Embryon was working fine one day, and doing this the next.

I am getting the first flicker, followed by flashes 1, 2, and 3. I am not getting the 4, 5, 6, and 7th flash. After the 3rd flash the MPU loses the 5V LED and the game just kind of stops trying to boot but the GI stays on. Sometimes there will be a voice callout from the game, but not always.

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I am using a new altek MPU, and even swapped this MPU into another game and it worked great, so its not the MPU.

I also swapped in a known working bridge rectifier boad and solenoid board with no change in behavior.

The Voltage on the Solenoid Driver Board seems to come and go. I was able to test at all TP's at one point and here is what I got:

TP1 - 5.2
TP2 - 135
TP3 - 5.1
TP4 - 188
TP5 - 15.95

Should be:
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Now I am not able to get a reading on the TP's at all. It just shows 0 VDC. (where does the voltage come into the SD board?)

I have noticed that when testing TP5 and TP1 on the SD board, a solenoid will fire. Not sure if that is normal? The same solenoid was also firing when testing the Rectifier Board, and when gently tugging on the wires at J3 and J4 on the SD board..

I have completely repinned all of the connections on both the MPU and Solenoid Driver board. I even repinned J4 twice haha!

What am I missing here, what should I look at next?

The boards are good. I just took the Bridge Rectifier board, the Solenoid driver board, and the MPU (seperately, not at the same time) and put them in a different game (Fathom), and it booted up perfectly.

Sorry, when i said "zero volts on all the test points", I just meant on the Solenoid Driver board. I found that if i push in on the board, or like i said earlier, push/pull the wires, I can then get a reading which will stay for a few minutes it seems.

Yes I have 2 balls installed. OK I took some measurements but what you wrote and what it says on the board are different. Here are my results and a pic of the TPs on the MPU.

TP2 - 44.7
TP4 - 0.8
TP6 - 23.2

I also tested at points on the SDB and got this:

TP1 - 5.2
TP2 - 129.7
TP3 - 5.2
TP4 - 173.2
TP5 - 15.8

IMG_4843 (resized).JPG

Yes, it's screwed in. And still as I am testing these points, that same solenoid is firing when I touch the DMM to the TPs.

Edit: same solenoid fires when testing the sound from the sound board. Weird

Also, the 5V is present on the MPU at TP4 until after the 3rd flash. Then it disappears

TP2 on the SD board.

Results of MPU tests
TP2 - 44.7
TP4 - 0.8
TP6 - 23.2

Results of SDB tests
TP1 - 5.2
TP2 - 129.7
TP3 - 5.2
TP4 - 173.2
TP5 - 15.8

Do you mean TP4?

OK but I see what you are saying. I have 5V at the SDB but not the MPU so it is lost somewhere between the two, correct?

Again, i have put this same SDB in a different game and it worked perfectly so I don't think it is the header pins. I also repinned the connector at J3. should I repin it again? I feel like i did a good job the first time. Thank you for the help so far.

I guess my next question is, is there a specific wire that takes the 5v from the sdb to the mpu?

And again, the 5V is present at the MPU briefly but goes away after the 3rd flash. So it is getting there for a moment.

Anyone know why this would be happening?

Just repinned (again!) 14 and 15 number pins on J3 on SDB. Nothing changed.

I'm stumped.

Also, where does the 5V enter the MPU? Which connector and pin number?

The wire you are referring to, pin 15 on J3 on SDB, Looks like it was possibly replaced at one point because it is not "white green" as it should be. (Pic below).

Also this wire connects to the MPU at J4 pin 17 and looking at the molex connector I saw this greenish liquid?? Not sure what that is but I cleaned it off. The wires are definitely seated well. I don't know...

Not green white, more like solid green.
IMG_4854 (resized).PNG

Mystery goo
IMG_4861 (resized).PNG

Just the female pins. I have not replaced any headers because the board boots well in a different game.

Bump for the Saturday crew. Still stumped as to what would cause a drop in 5V on the MPU after flash number 3. Anyone know? All boards are good, all connections repinned. A bad wire? Is that even a thing? Can someone point me to a specific wire?

Thanks for chimming in pinballmaniac! I have not done that, however I put the power driver in a different game and it booted perfectly. Additionally I took another known working power driver and put it in this game, Embryon and I got the same results.

Wouldn't logic say, if it's not the boards, it HAS to be the wires/connectors?? The boards are all tested and good. The connectors have been repinned, and I double checked wiring in the manual and all is correct. That's why I asked the (probably noob) question of "could it be a wire itself?" Ugh this is frustrating.

Any guidance appreciated!

I am getting 5v both at pin 15 at J3 on the SDB, and at pin17 at J4 on the MPU.

So why then does the MPU lose the 5v?

Anyone?

I am getting 5V at TP1 Of the MPU, it is labeled "+5V in".

But I am only getting 0.8 on TP4, it is labeled "+5V".

IMG_4862 (resized).JPG

Thoughts?

Yes I see it, thanks for chimming in!

Ok so that yellow thing is shorting. Any idea what would cause that? Like I said, the MPU itself worked great in another game, so I assume it's not actually the yellow thing.

Thanks for your help so far Quench!

Ok when I did this, the game actually fully booted! I feel like this is progress?

What does that tell you, or what should I do next? Thanks!!

Ok I unplugged only J1, and left J2 J3 and J4 connected and it booted up. So the issue must be at J1. Correct? Question is what is the issue. I've double checked wiring and it appears correct also have repinned that connection.

Ok I just did this. I only have J1 and J4 connected, and it will not boot. Crashes after 3rd flash.

Ok, all connectors are plugged in except J4 on the lamp board, and it booted!!

So my issue is at J4 on the lamp board?

Quench, you are awesome!!!

Found the issue and fixed it. J4 on the lamp board had a broken solder joint on pin 16 (pic attached). Quick touch of solder and boom everything works now!! So pumped!

I would've never thought the lamp board was involved. I've learned something.

Also, this isn't the first time Quench has fixed a machine of mine. Is it possible to donate to pinside in another's name?

Thanks everyone, and especially Quench!!

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