Power Board for a new arcade (Europe)

[deibit]

Hello!

Im in the end phase of building an arcade cabinet.  Now the cabinet works with a PC power supply, but I wanted to use an Arcade Power Supply instead (I have one new Happ Controls PS to use on the machine). But lots of questions come to my mind.

I've seen on internet lot of places that tells me how to build a power block (bobroberts, hardmvs... etc..), but instead of helping, these sites creates more doubts on me

It seems a fuse is "a must" when using an Arcade Power Supply. I see that inside the Power Supply is already a fuse.. what's the benefit on using two fuses? if the answer is "two is better than one, then.. why not three? (or maybe the fuse inside the PS has another use?).

The fuse should be installed between the line and the PS or between the PS and the PCB? (I saw tutorials describing both solutions)

Another question, it seems that the fuse should be used on the "hot side" that's a bit weird for an european like me.. how you know what's the hot side? the only way I have to know that, is by using a multimeter. European plugs are simetric (i think american ones are asimetric so it's easy to identify the "hot side"). But using the multimeter is kinda useless because somebody can plug-off and plug-in the plug reversed and then the fuse will be conected to the "neutral" and not to the hotside. I don't think that european arcade operators use a multimeter everytime they connect a machine, so I'm sure there's a better solution.

(I fear that the answer will be to fuse both neutral and hotside)

A question about the AC line filter, Im not able to find these line filters people seem to use in the tutorials (the one that Bob roberts sell) I found ones that are similar but much more expensive (around 100$) but they are used for EMI filtering. I can find easily these typical AC spike and line filter plugs that people normally use to protect PC's, Faxes... etc.. is that valid?

Ok, now the final answer about PS. What makes Arcade PS so weak compared to PC powersupplys? (which connects much more expensive and sensitive equipment). I never thought into putting a fuse in my PC (I always supposed the PS takes care of ithe protection). So why new arcade power supplies need this special care?

Thank you!

[paigeoliver]

You forgot something.

What is this cabinet going to have in it? A pc or a JAMMA board.

Also, many newer games use computer power supplies now. They have been doing that for years.

Just order the one Bob Roberts has.

You can't have too many fuses. Plenty of games have six or ten of them. Some pinballs have over 30 of them.

[deibit]

My Cabinet is JAMMA.

Right now i have a 'hacked' PC power supply inside and it works fine. I already have an Arcade Power Supply, (Happ Controls) I want to use the arcade PS im using is the one I normally use for my Supergun.

I know you can use as many fuses as you want.. but i just wanted to know why a (expensive) arcade power supply needs more protection and care than a (cheap) PC power supply.

[paigeoliver]

It isn't just the power supply you are protecting with the fuses, it is the monitor and the PCB as well. Power supply is disposable compared to the cost a new PCB or monitor.

[deibit]

The monitor is not connected to the PS or to any "fused" distribution block but to the mains directly.. it's an Hantarex Polostar 29" TrueFlat (so isolation transformer is builtin). Monitor is supposed to have fuses already installed (like normal TVs or monitors)

I understand the "protection" issue, but my PC costs 2000$ (an average PC) and I never thought into seting up a fuse for protecting it (I don't know anyone that installed a fuse in their PCs) my PCBs are all under 200$ (I never had in my hands a PCB that costs more than 1000$) but seems that everyone uses fuses to protect them. Im not an electrician so sure there's a difference in both configurations, I only wanted to know which.

Of course I have no problem to add fuses.. but from what Ive seen it seems that people doesnt use to install the fuse between the PS and PCB but between the mains and the PS (so they install it in serial with the builtin PS fuse).. so I still don't see that even the use of that fuses really gives additional protection to the PCB.

[deibit]

well.. i decided to finish the cabinet without waiting for an answer to my questions (i'm not patient enough)

now the power supply, the monitor and the marquee bulb are protected by an emi-filter and until 30.000A overvoltage (with a 10A fuse). In case something fails the filter has a 5.000.000$ insurance against malfunction (hey, really.. it's written!). The arcade power supply has an internal fuse for additional protection and the monitor has another fuse.

So i think, the three fuses, the EMI filter and the 5.000.000$ insurance should give enough protection.

(my girlfriend keeps asking why the most cheap electronic machine at home has such extreme protection)

Is really necessary to add a fuse to the 5V and 12V lines that goes from the PS to the PCB?

Thanks!

[paigeoliver]

I think you keep missing the point that things can happen in different places on the circuit AND the point that it ISN"T the power supply that the fuses are meant to protect, but it is the expensive PCB and monitor. A failing or failed power supply can crank massive voltage to a PCB and it will do so WITHOUT blowing any of the fuses installed on the AC line.

But, I already said that, and then you repeated yourself. So, do what you wanted to do in the first place. You obviously don't think a $200 PCB costs enough to be worth a 5 cent fuse, so by all means leave it off.

Also, computers are fused. They have one in the power supply, and are supposed to be used with a surge protector, which is also fused.

[deibit]

hey, i know.. i dont have problems to add fuses. but i wanted to know "where" and "how"... now i have 3 fuses.. i hadnt seen any tutorial that set ups so many fuses but I still think that the fuses I have right now are just not enough (not placed in the right position)

In the tutorials Ive seen (bob roberts.. etc..) there's only a single fuse installed between the mains and the powersupply and not between the power supply and the PCB (i think that between the PS and PCB should be more logical).

I have also installed the fuse protection between the mains and the PS (at the end I thought i have to follow the advises of people who knows more about electricity than me even I dont see clear that this solution is the best).

I don't know about other Arcade PS but mine has a fuse already (what was missing was the emi filter).

I would like to install a fuse in the 5V and in the 12V lines.. but I dont know what kind of fuse (amperage?)

As you see my cabinet would have 5 fuses, so I wouldnt say that I'm against the use of fuses

[teef two]

I've just recently taken the old power supply out of the cab I'm mameing together with the jamma harness. If that's of interest to you then PM me and we can arrange something. (I'm in the UK)