blast on the steel and all of the switches to get them to work 100% again.

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by Trinity

Both. The rust all came from the steel RFI shields. What I think happened is that the unit must have been got wet a few times and then the RFI shields rusted (surface rust, mind you). Then it must have got wet again and again over the years,,, rinsing the rust down off the shields and onto the mobo and also onto the bottom of the inside of the plastic shell. Even the black painted switchs along the top of the mobo were rusted. For all I know,,, It may have even been submerged at one point in time.

Good thing I had a can of electronics cleaner/lubricant to blast on the steel and all of the switches to get them to work 100% again.

Wow.. What did they do? Spill drinks over it?

The board could have fried because of the water.