Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Audio/Jukebox/MP3 Forum => Topic started by: AdamC on February 04, 2008, 08:03:00 pm

Title: Plasma plate and IPAC woes in my jukebox
Post by: AdamC on February 04, 2008, 08:03:00 pm

I have installed a 12" plasma plate into my jukebox i have just built, and as soon as its switched on , it starts affecting the IPAC running the buttons. The pages on SKJukebox keep flipping over and random numbers are typed in... stopping you from selecting a song.

As soon as the IPAC is unplugged , and the normal keyboard is plugged back in .. theres no problems.
(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t237/adamndeb/jukebox-night.jpg)(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t237/adamndeb/DSCN1827Small.jpg)
Picture on left is the jukebox in use at a party , and the one on the right is during testing stage - without the buttons built in - just the keyboard.

Title: Re: Plasma plate and IPAC woes in my jukebox
Post by: mccoy178 on February 05, 2008, 02:43:14 am

First, where did you find that disc?  Second, have you shielded it from causing the interference?  My 6"ers cause some feedback in my highs, so I need to do a little shielding to eliminate it.

Title: Re: Plasma plate and IPAC woes in my jukebox
Post by: unclet on February 05, 2008, 09:02:50 am

I have some related questions:

1) Do Lumin disks cause interference with a monitor, speakers or computer as well?
2) What type of material should be used for shielding?

Title: Re: Plasma plate and IPAC woes in my jukebox
Post by: AdamC on February 05, 2008, 03:50:25 pm

The power lead did make some feedback through the speakers , but I just seperated that lead from the speaker lead and its all fine.

I have tried some aluminum foil wrapped around the ipac , but it didnt stop it .. maybe i should try a bit more .. make a decent shield.

I bought this plate from an importer here in Australia.

Title: Re: Plasma plate and IPAC woes in my jukebox
Post by: mountain on February 06, 2008, 03:56:56 pm

It definitely sounds like you are getting some electromagnetic interference from the disc. We have used several different products at my work to shield prototypes. Search for a product called FlecTron. It works good although it is relatively expensive. Another option you may want to try is ferrite beads (the little warts at the end of most power cords and chargers). Most computer products use them for a reason. Since your disc probably wasn't designed for a computer installation, it may not be shielded very well.

Title: Re: Plasma plate and IPAC woes in my jukebox
Post by: AdamC on February 07, 2008, 01:55:54 am

I think i found a solution


I tried running the program while having the plate turned on and outside the jukebox at a little distance away.
Had no problems.

Brought the plate closer, and found that it started to affect the ipac when it was only a inch or so away from the front of the jukebox.

So tomorrow ill move the ipac away from where its sitting now , and put it high up in the back of the jukebox.

This should fix it i hope.

Title: Re: Plasma plate and IPAC woes in my jukebox
Post by: richms on February 07, 2008, 07:47:56 am

Chances are its the cables, not the ipac itself that are picking it up.

If you have antistatic bags try one between the plate and the ipaq - there are highish voltages on those plates effectivly arcing across - nice source of noise.