Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: william1983 on November 28, 2003, 06:25:12 pm

Title: how long should i leave my arcade machine on??
Post by: william1983 on November 28, 2003, 06:25:12 pm

should i keep turning it on and off everyday or let it run all the time??

i dont wanna mess up my monitor by turning it on and off..

so is it safe to run 24/7??

ohh yeah one more thing when the monitor is turned on there is this invisible line that starts at the bottom then goes to the top the repeats..its not noticeable at all when playing games..but when someone else is watching us play there like what the hell is THAT!!

but i think its a sign of bad things to come am i wrong??

i just bought this machine 3 weeks ago for a whopping 400 bucks!!

so i am gonna do all i can do to make it last!!

Title: Re:how long should i leave my arcade machine on??
Post by: Ken Layton on November 28, 2003, 11:20:48 pm

Turn the game off when you're not going to use it. The monitor will last longer.

Without knowing what game you have, whether it's a dedicated or conversion cabinet, and the make/model of the monitor I can only give generalizations as to your problem. It could be a 'hum bar' rolling thru the picture. Make sure all frame grounds are secure and connected to the monitor metal frame, isolation transformer frame, power supply frame ground, line filter frame, and green power cord ground wire. Be sure the ground prong has NOT been chopped off the power plug. Check you wall outlet for a good ground. Lastly is make sure a capkit hasbeen installed recently on your monitor.

Title: Re:how long should i leave my arcade machine on??
Post by: Smonkey on December 02, 2003, 04:47:51 pm

Is the screen rolling you see the screen tearing that MAME causes? Im not sure if your running it or not, but you wont see this effect in non-scrolling games, but fire up gauntlet and walk around and you will see a horz. line appear and travel the screen (usually bottom to top).

Title: Re:how long should i leave my arcade machine on??
Post by: william1983 on December 02, 2003, 04:53:10 pm

i havent gotten an arcade VGA yet or an j-pac..but i can already tell i am gonna have resolution problems when playing mame...

Title: Re:how long should i leave my arcade machine on??
Post by: lokki on December 02, 2003, 09:26:41 pm

I remember that the guy that sold me my cabinet, recommende that I turn on the monitor for at least a couple of hours a week to prolong the life of the monitor.
Is this necessary?

Is it safe to leave it of for long periods of time?

Thanks

Title: Re:how long should i leave my arcade machine on??
Post by: Ken Layton on December 03, 2003, 12:46:22 am

It's good to turn the game on for a couple of hours a week to excersise the electrolytic caps in the monitor, power supply, and game board.

Title: Re:how long should i leave my arcade machine on??
Post by: greven grevs on December 03, 2003, 01:04:18 am

I set my PC to power off the monitor after about 30minutes of non-use. This way the monitor isnt always on , only when in use. I also keep the computer itself running all the time and reboot maybe once a week.