Verified and documented hard-to-find information about consumer products, including repair solutions, obsolete parts, replacement part numbers, compatibility, specifications, diagnostics, vintage electronics, appliances, arcade hardware, and other obscure technical knowledge.
Ms. Pac-Man and Ghosts Out of Position From High +5 V Supply
Repair Case Summary
This page documents a firsthand Ms. Pac-Man and Ghosts Out of Position From High +5 V Supply repair case.
It is intended for technicians and collectors troubleshooting original Pac-Man or Ms. Pac-Man arcade PCB hardware.
- Date: 2017-06-17
- Board: Original Ms. Pac-Man PCB and daughter card
- Category: Power / sprite positioning
- Symptoms:
- PCB and daughter card worked correctly on the test rig for an hour.
- When installed in a Pac-Man cabinet using a switching power supply, ghosts hovered at the top of the screen.
- Ms. Pac-Man jumped around the screen during play.
- Diagnostic observations / tests:
- Switcher output measured nearly 5.40 V.
- Reducing the supply to 5.00 V restored normal operation.
- Components / locations investigated: Switching power supply, +5 V rail
- Root cause: Switcher power supply adjusted too high at approximately 5.40 V.
- Repair: Reduced switcher output from approximately 5.40 V to 5.00 V.
- Result: The game worked normally.
- Search terms: Ms Pac-Man ghosts out of place; Ms Pac-Man jumping; ghosts top of screen; 5.4 volts; 5V; switcher power supply; sprite position
- Evidence: Physically verified repair / firsthand repair log
How to Use This Repair Record
This is a firsthand physical repair case. The same symptom on another Pac-Man or Ms. Pac-Man PCB can have a different electrical cause. Use the documented diagnostic observations and tests to guide troubleshooting rather than replacing a component solely because it repaired this board.
← Back to the Pac-Man / Ms. Pac-Man PCB Repair Archive