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Few more questions- putting PC in cab (monitor, power supply, etc)
johnnybleu:
Ok, so what you're saying is that the monitor is on it's own circuit that has nothing do to with the power supply- except maybe to get an AC current?
That would mean that I could tap into any AC supply to power the monitor, provided it's still on it's own circuit with the isolation transformer, right? Without the board, the cabinet's power supply is only running the coin door lights and marquee then?
Now, when you say I "may well kill" the power supply by running it without the pcb, do you mean it might damage it, or that I might as well remove it as it's not really needed?
I'm just trying to make sense of all the information I'm uncovering... Seems there's lots of differing opinions. How would people usually run an arcade monitor with Mame?
CheffoJeffo:
--- Quote from: johnnybleu on January 06, 2009, 05:40:31 pm ---Ok, so what you're saying is that the monitor is on it's own circuit that has nothing do to with the power supply- except maybe to get an AC current?
--- End quote ---
Right -- since the power supply is fed with AC, it is a convenient place to tap into that power (instead of, say, having a separate plug running out the back of the cabinet).
--- Quote from: johnnybleu on January 06, 2009, 05:40:31 pm ---That would mean that I could tap into any AC supply to power the monitor, provided it's still on it's own circuit with the isolation transformer, right? Without the board, the cabinet's power supply is only running the coin door lights and marquee then?
--- End quote ---
Yes and you will need to tap into the AC for your marquee lights as well (most likely it is a flourescent 115V fixture).
--- Quote from: johnnybleu on January 06, 2009, 05:40:31 pm ---Now, when you say I "may well kill" the power supply by running it without the pcb, do you mean it might damage it, or that I might as well remove it as it's not really needed?
--- End quote ---
The former, which leads to the latter. Some power supplies don't like running with no load on the +5V.
--- Quote from: johnnybleu on January 06, 2009, 05:40:31 pm ---I'm just trying to make sense of all the information I'm uncovering... Seems there's lots of differing opinions. How would people usually run an arcade monitor with Mame?
--- End quote ---
No worries -- ask away until you are comfortable, especially if you are receiving differing opinions (what are the other opinions ?).
This may help clarify the AC connections for you:
Your cabinet may not have a power distribution block, in which case folks often connect all of the AC in, marquee power and monitor power to the connectors on the power supply.
johnnybleu:
Well, thanks a lot for all the info! You're clearing up a lot of the confusion.
Now, I just did a first test of the "complete" cab... Everything works quite fine, actually- didn't even have to adjust the monitor. However, I'm still running the original cabinet's power supply for the monitor. In fact, when I turn on the cab without it's pcb, the only things that come on are the monitor and marquee light since, like you said, they run off their own AC circuit. So, since the power supply doesn't like to work without the board hooked up to it, I should just get rid of it then, right? As of now, it's only there because it's the only way I know of getting any kind of power into the cab- it's my "monitor power switch".
Also, here's one of the original questions I asked, but was told it's not possible..... Can I use the PC's power supply to provide AC current to the monitor? Or would I have to follow the diagram you showed me to wire an independent power source (which would in turn bring a whole new flood of questions)?
I know I'll have to wire the coin-door lights through the PC's power supply, since they apparently got their juice through the Jamma harness (which is now gone).
Thanks again for all the help! As far as the conflicting information goes, you just have to browse the net and forums for a bit to get all sorts of opinions on the "right", or the "best" way to do things. Gathering information at various stages of this project has been interesting, to say the least.
CheffoJeffo:
What I usually do is pull the arcade PS, install a junction block and connect the computer PS to the junction block (cut off the male end of the power cord and connect the wires directly to the junction block). Then you have a single source of AC power for everything.
That still leaves you with actually turning on the computer. you can set the BIOS to boot after power failure so that the computer turns on when the AC is applied or jumper the PS so that the computer boots.
The other option is to go with something like a smart strip, in which case I would not connect the computer PS to the junction block, but would take the existing AC power cord (which will be connected to the monitor and the marquee light) and plug it in to the smart strip. The computer would plug into the smart strip and the smart strip plug into the wall.
More info here:
http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Power_Options
johnnybleu:
Again, thank you very much for the help!
Well, it seems like the first logical step is to get rid of the arcade PS- it doesn't actually supply power to anything right now, and it's noisy. However, my cab doesn't seem to have a power distribution block, and everything seems to be wired directly to the PS- that's where the IEC cord plugs in, which in turn plugs into an outlet.
Now, I'm very much interested in the mod you proposed- using the PC's power supply for the cab's AC needs (monitor and marquee light). Any chance you could point me to a writeup of the process? Also, would I have to install a switch somewhere, or would the AC power only come on when the PS is running (i.e. when the computer's on)? I'm not really sure what you mean by "cut off the male end of the power cord and connect the wires directly to the junction block".... By power cord, do you mean the IEC plug that goes to the wall outlet? Sorry if I sound like a noob- this is all new to me :dizzy:
As far as turning on the computer, that's not really a problem- I gutted the PC and screwed the motherboard where the arcade PCB used to be, and I extended the wires to the power switch, which I will then mount in a convenient location. Windows is also set to shut down when I press the power button.
Thanks again- it's REALLY appreciated. If you were here, I'd buy you a beer.