The Vectrex is over 40 years old now and many units are starting to fail, mostly due to leaking capacitors (especially on the vector monitor chassis), failing power switches, or failing components/ICs. I fixed over 100 of these units and know their most common issues.
A comprehensive repair includes the following:
- electrolytic capacitors will be replaced with high quality Japanese brand (Nichicon, Panasonic, Rubycon, ...)
- Polystyrene integrator caps will be replaced
- new voltage regulators with new thermal paste
- rebuild the power / volume switch
- (optional) debuzz kit to remove the buzz out from the audio speaker
- use test cart to align the screen back to factory settings
NOTE(S):
- Given the age of the system, if the unit does not function correctly, there could be other failed components that might need to be replaced.vSome of these components haven't been made since the 80's and luckily I have a healthy supply of NOS replacements. If a component has failed, I will contact you with the replacement cost of the component. I charge my customers the same price I pay for these components from my suppliers.
- I'm starting to see previously rebuild power switches come back after a couple of years due to repeated failure. The Vectrex has an over complicated switch that controls volume and 2 power rails, all in a single switch. I now offer the option to convert the original switch to just a volume switch, and install a proper power switch on the back of the unit. This permanently fixes the issue of failed power switches (see image above how this looks inside and out)
For the past decade I've charged the same price to refurbish a Vectrex. Unfortunately, simple cap kit + power switch rebuild is no longer the common failure. I see a lot of custom IC failures (PIA, sound, line decoders, multiplexers, the deflection amp, and even the CPU). It takes HOURS to identify the failing chip. A typical Vectrex repair is 4-5 hours (not to mention 40 years of dust inside a unit which I clean) This reflects in the cost of a typical repair.
Vectrex refurbishment
- Brand: GCE
- Product Code: VECTREX_FIX
- Availability: In Stock
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$150.00 CAD