Using the arcade power supply to power a PC motherboard. Possible?

[Baron Aloha]

Forgive me if this has been asked.  I did check the FAQ but I'm getting a Mysql error.   

I'm getting an arcade cabinet on Friday that I'm converting to Mame.  The machine comes with a brand new power-supply.

The power supply is currently powering the arcade board and the monitor.  The monitor is from China and has a type I plug.  The monitor plug is plugged into a little power strip and then there are wires coming off the power strip that tie into the arcade power supply.

So my question is, can I tie into the power supply to power my PC motherboard and graphics card as well?  The motherboard and gpu use a molex connector so something would need to be hacked together.  Is this even possible?  Is it worth it?  Is it safe?

Would I be better off just completely removing the existing arcade power supply and using a regular PC power supply and plugging in the mother board and the monitor (using a type B adapter) into a regular power strip and calling it a day?

[Titchgamer]

If you are running a PC use a PC power supply.
PC's use many different voltages.

[keilmillerjr]

If you are running a PC use a PC power supply.
PC's use many different voltages.

atx standard supplies 3 power rails: 3.3v, 5v, and 12v. You would need to make sure you have the proper wattage and voltages mentioned.

On the opposite route:
Use a computer pus and a smart strip. You can probably wire your crt isolation transformer for your crt directly to the smart strip as they take in 120v, eliminating the need for the arcade power supply. Or you could keep it, monitor, marquee light, and other crap connected to it, and wire the arcade pus to the smart strip.

[Baron Aloha]

Thanks for the replies so far guys.  I'm leaning towards just using a PC power supply.  I mainly wanted to check here in case it was super simple to use the arcade power supply.  It sounds like its not.  Also the way the monitor is rigged now, I'll be honest, feels sketchy to me.

Monitor plug (I type) -> mini power strip (also I type) -> hacked into the power supply just seems like fire waiting to happen

I'm thinking about just completely taking out that power supply.

I'll see if I can post pics this Friday when I have the cab.  I'd be interested in what you all think about the wiring job.

[paigeoliver]

Thanks for the replies so far guys.  I'm leaning towards just using a PC power supply.  I mainly wanted to check here in case it was super simple to use the arcade power supply.  It sounds like its not.  Also the way the monitor is rigged now, I'll be honest, feels sketchy to me.

Monitor plug (I type) -> mini power strip (also I type) -> hacked into the power supply just seems like fire waiting to happen

I'm thinking about just completely taking out that power supply.

I'll see if I can post pics this Friday when I have the cab.  I'd be interested in what you all think about the wiring job.

The power supply does not power the monitor.

[matsadona]

Thanks for the replies so far guys.  I'm leaning towards just using a PC power supply.  I mainly wanted to check here in case it was super simple to use the arcade power supply.  It sounds like its not.  Also the way the monitor is rigged now, I'll be honest, feels sketchy to me.

Monitor plug (I type) -> mini power strip (also I type) -> hacked into the power supply just seems like fire waiting to happen

I'm thinking about just completely taking out that power supply.

I'll see if I can post pics this Friday when I have the cab.  I'd be interested in what you all think about the wiring job.

The power supply does not power the monitor.

If it is a CRT - no. If it is a 12V LCD - perhaps. OP doesn't give that much information.

[paigeoliver]

Thanks for the replies so far guys.  I'm leaning towards just using a PC power supply.  I mainly wanted to check here in case it was super simple to use the arcade power supply.  It sounds like its not.  Also the way the monitor is rigged now, I'll be honest, feels sketchy to me.

Monitor plug (I type) -> mini power strip (also I type) -> hacked into the power supply just seems like fire waiting to happen

I'm thinking about just completely taking out that power supply.

I'll see if I can post pics this Friday when I have the cab.  I'd be interested in what you all think about the wiring job.

The power supply does not power the monitor.

If it is a CRT - no. If it is a 12V LCD - perhaps. OP doesn't give that much information.

The industry doesn't use 12 Volt lcd monitors, it uses AC power ones. What the poster is probably seeing is that the AC power is split off at the power supply lugs, which is very common and perfectly safe.

[behrmr]

OP states that the monitor has a type I plug and plugs into a power strip along with the power supply.  That would imply that the monitor is currently AC powered.

[Baron Aloha]

The monitor is an LCD.  The cab is a Vewlix type.

While I'm here, I may as well ask the next question - if the monitor supports 120v, I should be able to just swap out the cord to a B-type plug right?  I might need to flip a switch or something to 120v but any standard B-type plug like the ones used for computers and whatnot should do right?

The industry doesn't use 12 Volt lcd monitors, it uses AC power ones. What the poster is probably seeing is that the AC power is split off at the power supply lugs, which is very common and perfectly safe.

I think this is what's happening... but like I said, I will post pics on Friday to be sure.  I only looked at it for like 10 seconds before and I don't know a whole lot about this sort of thing (terminology and wiring).

[Baron Aloha]

I spoke with the distributor where I bought the cab and they rewired the monitor for me.  It doesn't touch the psu now.  Hallelujah.  One of the guys who works there is going to help me wire up my Mame pc and have everything turn on with the flick of 1 switch.  I probably could do it myself but I just spent a lot of money on this cab so I don't want to break it for something stupid.

Anyway here is a crappy cell phone pic since I said I would post a pic.  It's your standard Vewlix clone.  I had been wanting a Blast City for years but they are very rare where I live and every time I find one its got major issues.  At the same time I wanted to play newer titles like SFV in widescreen.  In the end, it was wanting to play new stuff and not being able to find a Blast City that made me go with this.  Also the CRT shaders are a happy medium for me.  They will never replace a real CRT but they are still nice.