Major! Problem

[micro571]

I have a jamma cabinet with a standard arcade monitor (no identifable markings, so I don't know which one).

I was converting it into a PC based mame cabinet when after the PC and arcade monitor were on for about 1 day I found them mysteriously off.  The PC powered back on fine, but arcade machine seemed dead.  I found that a fuse had blown so I shorted it with a jumper aligator clip cable to see if that fixed the problem.  

It did, but after being on for about 10 seconds, smoke began to pour out of the machine.  I've identified which part of the monitor is dead (based on where the flame hole is).  The suction cup thing attached to the monitor is attached by a cable to a large component on the board.  This component is what started smoking.

I opened up a PC monitor and noticed that it to has a suction cup thing (what is that?) and that it is to connected to a large component.

My question is:
First all, what is the suction cup thing and what is it connected to, secondly will I be able to replace the large arcade monitor component with the (about the same size) PC monitor component?  They look slightly different.

If anyone can help I would really appreciate it.  I'd much rather use a real arcade monitor for my mame project than  have to scrap it and use a PC monitor.   BTW, I can take pics if that will help.

[BobA]

The rubber suction cup thing is connected to the HV of the flyback tranformer and is the most dangerous piece of an arcade monitor or PC monitor.  Injury and even death can be caused by improper handling.  See the threads on discharging monitors before continuing.

The flyback has to be matched exactly or you will also damage the monitor and get smoke again.   Jumpers are a poor substitute for fuses.  You probably have a problem with your HV section and may also have blown some transistors and diodes as well as the flyback transformer.

If you can ID your monitor Bob Roberts sells some of the more common components for Monitor repair.   Not suggested if you are not familiar with working with high voltage.

BobA

[SirPeale]

FWIW, when fuses blow, they usually blow for a reason.  Jumpering is almost NEVER a good idea, unless you really know what you're doing.

Before powering this up again, I would recommend checking everything carefully as to why this would have happened in the first place.  Possibly something as easy as a screw fell on/in to a circuit board.  Or, it could be something more complicated.  

Fact is, if you're blowing fuses, something is probably wrong, and you should check it out.

[Ken Layton]

That rubber suction cup is the 20,000 volt high voltage lead from the flyback transformer. By using that jumper wire you probably did some major damage to the flyback itself, the horizontal output transistor, and the B+ voltage regulator in addition to maybe a few electrolytic capacitors. Sure it could be fixed, but it's gonna cost you $$$.

[Spaced Invader]

If you don't know what "the suction cup thing" is you really shouldn't be messing around with an exposed monitor.