• Home
  • Gallery

TechGallery

TechGallery » Video Game Tech » Vectrex - Cap Kit

This is a meant only as a loose guide for installing the cap kit, and for altering the audio to reduce the buzzing noise. Some experience required. I now sell my own Vectrex cap kit, made with high-quality, high-temperature caps.
  • «
  • 1
  • 2
  • »
vectrex01

vectrex01

I ordered my cap kit from Zanen. It came with all the parts listed on the roster, however, it was actually missing a few caps. I've since heard that this problem has been rectified.
vectrex01
vectrex03

vectrex03

Remove the 5 screws from the back, and remove the rear case.
vectrex03
vectrex04

vectrex04

(For audio buzz repair) Cut & tape off the ground wire on the 4-wire connector to the logic board. In this picture, it's the green wire, but apparently the wire color may vary. The board to the left of the tube is the power board, and the board in the bottom of the case (shown on right in this picture) is the logic board.
vectrex04
vectrex010

vectrex010

Organize your parts. Maybe even in the bottom half of a 2600 case.
vectrex010
vectrex05

vectrex05

Closeup of connector / ground wire. Also, desolder the braided ground strap between the two boards.
vectrex05
vectrex07

vectrex07

vectrex07
vectrex08

vectrex08

Discharge the anode using standard techniques. The HV is around 5.7KV in the Vectrex. Not nearly as bad as a raster monitor, but not the kind of thing you want to pass through your body either.
vectrex08
vectrex09

vectrex09

Remove anode cap. Remove the ground lead that is held in place by the upper-left picture tube retaining screw.
vectrex09
vectrex011

vectrex011

Cut wire-tie from neck board, and remove neck board. There are 5 connections on the power board to remove: Power connector to logic board Yoke connector (if present) Audio connector to logic board Speaker connector X-Y connector to logic board Apparently, not all Vectrex have a connector for the yoke. In that case, you'll have to desolder the connections from the power board.
vectrex011
vectrex012

vectrex012

Remove 2 screws holding power board into case, and remove power board.
vectrex012
vectrex013

vectrex013

vectrex013
vectrex018

vectrex018

Remove the screws that hold the plastic power board retainer to the power board.
vectrex018
vectrex020

vectrex020

Start replacing caps. There are a few hiding under that heat sink. Replace them if you want, but they're probably ok. If you're going to do the audio fix, remove the connector for the audio input from the logic board.
vectrex020
vectrex019

vectrex019

There are only a few caps on the logic board. You can get away with replacing the while the board is still installed, but it's tricky. If you're going to do the audio fix, you'll just want to pull it all apart.
vectrex019
vectrex024

vectrex024

If any traces lift off the board, carefully inspect and repair them. The electric tape band-aid is covering a repaired trace.
vectrex024
vectrex035

vectrex035

To remove the logic board, remove the 5 large screws holding the logic board / transformer / fuse assembly. Also, pull the cap off the volume/power switch.
vectrex035
  • «
  • 1
  • 2
  • »
| Archive View
Powered by Zenphoto & Bootstrap