About Brian Penzone Expertise I can answer questions regarding coin-operated arcade game questions down to the logic board. Error codes, erratic operation, dead boards, i can help with them all. I cannot help with monitors. I can help to a certain extent on PSP, PS2 and PS3 consoles as well.
Experience I am the lead technician for a very large national coin-op operator and have 11 years of arcade technical experience.
Education/Credentials BA from The Ohio State University, Associates from DeVry University
Expert: Brian Penzone Date: 7/14/2007 Subject: defender game
Question I own a 1980 Williams defender stand up coin operated game. At one time it worked fine but now when turned on it makes some of the noises it used to and the screen gets power but no image comes up. Which makes me think the monitor has went out. I was told that these particular monitors can be easily exchanged with any monitor even an old TV. Is this true? and if so who could I have come do it for a reasonable fee? or do you think this is something that I could do myself?
Answer Greg,
It certainly sounds like the monitor has gone out on your machine. Here are a few things to check to see if it is the monitor:
1) When you turn the game on, remove the bezel (the clear plastic sheet in front of the monitor) and put your hand on the face of the monitor. Do you feel static? You should feel some if the monitor is getting power.
2) Remove the back door and power up the game. There should be 3 red LEDs on the power supply board which will be at the bottom of the cabinet. Now look at the neck of the monitor. After 5-10 seconds, the neck of the monitor should have an orange glow to it. It may be hard to see if the monitor is very dirty.
But it certainly sounds like the monitor is bad. Contrary to what you've been told, you cannot connect an old TV to this game. They use completely different inputs, and it would be incredibly difficult to do.
If you're looking for someone to fix your game, a great resource is the arcade collecting newsgroup RGVAC. You can find it here:
