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Sound issue on Stern Star Trek

Chris P

Chris P

Registered
10 Years
Joined
May 13, 2014
Messages
669
Location
Bromley
I hoping someone can help me with a sound issue I have on ST.

The sound is all messed up, it is to do with a mod I tried to install from Mezel mods, it was supposed to be plug and play. It didn't work properly from plugging into the power outlet near the right hand side front of the cabinet. He sent me another way to connect it via piggy backing J16 on the main board.

This is when the trouble started. It fires up making a very loud noise. I took it out and put the original plug in and it is still making the noise for a few seconds and then stops. Once it has stopped there is no further sound throughout the game.

I have taken out the starter motor of the fluorescent lamp to see if that makes a difference which it doesn't.

I have asked Tim Mezel for advice, but of course radio silence on his end.

This is what I plugged in
IMG_0391.JPG

Looking at the manual, this is what it was powered into J16 pins 3,4 and 9
IMG_0390.PNG
I have made a vide of it, but can't upload it directly. I may have to upload it to YouTube and enter the link
 
It was the warp ramp chase lights, such a shame I couldn't get it to work properly, it did look great.
Should look like this when on.
IMG_0365.JPG
 
Yeah I fitted it to mine, no issues. Do you have any other mods plugged in to the accessory connector you may have disturbed when unplugging things? Anything else not working?
 
That is the only mod I have for it, Mezel did mention he used a different brand LED which could have affected it.
When I used the original plug it triggered the warp ramp targets even though they weren't touching them.
I tested the mod in AC/DC and it seemed fine, very strange
 
Vengeance mod also looks great, I am put off mods for now.

I have now learnt that mod fried something on the sound board as I tested it in another machine with the same results.

The question I have is who would be the best person to send the board to for repairs?
 
Did you do the mod whilst the pinball was powered on at all?
 
Very little info our there regarding SAM sound repair but I did find this. Looks like there is a common common failure when sound is lost.




Closing the loop on this one. After providing Stern tech support with the above info was told "Most likely the D/A converter U16 is bad. This is the component that commonly fails. This is a PCM1755."

Swapped out the 1755 and the board is back up and running.

viperrrwk


upload_2017-6-3_6-34-22.png
24 Janupload_2017-6-3_6-34-22.jpegtrader...@gmail.com

Dredging this up again because I just fixed #3 (ST Pro) with a bad DAC since April of last year. This seems a common problem with this system which prompts two questions: 1 - why does this keep happening and 2 - is there a solution other than simply putting in another PCM1755?

viperrwk
upload_2017-6-3_6-34-22.png
24 Janupload_2017-6-3_6-34-22.jpegKerry Imming

On 1/23/2017 10:29 PM, trader...@gmail.com wrote:
> Dredging this up again because I just fixed #3 (ST Pro) with a bad DAC since April of last year. This seems a common problem with this system which prompts two questions: 1 - why does this keep happening and 2 - is there a solution other than simply putting in another PCM1755?
>

Based on nothing but the circuit...
the PCM1755 is powered by +5V and the signals driving it are on the
+3.3V supply. If the +3.3V supply powers up faster than the +5V supply
it could stress the part. That said, there is typically a restriction
in specs that limit Vin on the pins to a few tenths of a volt over the
supply voltage and I don't see that for this part.

- Kerry
 
It is a surface mounted chip, I am guessing it still needs to be soldered in
IMG_5939.jpg
 
Greetings- I thought I would chime in on not only or plans to resolve the issue but our plans to further diagnose the cause.

We've reached out to Pinball Daze to coordinate payment for the necessary board repair. Additionally, we've issued a full refund for the item. While neither of these actions fix the frustration, disappointment, and fears that this issue has created we hope that they help lessen the sting.

In all our years, we've never experienced a failure of this magnitude and therefore intend to do a full post-mortem of the potential cause of the failure. Because we've never had issues of this nature with the Star Trek Warp Ramp product, we are anxious to learn from the failure and make improvements in our supply chain, manufacturing, testing and quality control processes. We've taken the product off the market until we understand the failure mechanism.

We deeply apologize for the issues or product may have caused and hope to offer not only resolution and learning for improved products to this as well as the larger pinball community.
 
kbmabq said:
Greetings- I thought I would chime in on not only or plans to resolve the issue but our plans to further diagnose the cause.

We've reached out to Pinball Daze to coordinate payment for the necessary board repair. Additionally, we've issued a full refund for the item. While neither of these actions fix the frustration, disappointment, and fears that this issue has created we hope that they help lessen the sting.

In all our years, we've never experienced a failure of this magnitude and therefore intend to do a full post-mortem of the potential cause of the failure. Because we've never had issues of this nature with the Star Trek Warp Ramp product, we are anxious to learn from the failure and make improvements in our supply chain, manufacturing, testing and quality control processes. We've taken the product off the market until we understand the failure mechanism.

We deeply apologize for the issues or product may have caused and hope to offer not only resolution and learning for improved products to this as well as the larger pinball community.
Click to expand...
:clap::clap::clap:

Now that is how you do customer service. Above and beyond. Excellent. :thumbs:
 
@kbmabq
Thanks Kristin and Tim,
You have both been great in trying to get me up running again,
great communications in trying to resolve this issue.
Hopefully I should be back up and Star Trekking very soon,
Best regards,
Chris
 
I really think that the mod fitted will have nothing to do with the sound failure that chip is a common fail part I have seen many times but not on a game that new
 
Just an update on my sound board, it is now fixed and back up and running :clap:.
A huge thank you to @PinballDaze for organising the board to be sent off for repair and a huge thank you to @kbmabq for taking care of the bill.
Investigation is still on going with the mod itself.
The sound board had parts U16 and U33 replaced.
Now if you excuse me I need to get back to ST :)
 
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