Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: P.H.U. on February 27, 2016, 06:15:33 pm

Title: Does monitor power on if not grounded?
Post by: P.H.U. on February 27, 2016, 06:15:33 pm

Troubleshooting a free cab that I picked up. The guy that gave it to me was a pretty honest and we have followed up several times since on other subjects. He said it worked until he pulled the SFIII3 PCB out. I am going to take him for his word that I don't have a lemon.

I see it is wired wonky (or not ideal). AC line in is going right to the switching power supply. Then into the ISO transformer. From the ISO, I see that the ground wire is severed. There is no line filter. Does that keep the monitor from powering on?

Headed to Harbor Freight to pick up some cheap electrical tools. I am going to rewire this as a test and plug the AC line directly into the ISO, then into the monitor from the ISO. Make sure I ground the AC line in to the ISO, then reconnect the severed ground. I suppose I will find out soon enough. But wanted to ask here first.

Title: Re: Does monitor power on if not grounded?
Post by: P.H.U. on February 28, 2016, 02:15:00 am

Thank goodness for free Harbor Freight multimeters!!

The ground question asked earlier is irrelevant. I unscrewed the AC line-in from the switching power supply and it tested for no voltage. I took apart the 3-wire grounding plug and found the neutral wire just fell right out. An unseen bad connection right at the plug. The leads were all wonky and uneven. I cleaned up the wire lengths and re-terminated it. Plugged the hot & neutral wires into the ISO and quick connected to the ground. I didn't see a fuse on the monitor chassis so there was a chance I could toast it when I plugged it in, so I held my breath as I did.

Heard the tell tale "boingggggg" of electricity filling the tube!!! There is no way you can do this hobby without one of these things.

Title: Re: Does monitor power on if not grounded?
Post by: P.H.U. on February 28, 2016, 03:49:33 am

And then I plugged in the GroovyMAME box......She's Alive! A-L-I-V-E!!!

Title: Re: Does monitor power on if not grounded?
Post by: Alaska on February 29, 2016, 06:20:51 pm

Quote from: P.H.U. on February 28, 2016, 03:49:33 am

And then I plugged in the GroovyMAME box......She's Alive! A-L-I-V-E!!!

 :applaud: Nicely done!

My memory may not be correct on this one, but did you have an old ArcadeVGA 5000 card that you swapped for the GroovyMAME setup? If so how are you liking the switch?

Title: Re: Does monitor power on if not grounded?
Post by: P.H.U. on March 01, 2016, 02:26:19 am

That was another guy. But I couldn't be happier with just a cheapo HD4350 and GroovyMAME.