Slickone Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 On my 400, I have to press & hold down or sideways (not 'in') on A/C adapter's plug end, that plugs into the 400, to keep the power on the 400. That is the jack inside the 400 that's loose isn't it? Is that an easy fix? Or is there a possiblity it's in the adapter's plug? I tried the adapter on an Odyssey2 and it did the same thing (though I had to press a lot more), but it's jack is probably bad too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinosaur Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 Not really a BIG problem,either: a) gently squeeze the plug out of round. OR b) (better) replace the plug with a new one (Radio Shack et.al.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slickone Posted January 26, 2005 Author Share Posted January 26, 2005 So it's most likely the barrel itself, and not the contacts on the board? Sorry for all the typos. I swear the forum is changing my text. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slickone Posted February 1, 2005 Author Share Posted February 1, 2005 I closed the plug/barrel up it a little more and it was very hard to put in, and didn't help. I opened it back up a little and got some power for a few short times (I couldn't hold it in the right spot to get it to stay on), but now I have no power. It works fine on my Odyssey2 though, and I don't even have to press on it anymore. What's going on? I have pics of the jack inside the 400. It's made of three metal parts/contacts. When you put the plug in it, are two of the three contacts in the jack supposed to touch? Or is it only supposed to disconnect one of those contacts and the third one? Also I accidentally broke the cartridge door off when opening it up. I was careful, but it's old and brittle. Does anyone have a broken 400 I get get a door from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deathtrappomegranate Posted February 1, 2005 Share Posted February 1, 2005 You may have bad solder joints on the power socket, by the sound of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slickone Posted February 1, 2005 Author Share Posted February 1, 2005 Anyone know how to verify that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slickone Posted February 4, 2005 Author Share Posted February 4, 2005 Could anyone give me any advice? I was hoping to fix this by tomorrow for a get together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slickone Posted February 7, 2005 Author Share Posted February 7, 2005 [sigh] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted February 7, 2005 Share Posted February 7, 2005 At this point you're beyond what anyone can easily diagnose across the net. It looks like you're faced with taking the machine apart and checking the solder joints on the power jack, and the integrity of the jack itself. -Bry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slickone Posted February 7, 2005 Author Share Posted February 7, 2005 As I said, I've already got it apart. I just need to know how to check it, ie. which conductors (which solder joints) to check since there are three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted February 7, 2005 Share Posted February 7, 2005 There are only 2 contacts that matter: the center post, and the piece that touches the outside of the barrel. If the solder on the board is good, then there are 2 other problems I can think of: 1. The metal has oxidized and will need polishing where it contacts the plug. 2. The center post has lost contact where it is rivited to the back of the jack assembly. -Bry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saunders104 Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 It's most likely the solder has deteriorated around where the the power jack is attached to the circuit board. It should be easy to tell where it needs to be re-soldered. Just gently move the jack with your fingers while watching the opposite side of the circuit board for joint movement. I've fixed a 2600 and a 800xl with the same problem. Easy to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slickone Posted February 11, 2005 Author Share Posted February 11, 2005 I checked the 400 jack's contacts with a multimeter, with the AC plug plugged in, and get 10.5V. I also checked the contacts and soldier itself underneath and get the same. So I'm afraid it's something else. Anything else to check? I also checked at the switch, and get the same. Oddly, looking at the PCB, the circuit is complete when the switch is off (and that's when I get 10.5V across it) and broken when the switch is on. How does that work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted February 11, 2005 Share Posted February 11, 2005 I also checked at the switch, and get the same. Oddly, looking at the PCB, the circuit is complete when the switch is off (and that's when I get 10.5V across it) and broken when the switch is on. How does that work? Because, when the switch is off, the contact is broken and you have different potentials on either side of it. When the switch is on, the contacts touch, making them the same potential and yielding a 0V difference across them. -Bry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slickone Posted February 13, 2005 Author Share Posted February 13, 2005 So am I checking it correctly? Am I getting the correct values at the plug? Anything else I can check? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slickone Posted March 26, 2006 Author Share Posted March 26, 2006 I know this thread is old, but I didn't know enough to check anything else besides what I last posted/asked back then, and after it's collected dust for over a year, I've got to do something with it, ie. get rid of it. Unless someone has any other things that an electronics novice can check, I'm wondering what should I do with a broken Atari 400? Throw it in the trash? I never even got to try the Castle Crises cart I bought from Bryan. How much should I ask for it considering it seems to be in higher demand now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 I know this thread is old, but I didn't know enough to check anything else besides what I last posted/asked back then, and after it's collected dust for over a year, I've got to do something with it, ie. get rid of it. Unless someone has any other things that an electronics novice can check, I'm wondering what should I do with a broken Atari 400? Throw it in the trash? I never even got to try the Castle Crises cart I bought from Bryan. How much should I ask for it considering it seems to be in higher demand now? I looked on B&C Computervisions' web site, and they sell the 800 power board for $5. You could call them and see if they have any 400 ones. -Bry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slickone Posted March 26, 2006 Author Share Posted March 26, 2006 I looked on B&C Computervisions' web site, and they sell the 800 power board for $5. You could call them and see if they have any 400 ones. So I'm guessing the 400 and 800 power boards are the same? BTW, minimum shipping cost from there is $8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 I looked on B&C Computervisions' web site, and they sell the 800 power board for $5. You could call them and see if they have any 400 ones. So I'm guessing the 400 and 800 power boards are the same? BTW, minimum shipping cost from there is $8. No, the 800 power board has more connectors. You'd need to see if they have a 400 one. -Bry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slickone Posted March 27, 2006 Author Share Posted March 27, 2006 I looked on B&C Computervisions' web site, and they sell the 800 power board for $5. You could call them and see if they have any 400 ones. So I'm guessing the 400 and 800 power boards are the same? BTW, minimum shipping cost from there is $8. No, the 800 power board has more connectors. You'd need to see if they have a 400 one. -Bry Oh, sorry, I misread your reply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slickone Posted March 31, 2006 Author Share Posted March 31, 2006 So, how should one get rid of an inop Atari 400? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevelanc Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 My Atari 400 is broke (cartridges won't work on it) - I'm after a dead one to see if I can swap the parts round. I live in the UK. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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