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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Witchboard on March 07, 2006, 03:30:32 pm

Title: JAMMA Test Rig Suggestions?
Post by: Witchboard on March 07, 2006, 03:30:32 pm

I've got a line on a PSone LCD that should be showing up in the mail this week.  I'm wanting to create a self contained JAMMA board tester including a kick harness.  I plan on having about 4' of the JAMMA harness outside of the box so I can test boards in cabinets.  I've already presumed I'll be needing the Test, Service, Coin and both player Start buttons.  Is there any suggestions of something I may have not thought of?  I'm not too concerned about including a coin counter, considering I'm not an op, but I'm finalizing the planning stages and was wanting some feedback on something I may have missed.

Title: Re: JAMMA Test Rig Suggestions?
Post by: BobA on March 08, 2006, 09:21:54 am

An amp meter to see how much current is being used by the 5V supply is useful as is a speaker. Also useful is access to the  5V control and a volt meter to set 5.1V etc for boards that need a bit of boost.

Title: Re: JAMMA Test Rig Suggestions?
Post by: Witchboard on March 08, 2006, 10:01:27 am

I have a 3" 8ohm shielded speaker that I'm going to install.  What would be the usefulness of an amp meter?  Not that I'm saying it's not a good idea, I just don't know what pertinent information it would provide.

Title: Re: JAMMA Test Rig Suggestions?
Post by: BobA on March 08, 2006, 11:51:35 am

The amp meter will show if the board is drawing too much current compared to its rating.  This is good info when troubleshooting boards.

Title: Re: JAMMA Test Rig Suggestions?
Post by: Witchboard on March 08, 2006, 08:04:29 pm

Well, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not savvy enough to know what to look at or what could be wrong when it's drawing too many amps.  Not to say that I won't learn in the near future.  ;D  They seem cheap enough on eBay.  I'll take a look at my local places and see if they carry them as well.

I guess one like this (http://cgi.ebay.com/BLUE-LED-DC-0-20A-3-1-2-Digital-LED-Amp-current-meter_W0QQitemZ7595862405QQcategoryZ73158QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) would work?  It seems small and affordable.  It states it needs a "Shunt" resistor.

Title: Re: JAMMA Test Rig Suggestions?
Post by: BobA on March 09, 2006, 08:33:44 pm

If you would not use it for troubleshooting then don't put it in.   Instead you could put jacks to moitor voltage or amps using an existing DVM.  Alot cheaper and you don't have to worry about sizing a shunt resistor.
 

Title: Re: JAMMA Test Rig Suggestions?
Post by: Witchboard on March 09, 2006, 09:10:25 pm

Yeah, I'm really designing it more just to test boards and not repair them.  Nothing like some guy saying, "Well, I think it works..." and me going to my trunk and pulling that out.  :police: