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1 Introduction

Williams System 8 Board Set

The Williams System 8 boardset was used in 1984 with only two games, the pitch and bat Pennant Fever and Still Crazy, a novelty game. Combining the driver board, sound board, and cpu directly onto one board eliminated several design deficiencies of the earlier System 3-7 boardsets; mainly the 40 pin interconnector, and extra wiring harness interboard connectors.

System 8 is very similar to its successor (System 9), but it is more of a "slimmed down" version. There are a total of 8 controlled solenoids versus the 16 used with the system 9 boardset. Another distinct difference is system 8 hardware does not utilize special solenoids. System 8 also lacks the connector for a speech daughterboard.

Although System 8 is capable of driving four 7-digit displays and one 4 digit display, only two 7-digit displays are used with Pennant Fever and one 7-digit display is used with Still Crazy. Therefore, master display boards are not used on either game. Both the lamp and switch matrices are 8 x 8 in size, but neither Pennant Fever nor Still Crazy use many switches in their matrices.

2 Games

Title	Date of Release	Model #	Other Boards	Notes
Pennant Fever	05-1984	526	CPU rev A	Pitch and Bat
Still Crazy	06-1984	534	CPU rev X1	Novelty Vertical Pinball

3 Technical Info

3.1 CPU Driver Board

System 8 CPU rev A (Pennant Fever). Note: The insect on connector J8 is not OEM issued.

System 8 CPU rev X1 (Still Crazy)

3.2 Power Supply

System 8 Power Supply

The System 8 power supply is identical to a System 7 and System 9 power supply.

4 Problems and Solutions

4.1 Power Problems

4.2 MPU boot issues

4.2.1 Relocating the battery from the MPU board

Use the same procedure as detailed in the System 9 section, here.

4.2.2 Repairing Alkaline Corrosion

Use the same procedure as detailed in the System 11 section, here.

4.2.3 Connecting a logic probe to the MPU

Connect the +5V lead of your logic probe to the top of C6.

The System 8 MPU lacks test points. Argh!

To connect a logic probe, pick up +5V at the top lead of capacitor C6 (a trace extends down from the larger electrolytic cap at C5).
Pick up ground at pin 9 of 1J5.

Of course, +5v and ground can always be acquired at any one of the bypass capacitors, which are located at most every chip, and simply labeled as "B".

4.2.4 Using a PC Power Supply For Bench Testing

Powering the System 8 MPU on the bench with an old PC power supply.

For full operation a System 8 MPU requires +5V, +12V, -12V DC and ground. However, -12V is only required for the sound amplifier, so that voltage may be omitted for non-sound-related testing.

Connect...

Ground to pin 1, 2, or 3
+5VDC to pin 4, 5,or 6
-12VDC to pin 8
+12VDC to pin 9

4.3 Game resets

4.4 Solenoid problems

this is a stub

4.5 Lamp problems

4.5.1 Lamp Matrix Row and Column Testing

4.6 Switch problems

4.6.1 Switch Matrix Row and Column Testing

4.7 Display problems

WARNING: This circuit uses high voltages. Don't continue, unless you are confident in your diagnostic abilities.

4.8 Sound problems

The sound generation section of the System 8 MPU.

The System 8 MPU creates sound on the MPU itself, much like the baseline version of the System 11 MPU.

General System 8 Sound Subsystem Theory of Operation

The sound subsystem consists of a 6808/2 processor, 6821 PIA, 1408 DAC, and finally a TDA2002 amplifier.
Sounds are conveyed to the sound subsystem by the main processor via the input ports of the 6821 PIA at IC13.
The 6808 at IC11 reads the PIA input port then pulls the appropriate sound file from the sound ROM at IC49.
The 6808 sends the sound data back to the 6821s second set of output ports, which are attached to the 1408 digital-to-analog converter.
A remotely located volume pot may be used to adjust volume levels.
The analog audio is then presented to the TDA2002 for final amplification.
The amplified audio is presented to the single 8 ohm cabinet speaker.

