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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: payment_due on May 14, 2006, 11:02:52 am

Title: Way to tell if a cab's power supply is good/bad?
Post by: payment_due on May 14, 2006, 11:02:52 am
I've got a cab that I bought from a guy that is a MAME machine, so obviously I don't use the internal supply for PCBs.

Does anyone know of a way to see if it still works, other than plugging in a PCB? I have none at the moment, and I'm a bit leery about asking my friends to borrow one of theirs because I wouldn't want to ruin it if the PS I have is bad.

The guy said he never used the PS because he bought the cab sans PCB and turned it into a MAME cab immediately. He said he assumes it works, but is not 100% sure.

Any help would make me do this:  :notworthy:
Title: Re: Way to tell if a cab's power supply is good/bad?
Post by: Thenasty on May 14, 2006, 11:05:09 am
use a voltmeter  ;D
Title: Re: Way to tell if a cab's power supply is good/bad?
Post by: payment_due on May 14, 2006, 11:19:07 am
Thanks, what kind of power reading am I looking for though?  I know how to use a volt-meter, but I'm no electronics expert by any means.
Title: Re: Way to tell if a cab's power supply is good/bad?
Post by: SirPeale on May 14, 2006, 12:09:19 pm
If it's a standard AC --> DC power supply, like a Peter Chou, the voltages will be marked on the tabs.  A PS can 'read' good, but if you touch the voltage adjustment pot, it may shut down. 

Best way to test a PS is under load.  If you value your board, I wouldn't use it, though!  Find another way (like a heavy ceramic wire-wound resistor) to put it under load.

If it doesn't have the screw tabs, but has a molex wiring connector, standard wiring colors usually apply: black for ground, red for +5V, yellow for +12V.
Title: Re: Way to tell if a cab's power supply is good/bad?
Post by: payment_due on May 14, 2006, 12:56:35 pm
Quote from: Peale on May 14, 2006, 12:09:19 pm
If it's a standard AC --> DC power supply, like a Peter Chou, the voltages will be marked on the tabs.  A PS can 'read' good, but if you touch the voltage adjustment pot, it may shut down. 

Best way to test a PS is under load.  If you value your board, I wouldn't use it, though!  Find another way (like a heavy ceramic wire-wound resistor) to put it under load.

If it doesn't have the screw tabs, but has a molex wiring connector, standard wiring colors usually apply: black for ground, red for +5V, yellow for +12V.


Thanks Peale.  I'll need to get my buddy who is studying to be an EE to help me out then.  I'm pretty sure the PS is fine, but I don't want to risk ruining a friends PCB, or mine when/if I get one.
Title: Re: Way to tell if a cab's power supply is good/bad?
Post by: SirPeale on May 14, 2006, 01:15:37 pm
If it's already hooked up and running, then measure away. 

Unless the PS is giving you obvious signs of distress, you should be okay.