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A question about surge protectors

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ArcadeSeeker962:
I've read on other websites that when building a MAME cabinet, that a surge protector is required. If so, how strong of a sure projector should I get?

MTPPC:
I think you are referring to a "smart strip" that shuts down monitor and accessories on computer shutdown: http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Energy-Saving-Autoswitching-Technology/dp/B000P1QJXQ/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_b

drventure:
A surge protector is never "required" per se,

but it's often good to have one for a couple reasons.

1) It could help protect the PC etc in the cab from spikes that could burn them out. You spent all that time building the cab, it'd suck to get a surge and have to tear the PC out and replace it (or worse).

2) Many people like to get a surge protector that has a "Master power" plug. Whatever you plug into that plug, controls power to all the other plugs on the surge protector. So, you plug the PC into that plug, and the monitor/other power supplies into the other plugs on the protector, and presto, when you turn the PC on, everything in the cab turns on, when you turn it off, everything shuts down.

As for what kind. That all depends on what you want to spend.

I picked up a philips from walmart for about 20$ that has a master plug on it. It's worked great for me, and when full on lightning hit fried all my equipment, philips was right there and cut a check to replace it (more or less).


mcseforsale:
I built my own with a 12V 10A fuse, some romex (the stuff they build houses with), some gang boxes and a few connectors.  I have 2 switched outlets on the bottom of the cab for the PC (and anything else I'll need) in a 2 gang box and it feeds 4 more outlets power ONLY when the PC is on.

Power comes in from the outside:



Then, with household romex...fees into the 2 gang box...through an on/off switch into an outlet.  



That twisted pair of wire runs from a 12V power lead in the PC to one of these:


That relay sits in the single gang box (I've since changed the white blank to a steel one).  When the PC goes on, the relay is tripped and power is then sent *UP* into the cabinet to a second 2 gang box with 4 outlets for my USB hub, marquee lights and amplifier.



So, the entire cab is like a big smart power strip...for about 10 bux...but I had almost everything laying around except the relay...

I like the industrial look of it (I've since cleaned it up, but you get the idea).

Here's the original thread and great explanation from yaksplat.  This is where I learnt it.  Yak did a great writeup and explanation of the parts.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=119281.0

YMMV...

AJ




ArcadeSeeker962:
Wow, that looks really impressive!  :) It looks like I still have more to learn about electrical equipment. This may sound like a silly question, but once the MAME cabinet is complete, me and my father are going to place the MAME cabinet in our basement. The problem is that it'll probably be placed near where we have our pet rabbits in a cage. Due to how our pet rabbit's cage is designed, hay, sawdust, and rabbit food tends to fall out of the cage. Also, our pet rabbits tend to be kind of aggressive(they're Mini Rex Rabbits, if anyone is familiar with that breed of rabbit) by knocking over their food bowl which can cause more of a mess. So, should I be careful about how me and my father wire the MAME cabinet due to that issue?

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