Way to tell if a cab's power supply is good/bad?

[payment_due]

I've got a cab that I bought from a guy that is a MAME machine, so obviously I don't use the internal supply for PCBs.

Does anyone know of a way to see if it still works, other than plugging in a PCB? I have none at the moment, and I'm a bit leery about asking my friends to borrow one of theirs because I wouldn't want to ruin it if the PS I have is bad.

The guy said he never used the PS because he bought the cab sans PCB and turned it into a MAME cab immediately. He said he assumes it works, but is not 100% sure.

Any help would make me do this: 

[Thenasty]

use a voltmeter 

[payment_due]

Thanks, what kind of power reading am I looking for though?  I know how to use a volt-meter, but I'm no electronics expert by any means.

[SirPeale]

If it's a standard AC --> DC power supply, like a Peter Chou, the voltages will be marked on the tabs.  A PS can 'read' good, but if you touch the voltage adjustment pot, it may shut down. 

Best way to test a PS is under load.  If you value your board, I wouldn't use it, though!  Find another way (like a heavy ceramic wire-wound resistor) to put it under load.

If it doesn't have the screw tabs, but has a molex wiring connector, standard wiring colors usually apply: black for ground, red for +5V, yellow for +12V.

[payment_due]

If it's a standard AC --> DC power supply, like a Peter Chou, the voltages will be marked on the tabs.  A PS can 'read' good, but if you touch the voltage adjustment pot, it may shut down. 

Best way to test a PS is under load.  If you value your board, I wouldn't use it, though!  Find another way (like a heavy ceramic wire-wound resistor) to put it under load.

If it doesn't have the screw tabs, but has a molex wiring connector, standard wiring colors usually apply: black for ground, red for +5V, yellow for +12V.

Thanks Peale.  I'll need to get my buddy who is studying to be an EE to help me out then.  I'm pretty sure the PS is fine, but I don't want to risk ruining a friends PCB, or mine when/if I get one.

[SirPeale]

If it's already hooked up and running, then measure away. 

Unless the PS is giving you obvious signs of distress, you should be okay.

• bloated capacitors
• buzzing
• hot
• shuts down when you adjust voltage
• voltage WAY too high/too low on check