Vectrex issue

[Garwor]

Hey folks, first post here, but I hope to become a regular user.

 

I've had my Vectrex for a few years and it recently went through a period of non-use. Since using it again I've had a situation with a few carts where about 5-7 seconds into the start of a game the screen will go black, sound will stop, etc. The system isn't losing power (I can hear the volume pot's scratchiness as I turn it). Cleaning the cart contacts seem to fix the issue.

 

Troubleshooted and solved, most likely. But I'm curious if anyone else has had this happen before. Sad as it may be, I treat my Vectrex like it were my first born, haha, so I want to be 100% on this.

 

Thanks!

[vtk]

hi, so this never occurs when you play the inbuilt game minestorm instead of using a cartridge?

 

it might be an idea to give the cartridge socket of your vectrex unit a clean also, instead of just cleaning the cartridge contacts

 

to do this, (note: with the vectrex switched off) spray some (note: dont soak to the point of it starts dripping everywhere) electrical contact cleaner (such as the product called 'servisol super 10') onto the contacts of a cartridge, and then insert/remove the cartridge into your vectrex a few times. wait eg. half an hour and do this cleaning process again

 

afterwards, wait an hour or two before using your vectrex again .. or instead just wait until next day

 

(dont spray the electrical contact cleaner directly into the vectrex cartridge slot)

 

[vtk]

or instead use isopropyl alcohol which would be an easier job because it evaporates away (so doesnt matter if you spray a little more than you should)

[Garwor]

Yep, never did it on Minestorm, nor with about 90% of my carts (or the troubled carts once I cleaned them). I'm 99% sure it was just getting a bad read, especially because it was happening right in the very beginning of a game. I'd just never had that happen before so I wanted to make sure it wasn't some super obvious hardware failure. Super familiar with read failure on an NES, haha, not so much with this machine.

 

I appreciate the cleaning tips! It's probably about time I get the thing a head to toe. I'll hit up the reader with some Deoxit (don't need anything that heavy duty usually, but my friend always has some around for his pinball machines).

 

Thanks again!

[Maraakate]

hi, so this never occurs when you play the inbuilt game minestorm instead of using a cartridge?

 

it might be an idea to give the cartridge socket of your vectrex unit a clean also, instead of just cleaning the cartridge contacts

 

to do this, (note: with the vectrex switched off) spray some (note: dont soak to the point of it starts dripping everywhere) electrical contact cleaner (such as the product called 'servisol super 10') onto the contacts of a cartridge, and then insert/remove the cartridge into your vectrex a few times. wait eg. half an hour and do this cleaning process again

 

afterwards, wait an hour or two before using your vectrex again .. or instead just wait until next day

 

(dont spray the electrical contact cleaner directly into the vectrex cartridge slot)

 

 

I got a vectrex recently that wouldn't read carts. I ended up spraying the contact cleaner directly into the socket and used a title I didn't care for and was of little value and repeatedly removed and reseated the cart then let the contents evaporate. I haven't had a problem reading games since.