I can't say for sure - I'm guessing yes unless they wired up the prototypes differently and that the aux power board would need to be removed, you'd need a new cable to go from the CPU to the audio board as well as the new board and ROMs.

I do know that the tricky part in all of this is the A-12738 sound board. In the WPC boardset that's one of the more difficult to come by and you would likely have to pay over $200 for one if you don't have it already.

Good luck!

viperrwk

You'd have to change out the transformer. If you're gonna do that, for the love of history, just trade your proto FH for a really nice production machine. I don't think you'd have any problems setting something up with someone.

I don't have a proto FH and have never done this mod. So take what I'm saying with the usual caveat.

Having said that, looking at this photo:

http://ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=966&picno=30741

J501 and J502 look like the standard plugs that would go into the A-12738 audio board with 501 carrying the AC voltage which normally gets rectified to +/-12v on the audio board and 502 carrying the logic voltage. If the voltages check out no reason they couldn't be used with the WPC audio board. The wires look long enough to fit.

Also this page - http://www.flippers.be/funhouse_prototype_guide.html - does not mention the xfmr being different on the FH prototype. Doesn't mean it's not but given everything documented here would have thought it would be mentioned.

viperrwk

I just assumed the ones with the sys11 board were running off of a sys11 transformer. Just taking a stab in the dark there.

http://mirror2.ipdb.org/files/966/Williams_1990_Funhouse_Prototype_Manual_Addendum.pdf

This indicates the sound board, sound roms and transformers are not compatible.

WPC-89 sound is run off of 18 volts.

I can't tell from the IPDB schematic, but sys11 sound boards operate off of +12, +5 and -12. If the 18 volt transformer is used on a 12 volt sound board, damage usually occurs. If the 12 volt xformer is used to operate the 18 volt sound board, it probably won't work.

Ah - there's your answer. Good find John.

The A-13502 "Sound Interface board" provides the +/-12v to the Sys11 sound board. The input to that board is 9.7VAC according to the schematic (and now I see that on the IPDB photo.) The WPC sound board needs 18VAC input. Unless you also change the xfmr it won't work.

Props to barron on the right call!

viperrwk

I had a set of those schematics at one time, when I had a sample FH. I included them when I sold the game, so I don't have a copy to reference.

I do have an extra A-13502 board in a box of parts that I acquired along the line.

My guesses like this have lead to too many problems for me to ever deserve props.

But, seriously, don't desecrate the sample game. There are plenty of rarity hoarders out there to get a nice FH from. Most protos didn't come along at such a transitional period as Funhouse did for Williams. Makes it such a cool prototype to own!

I know this is a old thread but has anyone successfully upgraded the prototype soundboard in Funhouse to the WPC-89 soundboard?

I have the new soundboard and if all at need is the transformer I would like to do it. Thanks for any input.

It's probalby going to be wired for the system 11 sound board, rather than the WPC sound board. You may have to rewire things in addition to finding a transformer.

Honestly, I'd keep it original. It's a fairly rare find.

If you don't care about it all that much, see if someone might want to trade for a standard WPC funhouse.

pellew, did you keep a copy of your original PA-1 CPU and sound ROMs, and would you be willing to share them with us?
We would like to integrate them into MAME / PinMAME, for once...

Cheers,
Gaston