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My Ben Heck A/V mod looks worse than the RF cable


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#1 SILKIE OFFLINE  

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Posted Thu Sep 1, 2011 11:14 AM

Just finished the Ben Heck Mod on my ColecoVision. The audio is Super! The picture is great looking, Except for 2 wavy lines that cause the picture to flash brighter then back to normal. You can see them barely on the RF cable picture. But not like the Mod. I have already did the Power Switch Mod. And it works great. I did have to fix the -5v on the power suppply I picked up. Could there be another problem with it? Causing these wavy lines? I included the best pic I could of the wavy lines. They show up better in a pic on the Skill Level screen. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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  • Bars.jpg

Edited by SILKIE, Thu Sep 1, 2011 11:29 AM.


#2 SILKIE OFFLINE  

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Posted Fri Sep 2, 2011 5:57 AM

Looks like I'm on my own with this one I guess? I'm going to do my other ColecoVision today. So I will see if it has the same problem. That may help me narrow down the problem.

#3 mimo ONLINE  

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Posted Fri Sep 2, 2011 6:06 AM

Is that an LCD TV?
Maybe a problem with the TV not likeing out of spec TV signals.
Try a CRT TV if you havnt already

#4 SILKIE OFFLINE  

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Posted Fri Sep 2, 2011 9:11 AM

Just did the power switch Mod on the 2nd ColecoVision and The A/V mod also. Same results as the other ColecoVision. 2 wavy lines. And I hooked them both to a CRT TV. Thanks Mimo for suggesting that. I'm thinking it's the Power Supply causing this? Also the picture rolls some on the CRT. When the waves go thru.

Edited by SILKIE, Fri Sep 2, 2011 9:14 AM.


#5 Pixelboy OFFLINE  

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Posted Fri Sep 2, 2011 9:19 AM

View PostSILKIE, on Fri Sep 2, 2011 9:11 AM, said:

Just did the power switch Mod on the 2nd ColecoVision and The A/V mod also. Same results as the other ColecoVision. 2 wavy lines. And I hooked them both to a CRT TV. Thanks Mimo for suggesting that. I'm thinking it's the Power Supply causing this? Also the picture rolls some on the CRT. When the waves go thru.
I'm no expert on these things, but I once bought a custom Coleco ADAM power supply (as replacement for the ADAM printer) and I had a similar "wavy lines" problem when I turned it on. When I used the same setup with a regular ADAM printer, there were no wavy lines on the screen. I returned the custom PS and never tried it again.

Hope this helps...

#6 SILKIE OFFLINE  

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Posted Fri Sep 2, 2011 9:24 AM

Thanks PixelBoy. This is a Original Coleco PS. When I bought it. I hooked it up to both systems. All I got was black screen. I tested it. And found out it was not putting out the -5v. I took it apart and fixed the bad connection. But maybe it has more issues? You can see the wave using the RF cable. But not no where near as bad.

#7 SILKIE OFFLINE  

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Posted Fri Sep 2, 2011 9:44 AM

So far I'm just Happy I have 2 working ColecoVision's that were labeled D.O.A upon receipt. I don't mind trying another PS. Considering I got the 2 systems dirt cheap. I must say so far restoring my PAC-MAN arcade machine was easier than the ColecoVision. Lol.

#8 SILKIE OFFLINE  

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Posted Sat Sep 3, 2011 7:35 PM

Here is the waves going thru the picture on a CRT TV. You can see it on the Baby Land Park Sign.

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  • wave.jpg


#9 Mark_Coleco OFFLINE  

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Posted Sat Sep 3, 2011 8:19 PM

Try to slowly turn the -pot- that Ben Heck had told you to put on, until it goes away.

#10 SILKIE OFFLINE  

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Posted Sun Sep 4, 2011 5:47 AM

I did mark. The waves don't go away. Only the whole picture does. The waves stay when the picture is there. No matter where you turn it. On both systems.