Pennant fever makes only 8 sounds.

"Charge" bugle theme
Organ music, "The Lone Ranger" theme
"You're out!"
"Boooo!"
"Strike One"
"Strike Two"
"All right!"

Pressing switch 3 on the MPU should cause the sound system to play "FirePower-like" sounds continuously until power to the game is turned off.

Note that the sound subsystem can be configured to use either a 6808 or a 6802 microprocessor.
To use a 6808, jumper W1 should be in, W2 out.
To use a 6802, jumper W1 should be out, W2 in.

4.9 Replacing a System 8 MPU with a System 9 MPU

Yes, it's possible.

PDF Instructions (Document Source)

5 Repair Logs

Did you do a repair? Log it here as a possible solution for others.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{WIP}}
-Click to go back to the [http://pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Williams_Repair_Guides Williams solid state repair guides index].
+Click to go back to the [[Williams_Repair_Guides | Williams solid state repair guides index]].
 =Introduction=
-[[File:System_8_Boardset.JPG‎|200px|thumb|left|Williams System 8 Board Set]]<br><br>
+[[File:System_8_Boardset.JPG‎|200px|thumb|left|Williams System 8 Board Set]]
 The Williams System 8 boardset was used in 1984 with only two games, the pitch and bat Pennant Fever and Still Crazy, a novelty game.  Combining the driver board, sound board, and cpu directly onto one board eliminated several design deficiencies of the earlier System 3-7 boardsets; mainly the 40 pin interconnector, and extra wiring harness interboard connectors.<br>
 System 8 is very similar to its successor (System 9), but it is more of a "slimmed down" version.  There are a total of 8 controlled solenoids versus the 16 used with the system 9 boardset.  Another distinct difference is system 8 hardware does not utilize special solenoids.  System 8 also lacks the connector for a speech daughterboard.
-Although system 8 is capable of driving four 7-digit displays and one 4 digit display, only two 7-digit displays are used with Pennant Fever and one 7-digit display is used with Still Crazy.  Therefore, master display boards are not used on either game.  Both the lamp and switch matrices are 8 x 8 in size, but neither Pennant Fever nor Still Crazy use many switches in their matrices.
+Although System 8 is capable of driving four 7-digit displays and one 4 digit display, only two 7-digit displays are used with Pennant Fever and one 7-digit display is used with Still Crazy.  Therefore, master display boards are not used on either game.  Both the lamp and switch matrices are 8 x 8 in size, but neither Pennant Fever nor Still Crazy use many switches in their matrices.
 <br clear=all>
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 !Notes
 |-
-|Pennant Fever|| 05-1984 || 526 ||  ||
+|Pennant Fever|| 05-1984 || 526 || CPU rev A || Pitch and Bat
+|-
+|Still Crazy|| 06-1984 || 534 || CPU rev X1 || Novelty Vertical Pinball
 |}
 =Technical Info=
 ==CPU Driver Board==
-[[File:WMS Sys8 CPU.jpg|200px|thumb|left|System 8 CPU]]<br clear=all>
+[[File:WMS Sys8 CPU.jpg|200px|thumb|left|System 8 CPU rev A (Pennant Fever). Note: The insect on connector J8 is not OEM issued.]]
+[[File:System_8_cpu_x1.jpg|200px|thumb|left|System 8 CPU rev X1 (Still Crazy)]]<br clear=all>
 ==Power Supply==
-[[File:System_8_Power_Supply.JPG|200px|thumb|left|System 8 Power Supply]]<br clear=all>
+[[File:System_8_Power_Supply.JPG|200px|thumb|left|System 8 Power Supply]]<br>
+The System 8 power supply is identical to a System 7 and System 9 power supply.
+<br clear=all>
 =Problems and Solutions=
@@ Line 40: / Line 44: @@
 === Relocating the battery from the MPU board ===
