Any ideas on installing a fully cased PC Monitor in a Cocktail Cabinet?

[ratabase1]

I have a Galaxian cocktail cabinet, that I'm trying to install a PC Monitor in and was looking for some pics of examples of how other people have installed a fully cased 19 inch monitor in their cabinets. 

I saw one idea on the internet where a shelf is built and then the monitor stands on its back.  The only concern I have with that is, if the monitor is sitting on its back, isn't the airflow restricted to the monitor?  Isn't this an issue?

My monitor doesn't have much of an lip around the screen that would allow me to cut a hole through a piece of plywood, and hang the monitor through it.  Also don't really want to decase the monitor.

Also, any ideas on replacement white plexiglass for the control panels on a galaxian cocktail table?  I asked previously, but no one responded.  Can I use regular plexi and paint the back white?  Will light still shine through correctly?

[matman]

RE Monitor:  I'm about to do the same thing.  In my situation i've removed the 6 screws that hold on the case and front.  I can always re-attach later if need be. If you go this route, just keep your hands away from the rubber suction cup.  I plan to mount to the front of the chassis.

If you are keeping the full case on for sure (front AND back), it is going to take up more room in the cabinet and possibly have less airflow.  I also have seen shelves and agree about the airflow and general real estate taken up inside.  You might be able to have runners or more of a lattice style shelf along the inside to mount the monitor on instead of a full blown shelf - this would help with air flow as you mentioned.  Another idea that I'm not sure of (just a random idea i just came up with), i wonder if two water heater straps would work.  This is a thin strip of 16gauge-ish "bendable" metal with holes in it that you can screw through (they sell at home depot).  you could strap it to the top, but you would want to use more than just 1 screw per side.

Hope this helps in any way..

RE: plexiglass - i'll respond in your other thread here:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=91283.0

[BobA]

It is actually better to partially decase the monitor as it has vents to allow heat to escape out of the top and when it is on its back the normal vents do not work.  Decasing the monitor allows the heat to escape so that a properly placed fan in your cocktail can cool it.

[shardian]

It is much better to decase the monitor. PC monitors have a fairly robust metal cage right below the plastic anyways, so it is still fairly safe/durable. Of course, a real man takes the metal case off too*. 



*If it is a necessity.

[z]

Not pretty but I built a rail system out of 2x2s to support the case of the monitor.  Before putting the monitor in place I took off the back plastic cover and used a drill to increase the size of the vent holes to increase airflow.  Put the cover back on and dropped it in, has worked in limited use for over 5 years now (I imagine the nearby cooling fan helps).

[ratabase1]

It is actually better to partially decase the monitor as it has vents to allow heat to escape out of the top and when it is on its back the normal vents do not work.  Decasing the monitor allows the heat to escape so that a properly placed fan in your cocktail can cool it.

Do you have an pics of a monitor partially decased mounted in a cocktail cabinet? 

Also, the arcade monitor and bracket were removed long before I bought the cabinet, so I don't have anything left in the cabinet that I can salvage as far as mounting the monitor.

[DJ_Izumi]

Forgive my ignorance and I'm not totally sure about this, however, I do know that CRT tubes without recalibration go 'batshit crazy' when turned 90 degress sideways, as they calibrated with certian expectations of the earth's EM field in your region.  Isn't this likey to happen to a monitor turned 90 degrees onto it's back side too?

[BobA]

A typical monitor will have a metal inside casing that will probably have some edges that you can use to mount the monitor on a couple of well secured pieces of wood.  You can also support the monitor on the bottom with a shelf mounted att the right height.  Picture of a typical monitor decased.

[daywane]

Forgive my ignorance and I'm not totally sure about this, however, I do know that CRT tubes without recalibration go 'batshit crazy' when turned 90 degress sideways, as they calibrated with certian expectations of the earth's EM field in your region.  Isn't this likey to happen to a monitor turned 90 degrees onto it's back side too?

there fine.
you might have to degaussed it but most monitors have a switch to do it or it degaussed on start up

[CrazyKongFan]

Yeah, when I was setting up the PC for my MAME cab, I turned the monitor vertically to play a few games the way they're supposed to be, and a quick hit on the degaussing button fixed any color distortion.

[ratabase1]

Any other ideas or pics?

[ratabase1]

Any other ideas or pics?

[BobA]

Three pics below  Check out the examples of cocktail cabs or search the projects thread for cocktails.

[ArtsNFartsNCrafts]

If you're keeping your monitor cased, consider where it needs to be in order to center it in the cabinet.  the screen portion of my monitor wasn't completely centered in the casing, and so I had to technically offset the monitor in the cabinet in order for it to line up properly (see pic).

[img]http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b120/DJEDI296/COCKTAILTOPDIMENSIONS.jpg/img]