#11 SILKIE OFFLINE  

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Posted Sun Sep 4, 2011 6:48 AM

This is the exact A/V mod I did. http://www.amibay.co...read.php?t=4525 And this is the Power Switch fix I went with http://callanbrown.c...jects&Itemid=61

Edited by SILKIE, Sun Sep 4, 2011 6:56 AM.


#12 Yurkie OFFLINE  

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Posted Sun Sep 4, 2011 7:42 AM

That power switch mod looks like shit IMO, and it is completely unnecessary to replace the switch, it just needs rebuilt... I have done hundreds without a problem.

#13 SILKIE OFFLINE  

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Posted Sun Sep 4, 2011 8:16 AM

You know what they say about IMO, They are like ******** everybody's got one. I think the pause button looks like crap and is not really needed. I realize you make a buck or two doing this kind of stuff. And aren't that willing to share techniques. And that's cool. That's why I didn't directly ask you for help. And throwing it out there for the others.

#14 Yurkie OFFLINE  

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Posted Sun Sep 4, 2011 9:06 AM

I am more than happy to tell how to rebuild the power switch. In fact it is all over the net probably.

Desolder it from the board
take it a part
clean off old grease with alcohol
use deoxit to remove corrosion (can skip if you don't have)
lube with dielectric grease
put back together
solder back in place

As far as your mod, I am not psychic and have no idea what you did wrong.

#15 SILKIE OFFLINE  

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Posted Sun Sep 4, 2011 9:30 AM

I know how to rebuild the 30 year old flakey power switch. I didn't want too. That would be like putting a brand new pause switch next to the 30 year old power switch. What's the point? if your gonna Desolder it from the board? You might as well replace it. IMO lol. Thanks Yurkie. No problem dude. I will figure out what I did wrong. Kind of like I figured out how to straighten the controller cords without paying $40 bucks. Your a talented guy. No doubt. You just got a mouth on you.

#16 SoulBlazer OFFLINE  

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Posted Sun Sep 4, 2011 9:07 PM

Wow, who pissed in your coffee today? :ponder:

#17 Mark_Coleco OFFLINE  

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Posted Sun Sep 4, 2011 9:33 PM

I'm sure he's just upset about his CV mod not working correctly.


Silkie, just go through the mod step by step to find where its going wrong.

It could be the power switch, but I really don't know.

I did Ben Heck Mod and it worked for me, I was careful not to overheat anything when I was soldering. Maybe one of the componets in the mod got toasted.
Maybe you have a bad ground.....

Could you provide a picture close up of your mod?

Edited by Mark_Coleco, Sun Sep 4, 2011 9:36 PM.


#18 SILKIE OFFLINE  

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Posted Mon Sep 5, 2011 8:30 AM

View PostSoulBlazer, on Sun Sep 4, 2011 9:07 PM, said:

Wow, who pissed in your coffee today? :ponder:
Not pissed at all bro. Just didn't feel the need for the cursing. I asked for help with the problem I was having. Not for how my power button looks like S*** lol. No need for that here.

Edited by SILKIE, Mon Sep 5, 2011 8:34 AM.


#19 SILKIE OFFLINE  

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Posted Mon Sep 5, 2011 9:15 AM

Thanks for your help Mark. As soon as I can I will open my ColecoVision back up and take a pic. But my mods are done exactly like the links above. I don't think I put the heat on too long? It didn't take much. I do appreciate your help. Thank You!

Edited by SILKIE, Mon Sep 5, 2011 9:18 AM.


#20 SlowCoder ONLINE  

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Posted Mon Sep 5, 2011 9:36 AM

View PostSILKIE, on Mon Sep 5, 2011 8:30 AM, said:

View PostSoulBlazer, on Sun Sep 4, 2011 9:07 PM, said:

Wow, who pissed in your coffee today? :ponder:
Not pissed at all bro. Just didn't feel the need for the cursing. I asked for help with the problem I was having. Not for how my power button looks like S*** lol. No need for that here.

What I'm about to post is not a personal attack, but I think it needs to be said.

