Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Arcade Collecting => Restorations & repair => Topic started by: Ekleo on December 22, 2019, 08:19:31 pm

Title: Can feel electricity from the screws near the controls?
Post by: Ekleo on December 22, 2019, 08:19:31 pm
I'm fairly new to collecting machines, so I'm not sure if this is a common problem or something you can fix, but I just bought a Namco Ms Pacman/Galaga machine and after playing for a bit, noticed you can feel a bit of electricity from the screws/pins around the controls. It's not much and doesn't hurt, but it's still a bit annoying cuz you can't rest your hand over them without feeling a little electricity.

Is there a way to fix this? Is there some sort of grounding issue? Maybe static from the monitor?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Can feel electricity from the screws near the controls?
Post by: pbj on December 23, 2019, 12:34:34 am
Check your ground connections in the cabinet.  Check for continuity between them and the ground pin on the plug.  Make sure your plug has a ground pin.

Title: Re: Can feel electricity from the screws near the controls?
Post by: jdbailey1206 on December 23, 2019, 08:44:51 am
Quote from: pbj on December 23, 2019, 12:34:34 am
Check your ground connections in the cabinet.  Check for continuity between them and the ground pin on the plug.  Make sure your plug has a ground pin.

Yes.  Yes and yes.

Be careful with this.  Electricity is no joke.
Title: Re: Can feel electricity from the screws near the controls?
Post by: Ekleo on December 23, 2019, 09:06:15 am
Quote from: pbj on December 23, 2019, 12:34:34 am
Check your ground connections in the cabinet.  Check for continuity between them and the ground pin on the plug.  Make sure your plug has a ground pin.

Thanks! I didn't know too much about ground plugs before your post but after looking more closely, the people who owned the machine before me apparently cut off the ground pin from the plug. I'll be replacing that plug immediately and hopefully that fixes it!
Title: Re: Can feel electricity from the screws near the controls?
Post by: pbj on December 23, 2019, 12:18:57 pm
That will fix it.

 :cheers:
Title: Re: Can feel electricity from the screws near the controls?
Post by: Ekleo on December 23, 2019, 04:51:44 pm
Quote from: pbj on December 23, 2019, 12:18:57 pm
That will fix it.

 :cheers:
Just replaced it and it's all good now! Thanks again!