HawgWyld1 Posted August 23, 2002 Share Posted August 23, 2002 Here's a question for you tech-minded 2600 fans. One of my poor ol' systems is having some trouble. Specifically, it works great for about five minutes, and then the screen goes all wacky (reduced color, wavy lines and fuzzy picture). If I turn off the power and flip it back on, everything is fine for about five minutes. It's a repeating cycle, see. Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this? I've run it through both an RF converter and my preferred method of using an RCA jack to cable converter, and the problem still persists. I've got two other consoles that work just fine through the RCA jack to cable converter, so I'm pretty sure my afflicted console has some kind of blasted internal problem. Help, please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari2600Lives Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 It sounds like the power supply is over heating.....exact sympton one of my units had and I fixed it by switching supplies. Atari2600Lives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawgWyld1 Posted August 24, 2002 Author Share Posted August 24, 2002 It sounds like the power supply is over heating.....exact sympton one of my units had and I fixed it by switching supplies. Atari2600Lives I thought that might be the problem because I got a replacement power supply for this particular machine at Radio Shack. However, it does the same thing with another power supply I tried, and yet another console works just fine with the Radio Shack one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceCold Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 Well since we're talking about broken 2600's, what about mine? It's a Vader. When I turn it on I just get a black screen. I've opened it, I couldn't see anything wrong with it. I know it's not my games, so anybody know what's wrong with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari freak 1 Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 Well since we're talking about broken 2600's, what about mine? It's a Vader. When I turn it on I just get a black screen. I've opened it, I couldn't see anything wrong with it. I know it's not my games, so anybody know what's wrong with it. Your cart port is broken. The contacts are either broken or bend back so far that they don't make contact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceCold Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 So all that's wrong is the cartridge port? Well how do I get to the pins? there's that dumb cover on it. I really would like to get my 2600 working, so if that's all that's wrong, I'm definitely willing to do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari freak 1 Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 I have a question, Sometimes when you turn it on do you see colored bars across the screen with wierd colors? Also, if it is the cart port you have to change the whole slot. you can buy them cheap from that store.....I can remember the name....someone help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Gill Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 HawgWyld1, I've seen that problem before, it's probably the voltage regulator that has failed. I'll try and find the part number you need to replace it. It's a fairly easy soldering job. -Chuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceCold Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 No I don't see colored bars or anything. It's just black . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari freak 1 Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 Well Ice, I have a vader with the same prob. And when I turn it on sometimes I get colored bars and sometimes I get a black screen. So I'm not sure that it's the cart slot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 The voltage regulator is most likely the problem...I have seen this lots of times... To fix that black screen problem run to Radio Shack and buy yourself a 7805 voltage regulator. Go home, open the vader up and desolder the old one...replace with new and power it up. Let us know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Gill Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 HawgWyld1, It's a 7805. Radio Shack has it for $1.49 as part #276-1770. -Chuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceCold Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 The voltage regulator is most likely the problem...I have seen this lots of times... To fix that black screen problem run to Radio Shack and buy yourself a 7805 voltage regulator. Go home, open the vader up and desolder the old one...replace with new and power it up. Let us know... Well now I'm confused. I assume you're talking to me when you say the black screen and the voltage regulator, oh and also the vader. But cmgill said the same thing, but to HawgWyld1. Does that mean that the same part will fix both of our problems? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari freak 1 Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 The voltage regulator is most likely the problem...I have seen this lots of times... To fix that black screen problem run to Radio Shack and buy yourself a 7805 voltage regulator. Go home, open the vader up and desolder the old one...replace with new and power it up. Let us know... Ok ice, I guess I was wrong. Sorry for leading you on the wrong track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceCold Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 Does that mean I shouldn't try getting a new voltage regulator? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari freak 1 Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 Does that mean I shouldn't try getting a new voltage regulator? I don't know, I'm confeused too. I thought he was talking to you too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceCold Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 Well I'll probably try the voltage regulator, then if that doesn't work, either trash the system ( ) or buy a new cart port. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari2600Lives Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 Combat Commando- If it's a timed issue it certainly sounds like a heat problem. Have you by any chance tried another wall outlet? Just curious......... Atari2600Lives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawgWyld1 Posted August 24, 2002 Author Share Posted August 24, 2002 HawgWyld1, I've seen that problem before, it's probably the voltage regulator that has failed. I'll try and find the part number you need to replace it. It's a fairly easy soldering job. -Chuck Thank you very much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 I was talking to Ice. As for the timing problem I am not totally sure...but I had a similar problem with my Atari 4 switcher back in the day. Turned out to be related to the voltage regulator...but not the regulator itself...it was the white heat compound used...over time this became really oily and was actually shorting out the Atari. I unscrewed the voltage regulator and carefully pried it up off the heat plate it was attached to. Then I had to wipe away all the white heatsink compound. Once I did this...I rescrewed it back to the heat plate on the main board and after that, the Atari worked just like new again. Far as I know..it still is somewhere... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kami Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 I just bought a 2600 and was told it worked...it doesn't! I've taken it apart but to tell the truth I'm not sure what everything is, so I don't even know what to look for or what parts to buy to try to fix it. Does anyone know if there is an illistrated repair manual available? Where's the best place to look for another machine, or games? Thanks! [/img] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari2600Lives Posted August 24, 2002 Share Posted August 24, 2002 Kami- If the local thrift shops fails you (they never work in my area) shop around Ebay. I scored a real nice complete Atari 2600 black vader a few weeks ago for $20.00 shipped. You have to wait around and look every night for a few weeks for a deal but you will get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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