Yurkie is a well-established member of these forums. Sure, he may benefit financially from his sales, but given the amount of time and materials involved in projects, it's worth it. He lays out good products, and not everyone is as enterprising as others to do the jobs themselves. I have one of his video-modded consoles, and think it was worth the money. CVs are getting harder and harder to come by in working condition.

I doubt his comment about the power switch mod was directed personally at you. More likely, he just doesn't like what the mod looks like (it is a great big red switch on a black console). And I agree with him that the power switch could just as easily be rebuilt and remain original, rather than modding the unit.

If you are able to do the job yourself, that's great! Please do, and contribute what you learn in the process, so that others can learn from you.

#21 5-11under OFFLINE  

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Posted Mon Sep 5, 2011 9:55 AM

It looks like the horizontal sync is wavering for some reason. I'm not an analog video guru, so I don't know why, unless the horizontal sync level isn't low enough for some reason. Maybe the transistor is cutting off the bottom of the signal. If you have access to an oscilloscope, that might help.

#22 SILKIE OFFLINE  

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Posted Mon Sep 5, 2011 10:05 AM

View PostSlowCoder, on Mon Sep 5, 2011 9:36 AM, said:

View PostSILKIE, on Mon Sep 5, 2011 8:30 AM, said:

View PostSoulBlazer, on Sun Sep 4, 2011 9:07 PM, said:

Wow, who pissed in your coffee today? :ponder:
Not pissed at all bro. Just didn't feel the need for the cursing. I asked for help with the problem I was having. Not for how my power button looks like S*** lol. No need for that here.

What I'm about to post is not a personal attack, but I think it needs to be said.

Yurkie is a well-established member of these forums. Sure, he may benefit financially from his sales, but given the amount of time and materials involved in projects, it's worth it. He lays out good products, and not everyone is as enterprising as others to do the jobs themselves. I have one of his video-modded consoles, and think it was worth the money. CVs are getting harder and harder to come by in working condition.

I doubt his comment about the power switch mod was directed personally at you. More likely, he just doesn't like what the mod looks like (it is a great big red switch on a black console). And I agree with him that the power switch could just as easily be rebuilt and remain original, rather than modding the unit.

If you are able to do the job yourself, that's great! Please do, and contribute what you learn in the process, so that others can learn from you.
I said he was a talented guy. I don't doubt that. I just didn't go for the cursing. No need for that. What I was getting at, Was since he makes money doing this. Which there is nothing wrong with that. More power to him. I seriously doubt he is going to post pix or detail exactly how he does everything. And that's fine. I was asking for help from the people here. Who might know a soultion and are not interested in making a profit here. That's all. Thanks for your comments. I didn't take them as a personal attack. :) P.S. If anyone would like the old power switch? I will be glad to mail it to you free of charge. Just send me your info?

Edited by SILKIE, Mon Sep 5, 2011 10:09 AM.


#23 SlowCoder ONLINE  

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Posted Mon Sep 5, 2011 10:35 AM

View PostSILKIE, on Mon Sep 5, 2011 10:05 AM, said:

I said he was a talented guy. I don't doubt that. I just didn't go for the cursing. No need for that. What I was getting at, Was since he makes money doing this. Which there is nothing wrong with that. More power to him. I seriously doubt he is going to post pix or detail exactly how he does everything. And that's fine. I was asking for help from the people here. Who might know a soultion and are not interested in making a profit here. That's all. Thanks for your comments. I didn't take them as a personal attack.
:thumbsup: :)

#24 SILKIE OFFLINE  

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Posted Mon Sep 5, 2011 10:43 AM

The Original Power Switch i offered has been claimed. Thank You!

#25 SILKIE OFFLINE  

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Posted Mon Sep 5, 2011 12:01 PM

I may have found my problem? I stress the word may! When I wiggle the power cord near the plug part of the power supply. I get garbage on the screen or black screen. Looks like I have bad connection in there. Perhaps the ground? Could this cause the wavey lines that both systems are having with the A/V mods? Like I said you can see them on the RF cable. But not nearly as bad!

Edited by SILKIE, Mon Sep 5, 2011 12:03 PM.





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