Excalibur Grandmaster Err H8 repair info

Hi, I recently purchased a non-functioning Excalibur Grandmaster, with the err H8 issue. Seems like many of these computers have this problem.

The cause of these errors is a broken connection from the IC chip's last pin to the trace on the board. It's very hard to see, but can bridged with solder if you are careful.

This damage is due to the flex in the case of the Grandmaster. After repairing, I installed additional feet to the bottom of the board to avoid any flexing when in use. 

Hope this info is helpful to someone in the future.

Thanks

I don't own one, but I'd think this info would be useful to an owner, even if his unit was still working. (Prevent flexing, extend the life...)

Thanks, that's why I wanted to post this. I searched and found many of these with this fault, but no info on how to repair it. Hope that it will picked up in google searches.

Hi have one with the same problem, but I don't know hoe to reapir it? Can you tell me want needs to be fixed?

Hi Andre, I'll send you some info tomorrow.

Terry

My Name is Brent and I have one of these with the famous ErrH8 can you please tell me specifically how to repair it?  It would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you! 

Brent

Hi Brent,

The error is caused by a broken trace on the pc board going to the main IC chip. This chess set flexes due to it's size. If you carefully open the case, you can take a wood dowel, like a chop stick and  gentle press on the board until you get a response from the computer. Look carefully at the traces to the chip with a loupe and you will see the break. Solder a jumper wire, or just bridge the trace with a little solder. It's a bit finicky to repair. I may have some photos if you need them. Terry

What is the best way to solder these delicate pieces of art? Do you have a recommended setting on a variable temperature solder station? Or should it just be, "just set to lowest setting and hold until the old solder melts?"

I use a standard soldering iron with a fine tip. In this case there is no old solder to reflow. You can either clean and bridge the break in the trace with a touch of new solder, or bridge the break with a strand of fine wire (the better method).

Good to know. I’ll keep this in mind when my GM boards start to cause the same issue. 
When my Excalibur Ivan II started to be unresponsive to the pressure presses, I had to flex the aluminum in the towards the inside of the board. It worked, but I know it’s just a matter if time for the issue to happen again. 
Oh the joys of owning these aging electronic chess computers!

Danolectro, 

The IC Chip is on the underside of the section on this board, but I can not locate a break in the trace around the IC Chip.  I had our Jeweler look also and he was unable to find a break looking through his loupe. You said you might have pictures of where your  break was can you please send them.  Thank you Brent

I'm a watchmaker also and it required a 10x loupe to see the break. It is just a tiny line on the trace. Look at the pin that the arrow is pointing to in the photo below. Gentle flex the board and you may hear a beep as the break opens and closes. Hope this helps.

Very helpful picture.

Now if we can only get the butter Ultimates to work on the GM board without crushing the delicate and aging reed sensors...

Try touching touching a wire from these two points and see if it works....  would be an easy place for a jumper if this is it.  

I recently acquired this game, with the same error. But the wiring/connections look different from the pictures: Mine doesn’t have that long double row of soldered points. I tried bridging what I hoped was the correct trace with a bit of wire…I don’t think it’s the right one because it just gives the error beep.

Also I think I’m too new to post pictures here. But did take pictures. I would like help if possible figuring this out so I can repair it. Thank you for any help you can provide  

This is the fix that worked for me, when I got the ErrH8 upon receiving:

I set up the pieces!

Just got one today. Once I put the black rook on H8, the display gave Err(some other square) until all pieces are in position. Once set up, it gave a good game with an awesome playing experience. 

Seems too easy, but I hope it prevents unnecessary ErrH8 grief!