Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Nerd Time on August 04, 2010, 01:03:39 pm
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Hi all
I'm about to tackle the lighting for my mame cab and need some help. I have a florescent strip for the marquee and two incandescent bulbs for the coin returns. Should I tap into my Dell optiplex power supply or have some other power source plugged into my switched power strip?
If tapping into the pc is the way to go, what wire colors should I splice and is there anything that needs to be installed between the pc and the light?
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I initially used USB power for mine and it sucked
Ended up getting a 12v 1000ma AC adapter, cutting the end off and splicing in my coin lights now they gloooooooooow!
Check out my build thread to see the earlier pictures then the later ones with the AC power
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=104276.0 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=104276.0)
5v USB power:
(http://www.alterna-uo.net/mame/day7/3.jpg)
12v AC adapter power:
(http://www.alterna-uo.net/mame/day14/1.jpg)
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Thanks. That sounds a lot easier than hacking the power supply. It's also something I won't have to change over when I eventually replace the pc.
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I would tap into your PC power supply for 5v and 12v loads.
If you have a spare molex plug in your PC you can tap into that. If you don't want to butcher the cable you could cut the end off an old fan or something which you can plug into the spare PC molex and then solder/crimp etc your power wires to that.
If you don't have an old fan or something you could pick up a very cheap moilex splitter and chop one end off.
(http://cableorganizer.com/outlet/efilliate/image/P321a.jpg)
You could also use a molex splitter if you dont have a spare molex in your PC.
Just FYI, red + black = 5v, yellow and black = 12v.
Its just as easy if not easier than hacking a wallwart.
Using this method means that you are not taking up another socket with a wallwart etc and you won't be limited to the amount of current that a wallwart can supply.
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Dell Optiplex PSUs are notoriously underpowered, and depending on the model, a drop in replacement can be tricky if it goes south.
I always advocate taking the safe route: leave your PC's PSU to do it's job for the computer. Don't stress it by putting outside loads like lights, cabinet fans, etc on it, and at the same time you remove the (albeit slim) chance of frying your PC/PSU should something short out.
Chances are you have orphan wall warts around that could power the coin lights, which I presume are 12V? The fluorescent in the marquee though, is that 120V, or are you talking about a CCFL case light type of thing?
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The marquee light is the one that came with the cabinet which was an old area 51 game. I'm assuming that it's 120v but I'm not even sure if it works. I just ordered the lighting assembly from Happ just to be sure (I also had to round out my minimum $25 order) and I don't know what voltage those run on.
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As far as I know, the light is AC. I believe I just replaced the burned out one in my Area51 with a unit from Home Depot and plugged it into a power strip.
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i have a pole position cabinet that i recently converted to Mame and to power the monitor and the marquee i used a smart power strip. similar to this one. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812606006&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Surge+Suppressors-_-Bits+Ltd.-_-12606006. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812606006&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Surge+Suppressors-_-Bits+Ltd.-_-12606006.) i have the computer as the control and the light and monitor switched with it. currently my coin buttons don't have light (i plan on a total gut and redo soon). hope this helps.