+Use the same procedure as detailed in the System 9 section, [http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Williams_System_9_-_11#Relocating_the_battery_from_the_System_9_MPU_board here].
 === Repairing Alkaline Corrosion ===
-Remove the battery holder entirely from the MPU board and wash the board's affected areas with a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water.  Scrub the corrosion with a soft toothbrush, rinse with water, then rinse with 91% or 99% isopropyl alcohol to displace the water.<br>
+Use the same procedure as detailed in the System 11 section, [http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Williams_System_9_-_11#Repairing_Alkaline_Corrosion here].
 === Connecting a logic probe to the MPU ===
+[[File:System8LogicProbeConnectionAnnotated.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Connect the +5V lead of your logic probe to the top of C6.]]<br>
+The System 8 MPU lacks test points. Argh!
+To connect a logic probe, pick up +5V at the top lead of capacitor C6 (a trace extends down from the larger electrolytic cap at C5).<br>
+Pick up ground at pin 9 of 1J5.<br>
+Of course, +5v and ground can always be acquired at any one of the bypass capacitors, which are located at most every chip, and simply labeled as "B".
+<br clear=all>
 === Using a PC Power Supply For Bench Testing ===
+[[File:System8PowerOnTheBenchAnnotated.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Powering the System 8 MPU on the bench with an old PC power supply.]]<br>
+For full operation a System 8 MPU requires +5V, +12V, -12V DC and ground.  However, -12V is only required for the sound amplifier, so that voltage may be omitted for non-sound-related testing.
+Connect...
+*Ground to pin 1, 2, or 3
+*+5VDC to pin 4, 5,or 6
+*-12VDC to pin 8
+*+12VDC to pin 9
+<br clear=all>
 ==Game resets==
@@ Line 70: / Line 93: @@
 ==Sound problems==
+[[File:System8SoundSectionICsAnnotated.jpg|200px|thumb|left|The sound generation section of the System 8 MPU.]]<br>
+The System 8 MPU creates sound on the MPU itself, much like the baseline version of the System 11 MPU.
+<b>General System 8 Sound Subsystem Theory of Operation</b><br>
+*The sound subsystem consists of a 6808/2 processor, 6821 PIA, 1408 DAC, and finally a TDA2002 amplifier.
+*Sounds are conveyed to the sound subsystem by the main processor via the input ports of the 6821 PIA at IC13.
+*The 6808 at IC11 reads the PIA input port then pulls the appropriate sound file from the sound ROM at IC49.
+*The 6808 sends the sound data back to the 6821s second set of output ports, which are attached to the 1408 digital-to-analog converter.
+*A remotely located volume pot may be used to adjust volume levels.
+*The analog audio is then presented to the TDA2002 for final amplification.
+*The amplified audio is presented to the single 8 ohm cabinet speaker.
+<br clear=all>
+Pennant fever makes only 8 sounds.
+#"Charge" bugle theme
+#Organ music, "The Lone Ranger" theme
+#"You're out!"
+#"Boooo!"
+#"Strike One"
+#"Strike Two"
+#"All right!"
+Pressing switch 3 on the MPU should cause the sound system to play "FirePower-like" sounds continuously until power to the game is turned off.
+Note that the sound subsystem can be configured to use either a 6808 or a 6802 microprocessor.<br>To use a 6808, jumper W1 should be in, W2 out.<br>To use a 6802, jumper W1 should be out, W2 in.
+== Replacing a System 8 MPU with a System 9 MPU ==
+Yes, it's possible.
+[[media:Pennant_Fever_MPU_Conversion.pdf|PDF Instructions]] ([https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wDpqiM6byeekyw09s1HiOXocrVG9AlLY/ Document Source])
 =Repair Logs=
 Did you do a repair? Log it here as a possible solution for others.

Difference between revisions of "Williams System 8"