I recently worked on my Williams Blackout. I replaced all the headers and most of the connectors. I did not change the connectors for the displays – they are IDC connectors and they were working fine. Now I’ve noticed some of the segments on displays 3 and 4 flicker and a couple of segments were out totally. I fixed the missing segments by replacing a couple of resistors. But I still got flickering so I replaced the remaining resistors. It’s still flickering.

Would a bad connector (1J5) – Display BCD cause this flickering?

Thanks

Bob

I replaced the BCD connector and now I have missing and flickering segments on all displays.

Could a bad PIA (IC 18) cause this problem?

Thanks

Bob

I pulled out the PIA and tested it on my tester. It tested OK.

I put in a different PIA into the game and get the same results.

Below is a video of display test.

Any suggestions of what the problem could be?

Thanks

Bob

I just put the master display into my Flash game. No flickering - so the problem must be with the MPU.

I've replaced all the headers on the MPU board. I replaced the J5 connector. I replaced the PIA (IC 18).

What else could be the problem? I'm out of ideas!

Please help.

Bob

Thanks Brewchap, You may be on to something.

With player 3 only:
missing segments and some flickering

With player 4 only:
no missing segments and no flickering

With players 4 & 2:
no missing segments and no flickering

With players 4 - 2 & 1:
missing segments and some flickering (player 4 is OK)

With player 1 only:
missing segments and some flickering.

Looks like players 1 and 3 might be causing the problems.

I have a Flash I'm working on. I'll try to swap displays 1 & 3.

Thanks

Bob

Thanks Frunch, That's a good tip. I always power off the game to plugging/unplugging any connector.

Looks like Brewchap was right on. I removed two displays from my Flash and installed them into the Blackout. They all work fine now. Unfortunately, now I have to repair the Flash.

I don't see anything that can go bad on the slave displays. Just traces and glass display. Anyway to repair these?

Thanks

Bob

I'm not above putting in LED displays. I have a Stern with LED displays. With the back-glass in you can hardly tell the difference.

I been thinking about the Rottendog displays and that's probably the way I'll go.

Thanks

Bob