Jamma Basic Powering Questions

[Zanzibarjones]

I am not an electrician, let's just get that out of the way now. I hate electricity, even though I've been working on computers for 22 years.
Anyway, I am building my first Jamma Tabletop/Cocktail Arcade Cabinet.

I know that I can either buy a power supply and wire the Jamma harness directly into that or I can use a molex connection for power. But it really seems like a waste to put a whole computer power supply in the cabinet for 1 single molex connection. Do they make a simple brick or smaller power supply with a molex end that would power the Jamma board? I mean it's only 5 volts right?

That way I could just plug that, the monitor and a sound amp into a Surge Strip and run the power cable out of the cabinet that way. It would all be grounded, etc.

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[CheffoJeffo]

Not sure about "waste of a whole computer power supply" ... most people in the hobby have these lying around. Having said that, there are dedicated switching power supplies available. I use an old PC power supply on my JAMMA test rig.

JAMMA includes 3 voltages: +5V,+12V and -5V. Whether you need the -5V will depend on the board you want to install.

Note: JAMMA standard is amplified sound, so unless you are using a non-standard board or something like a JPac, you don't need a sound amp.

There used to be a good article linked in the wiki, but neither the old nor new wiki seem to be up right now. This isn't bad:

http://arcadecontrols.com/BBBB/jh.html

[Zanzibarjones]

Great info! Thanks!

How will I know whether rot not the Jamma board I purchase will have a need for the -5v?
I assume the manual will tell me so?

So I do not need a sound amp, cool beans.

So just power for the Jamma board and the monitor, which can both be run off the same power supply (not a molex based one) but the standard arcade power supply, correct?

[lilshawn]

i'm assuming you are using an xxx-in-1 board since those typically come with molex power connectors.

no, you don't need the -5v. the sound system runs off the 12v line.

this solution would work fine if you aren't interested in a proper arcade style power supply...

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812123309

[paigeoliver]

I prefer to always make sure I have the -5 even if the game doesn't need it. You can't predict the future and some day, someone might plug another board in there that needs the -5.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Just wanted to add, if you don't use a switching power supply for JAMMA you will need an external amp (or simply powered computer speakers which can plug right into the xx-in-1 board.

If you use the power brick, you will need the amp for sound.  But, it is easy to hook up (safer, no open ended stuff to touch and get zapped) and it's fanless, so no loud noise.

Many options.

DeL

[CheffoJeffo]

Just wanted to add, if you don't use a switching power supply for JAMMA you will need an external amp (or simply powered computer speakers which can plug right into the xx-in-1 board.

If you use the power brick, you will need the amp for sound.  But, it is easy to hook up (safer, no open ended stuff to touch and get zapped) and it's fanless, so no loud noise.

 

The brick lilshawn linked has both 5V and 12V at 2A each.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Just wanted to add, if you don't use a switching power supply for JAMMA you will need an external amp (or simply powered computer speakers which can plug right into the xx-in-1 board.

If you use the power brick, you will need the amp for sound.  But, it is easy to hook up (safer, no open ended stuff to touch and get zapped) and it's fanless, so no loud noise.

 

The brick lilshawn linked has both 5V and 12V at 2A each.

I'm having a similar dilemma.  Tried powering up a 60-in-1 with just the 12v and it works, but no sound out of the JAMMA connector.  So I'm putting a switching power supply back in.  Can I simply get a similar power brick and splice power from the brick into the JAMMA connector instead?  My thought is that it would damage the PCB.

DeL

[lilshawn]

90% of the old boards that require the -5 volt rail required it for the sound amp. back in the day, a positive and negative rail was required to drive the speaker because the amp was of a "rail to rail" operational amplifier type

most amps these days only require a positive rail because output inversion is done internally in a dedicated package.

I'm having a similar dilemma.  Tried powering up a 60-in-1 with just the 12v and it works, but no sound out of the JAMMA connector.  So I'm putting a switching power supply back in.  Can I simply get a similar power brick and splice power from the brick into the JAMMA connector instead?  My thought is that it would damage the PCB.

