VS and PC10 in same cabinet.

[stratjakt]

I have a PC10 (single monitor), I want to add a VS system to the cabinet (VS Super Mario, to be specific).

My PC10 cab was converted to Jamma, and I made a simple loom to wire in the PC10 board.  I was just thinking I could wire a second set of connectors to the VS board, and switch the 5V and 12V lines.  I don't want to put in a second PSU and switch AC voltage with a big on-off-on switch, it seems too crude.

I was thinking of using solid state relays driven by a D-type flip flop attached to a momentary switch on the CP - the reset button for the PC10 (since it's not needed, game select and enter at the same time reset the system).  This part I'm not too worried about now, I'll prototype it with a regular old mechanical switch.

What I'm wondering is any issues that might come up with the video wires going to each board, even though only one would be powered at a time.  Can this damage the boards, or degrade the signals?  I don't see why it would, but would maybe putting diodes on the video lines to make sure the electrons only go one way be prudent?

My other question would be the monitor itself - would the two different boards throw it out of sync?  I guess I'd have to try that and see..  So far just plugging in different jamma boards hasn't thrown it off.

[stratjakt]

Ok, I'm bumping my own thread because I'm wondering something about this and need some gurus to help out..

In my case, I have the one Nintendo switcher which runs off the transformed 100VAC, and don't really want to pay goofy ebay prices for a second.

In most situations like this, the folk'd wire two power supplies and switch AC line voltage betwixt them. 

I want to switch the 12V and 5V lines between boards with a DPDT relay wired to a pushbutton on the panel, and my concern is the "bounce" that all mechanical devices like that cause.  (12V and 5V lines flickering on and off for 3ms or so when relay is engaged).

Is this a concern?  Any electrogurus out there?

[saint]

Not my forte, but have you considered going with a multi-jamma?

[stratjakt]

Nah, too pricey.  I could fry both boards and the PSU and replace them and it'd still be half the price of Clays kit + 2 daughter boards.

Actually, looking at his kit, I see a relay on the daughter cards, but nothing there to debounce or correct the voltage.  Should be OK.

Besides, the evolution of this design would be a shift register driving multiple relays, like Clay's kit, but without all the expense, and "limitless" expandability.  How many boards could I fit in my big 25" data east cabinet?  We'll see, I'm figuring about 20 or so.