Project - Gigantumongus Fiberglass Cab

[More Cowbell]

I bought this cab on eBay for what I thought was a fair price. Ad said the 25" Wells Gardner 25K2193 (U2000) monitor was working and it looked to be in good shape. I planned on MAMEing it so I liked the size of the control panel which will give me lots of room for a trackball, spinner, joys and 6-button layouts. One thing I didn't count on was that this thing is freaking huge! It's like 7' tall and 36" wide. It's relatively light though since it's made of fiberglass.
Got it home and started cleaning it out to see what I was working with. No boards and the biggest issue I will be contending with is that there is no power supply which means I have nothing to run the monitor.
1) Will a switching power supply run a monitor like this? If not, what do I need?
2) Will this monitor run ok with an Arcadevga card? What specs of computer are needed?

I am not at all sure this project will work out since it's so big it won't really fit in a basement and I'm not confident in getting the monitor up and running with a computer using the Arcadevga card. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'm thinking about cutting my losses and selling it now before I incur additional expenses and run into a wall.

[Knievel]

Can't help with the questions but I love that cabinet...it's a keeper.

[theCoder]

Looks cool for a change of pace.  Any experience with fiberglass?  Depending on what you've already got in your basement, I'd spend my time on that Tempest cab.

[spacies]

No boards and the biggest issue I will be contending with is that there is no power supply which means I have nothing to run the monitor.
1) Will a switching power supply run a monitor like this? If not, what do I need?
2) Will this monitor run ok with an Arcadevga card? What specs of computer are needed?

1. You need an Isolating transformer to send a good 100/110V to the monitor chassis. A switcher is for the game board.

2. I am pretty sure anything can run with a AVGA card.

My suggestion if you aren't confident would be to put in a JAMMA loom with a suitable game board and sell it. You will need a transformer, Game board power supply and a game PCB. Its easy stuff once you know how.

[leapinlew]

Looks great Cowbell... Looking forward to seeing more progress.

seriously, I want a tempest so bad. I think I'm going to build a smaller - bartop version. Everytime I see one of those cabinets I think that.

[More Cowbell]

Thanks, Spacies. Good info. I'll have to do more research on getting a power supply that's 110v. What voltage are computer power supplies? I may have an old Atari power supply around, that would probably do the trick.

Lew, I picked up that Tempest cab with a couple of other gutted cabs. It's in really nice condition, new marquee, new cpo, sides look good. I'm thinking I'll MAME it to just play Tempest and Major Havoc. I'll start a thread for that too once I get around to it. I may have to put this monster cab on the back burner.

[Level42]

Thanks, Spacies. Good info. I'll have to do more research on getting a power supply that's 110v. What voltage are computer power supplies? I may have an old Atari power supply around, that would probably do the trick.

You don't need a power supply for the monitor, you need an isolation transformer. You put in mains 110 VAC on one side, and the output is 110VAC on the other side. "So why do I need this ?" It is to separate the monitor from the mains. Some (SOME !) monitors don't need an isolation transformer. Check out the current wiring of the monitor. This cab has obviously been running Missile Command for quite a while, so apart from the missing PCB, the monitor supply hook-up could well be intact. Pictures do miracles

[spacies]

LOL.


You didnt read my post correctly.
Read number 1 again. Just as Level42 said, you probably need an Isolating Transformer.

Post some pics and so we can have a look.