Xenon (Bally, 1980) : pannes et cartes de remplacement (MPU Bally)
Is your Xenon by Bally no longer starting, has it lost its voice and sound, are the displays dead or the coils running wild? These symptoms are typical of Bally microprocessor pinballs, whose original MPU board is now over 40 years old and almost always suffers from a leaking battery. Good news: the BallyFA replacement MPU board, Plug & Play and battery-free, gives your machine a second life.
Xenon (Bally, 1980): overview
Released in 1980 with a science-fiction theme, Xenon is Bally's first talking pinball (female voice), thanks to the Sounds Plus and Vocalizer sound boards. Famous for its tube and its voice, it uses the Bally MPU of the AS-2518 series.
- Manufacturer: Bally
- Year: 1980
- Electronic system: Bally MPU (AS-2518)
- Type: electronic pinball (solid state), speech synthesis
- Theme: science fiction
Common faults (Bally / Stern)
On Bally and Stern microprocessor pinballs (1977-1985), recurring faults come from ageing: battery leaking on the MPU (corrosion of traces and sockets around U10/U11, the number-one cause of dead boards), tired PIA 6821 (U10/U11) (oxidised pins, no start-up), RAM 5101 and sockets to replace, MPU/power connectors oxidised or burnt (look for heat marks), displays with missing segments, and power/driver board (rectifier, fuses, coil transistors) to service.
Issues specific to Xenon (forum feedback)
- No more voice or sound: the Sounds Plus and Vocalizer boards (specific to Xenon) are diagnosed separately.
- Battery leaked on the MPU: corrosion around U10/U11.
- Dead or partial displays: display and MPU power supply to check.
- Runaway or dead coils: driver board (transistors, fuses) to service.
- Oxidised or burnt connectors: to replace (re-pin) to make the machine reliable.
- Tube and mechanisms: tube and target switches to check.
Replacement boards compatible with Xenon
- BallyFA — replacement MPU board (battery-free).
- BallyDri — power + driver.
- BallyLa_60 — lamp driver.
📚 To go further: Guide: which MPU board for a Bally / Stern (1977-1985)?
The BallyFA replaces the original MPU board (start-up, logic, battery-free memory) and removes the battery, the number-one cause of corrosion. For the coils and power, the BallyDri takes over; the lamps via the BallyLa_60. Sound/voice boards are serviced separately. Plug & Play installation, battery-free, free support. Contact us.
FAQ — Xenon Bally
My Xenon has lost its voice.
The Sounds Plus and Vocalizer boards are diagnosed separately; the BallyFA makes the MPU and start-up reliable.
My Xenon no longer starts.
Check the battery and corrosion around U10/U11. The BallyFA replaces the MPU and works without a battery.
Is the BallyFA compatible with my Bally?
Yes, for Bally/Stern microprocessor pinballs (1977-1985). If in doubt, contact us.
Should I keep the original battery?
No. The BallyFA works without a battery and removes the number-one cause of corrosion.
How long does it take to install a replacement board?
Installation is Plug & Play: a few minutes, no soldering, with tutorials and free support.
Does a battery-free board keep the settings and high scores?
Yes. Modern replacement boards use non-volatile memory: no more battery, no more corrosion, and the settings are kept when powered off.
Step-by-step diagnosis
- Powered off, visual inspection: look for any trace of battery or corrosion on your Xenon's MPU, especially around U10/U11; remove the original battery if it is still present.
- Power supply: check the rectifier and the voltages (5 V logic, coil and lamp voltages); replace tired fuses.
- Grounds and connectors: redo the grounds and re-pin the oxidised or burnt MPU/power connectors.
- MPU: check the PIA 6821 chips (U10/U11) and the RAM; the BallyFA replaces the MPU and works without a battery.
- Displays: never plug or unplug a display while powered on; test with a known-good display.
- Final test: check start-up, credits, coils and displays; if needed, contact free support.
