Plug Arcade directly into the wall?

[dndcollect]

does it matter if my machine is plugged into the wall or on a surge protector?

[Jeff AMN]

I'd always use a surge protector, whether is a MAME cabinet or a standard arcade cabinet. PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT.

[dndcollect]

i have just a regular generic one, is there a good one out there that people use?

[horseboy]

Make sure it is an actual surge protector. Many people confuse a regular powerstrip for a surge protector.

[kelemvor]

All my electronics and computers are plugged into surge protectors.  Mame cab should be no different.

[leapinlew]

The surge protector for mine is mounted inside the cabinet. Everything inside the cabinet plugs into it. The cord coming out of the cabinet is the plug for the surge protector

[Organic Jerk]

Surge Protector, most definitely.  If you could spend the money I would even go with a UPS.

[leapinlew]

Surge Protector, most definitely.  If you could spend the money I would even go with a UPS.

I'm curious why you would go with a UPS? Seems like an unnecessary expense to me.

[tommyinajar]

i have just a regular generic one, is there a good one out there that people use?

Don't even bother with those cheap ones you get at Walmart for 4 $- Chances are it won't work when you need it the most. Spend a little here to possibly save allot later.

[SavannahLion]

Surge Protector, most definitely.  If you could spend the money I would even go with a UPS.

I'm curious why you would go with a UPS? Seems like an unnecessary expense to me.

They protect against brownouts. If you have power equipment or some other appliance with a nice big motor on the same circuit as a light bulb, you'll see brownouts when you start the motor up.

For most equipment, it's harmless. It just runs slower or whatever.

For some equipment, they run weird. You could potentially lose data with crappy PC's or you might burn out the PCB, like what happend with my TV twice.

For arcades, I figure it's a toss up. The IC's are probably irreplaceable so if they burn, that's it. But then again those machines have probably been plugged into power grids on par with the projects for the last twenty years.

[Organic Jerk]

Well to be truthful I'm speaking of a Mame machine based off a PC.  Like any PC that handles important data, I would want protection  for any power fluctuations or brownouts, as well as a good buffer period when power goes out, lest I lose my entire mame config..

I can't speak for a genuine arcade machine, though

[Bobbler]

Have mine hooked up to a UPS. Every PC, peripheral and monitor in my office is connected to a 1000VA APC UPS. Bought it after we kept running out of electricity (house used to be a rental before we bought it and they had pay as you go electric) and ended up damaging one of my harddisks. Only thing not attached is my laser printer as that overloads it as soon as you try to print anything.

[fjl]

I never used a surge protector before and I leave my computer running 24/7.

In the last 10 years that i've been using a PC, I've never once encountered any kind of surge that has caused any damage to anything electronic in my house. I suppose it's still a good idea to use one but from my experience, power surges are not really neccessary. At least not here where I live. I must also mention that I live in L.A. It rarely ever rains here and its even more rare to have a lighting storm which can cause electrical surges.

[Tahnok]

I never used a surge protector before and I leave my computer running 24/7.

In the last 10 years that i've been using a PC, I've never once encountered any kind of surge that has caused any damage to anything electronic in my house. I suppose it's still a good idea to use one but from my experience, power surges are not really neccessary. At least not here where I live. I must also mention that I live in L.A. It rarely ever rains here and its even more rare to have a lighting storm which can cause electrical surges.

I, on the other hand, have experienced two or three surges with the potential to damage electronics. Any electronics of value I keep on surge suppressors. A cheap stereo though, which was not protected, was ruined once. Also, a few of cheaper suppressors burned up (small loss, considering what they're protecting).

The moral is that it can and does happen. Even if you're area doesn't seem to have problems with it, all it takes is for someone to make a mistake once.

Edit: Another habit I've gotten into is unplugging electronics when I know I'm not going to be using them for a long time. Things can't get damaged if they aren't plugged in. Of course though, it's hardly a solution for things that are used more than about once a month, or if the plugs are in hard to reach places.

[patrickl]

I have never used surge protectors either and I think the only thing that ever broke was an alarm clock.

On the other hand I do use UPS for my computers since I hate it when the power fails and my work is lost. UPS are incredibly annoying things though. The batteries often run out in a year or 2 years and then buying a new battery is about as expensive as buying a whole new unit. I tried a few cheap standard replacement batteries from a local electronics store (the things use simple lead batteries) but somehow the UPS never did work even though the specs seem to be exactly the same.

[leapinlew]

On the other hand I do use UPS for my computers since I hate it when the power fails and my work is lost. UPS are incredibly annoying things though. The batteries often run out in a year or 2 years and then buying a new battery is about as expensive as buying a whole new unit.

so true. 

[paigeoliver]

Regular arcade games do not need to be on surge protectors though, as everything in them is fused.