DeL

as long as the grounds are tied together, you can run that board with 2 wall wart power bricks. (a 12 volt and a 5 volt)

check out your local computer stores, they probably have a brick like I linked with a molex because they are often used for powering internal hard drives connected by USB adapters.

[PL1]

There used to be a good article linked in the wiki, but neither the old nor new wiki seem to be up right now.

Here's a link to a backup copy of the wiki JAMMA page.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150626021156/http://newwiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?title=JAMMA


Scott

[DeLuSioNal29]

Just wanted to follow up...

Cheffo and LilShawn, you guys were right.     I had a spare hard drive molex power connector with both +12v and +5v to experiment with.  I plugged it into the 60-in-1, Connected the JAMMA harness (but not the power from the harness) and the sound fired right up in the cabinet's speakers.

I had no idea that the +5v powered the built in amp from the molex connector itself.  (You learn something new everyday).  I had always used the headphone jack for that purpose with powered computer speakers.

So, to answer the OP's question, yes, a brick with both +12v/+5v should fit the bill, as others stated above.

DeL

[CheffoJeffo]

Ahem ...

[lilshawn]

so by proxy, that also makes me right.

 

[DeLuSioNal29]

Rep for you both.

[lilshawn]

updoot Mr. Skeletal

[Zanzibarjones]

Could I use something like this to power the Jamma Board?
http://www.robotshop.com/en/12v-5v-2a-power-supply.html?gclid=CjwKEAiA2abEBRCdx7PqqunM1CYSJABf3qvaKjvlld_ng95TBs0c5u07GSAoycphWK4Lwq6N0IESPRoCw2jw_wcB

It's a 5V Molex Power Supply

[Thenasty]

save yourself the headache, just get the real deal (only $6.00 more).

[paigeoliver]

Could I use something like this to power the Jamma Board?
http://www.robotshop.com/en/12v-5v-2a-power-supply.html?gclid=CjwKEAiA2abEBRCdx7PqqunM1CYSJABf3qvaKjvlld_ng95TBs0c5u07GSAoycphWK4Lwq6N0IESPRoCw2jw_wcB

It's a 5V Molex Power Supply

That might work for some boards, more power hungry ones probably wouldn't power up cleanly. However there is no reason to use stuff like that when you can get the RIGHT thing for a few dollars more.

Also, that doesn't have a voltage adjustment dial, have fun frying stuff over the long haul because the voltage is too high or low.

[Zanzibarjones]

save yourself the headache, just get the real deal (only $6.00 more).

Please explain what headache I may run into?

[Zanzibarjones]

That might work for some boards, more power hungry ones probably wouldn't power up cleanly. However there is no reason to use stuff like that when you can get the RIGHT thing for a few dollars more.

Also, that doesn't have a voltage adjustment dial, have fun frying stuff over the long haul because the voltage is too high or low.

Might work for some boards? I am confused by this. How many boards do you think I will be using this power supply on?
I am starting off building one cabinet for myself and kids. I do not plan on changing the board from the one I will be using. A standard Sintron Jamma 60 in 1.

Frying stuff in the long run? Do these boards have a tendency to change their power consumption needs over time?

And since there is no real tutorial for properly wiring the switching power supply up for beginners so they don't fry themselves or their house, I was trying to go the safest route.

I work on computers every day of my life, but I have some reservations about messing with electricity and the likes. I know I need to get over that with this project, but I still want to be safe.

[DeLuSioNal29]

No, no, no.  For a 60 in 1 this will work just fine.  Safer too.  No wires to accidentally touch while it's on like in the exposed 120v screws in a switching power supply.

For your purpose, it will work great.  For more advance users who want to use it on bigger more robust boards.  No.  But again, this is only a tiny 60 in 1 and it will work fine.  I used mine to power my 60 in 1 along with a 12v cold cathode tube for my marquee.  Plugged it into a power strip and I use that to turn it on and off.  Works great!

DeL

[Thenasty]

you should have mentioned this in the beginning.

"be using. A standard Sintron Jamma 60 in 1."


You see, you said JAMMA BOARDS, there are TONS of different JAMMA BOARDS.


you have your answer above.
good luck on your project.