Side art idea - Lightning Plate

[Stu_C]

Hi all,

1st Post here, have been visiting these forums on and off for a few years now.  Always wanted to build my own arcade cabinet and hopefully soon I will.  I have bought John's book "Project Arcade" and it is excellent!! Well done John.

I managed to create a control panel (standalone) a few years ago using 2 Microsoft Sidewinders and Happ controls.  Still works now : )

I have been looking at the projects here lately and they are awesome.  Looking forward to seeing "The Gold Mine" completed and "Sprocket Rocket", maybe I'll complete mine before that's complete.  Only kidding I have a small child aswell, and getting time for these projects is always hard.

Anyway, inspired by "The sprocket Rocket" 's plasma created decal?!? I was thinking of doing something similar.

Basically it's a 9" Lightning Plate available here http://www.gadgetshop.com/eShop/Product.asp?pf_id=17170

With a MAME brushed aluminium type plate slightly mounted outwards (my father in law owns a tool making factory, so I might be able to get him to do some).  I thought this might look good.  What do you think though?  Super tacky or good idea?

Check out the mock up below.  Excuse my photoshop skills.
And Hi to everyone on the forums : )

Stu

(Doh! wrong forum) can any mods please move : )

[JustMichael]

Very interesting idea!!  Now if they only made on the size and shape of a marquee...  

[DYNAGOD]

that may very well wreak havok with your monitor and other electronics....
the transient emf's put off by that device will also screw up your computer and possibly your encoded depending on the proximity..
i have a similar device at home for my entertainment center but i found i cant keep it with 6 feet of my consoles or tv ,as it causes every button in my controllers to be pressed simultaneously without touching them and other strainge anomolies.
i would be especially worried about the monitor, as it is the closest thing you have to it..
i dont recomend anything like that..
nice idea, but i would proceed with caution....

[Stu_C]

Thanks DYNAGOD.  Never thought about what havoc it could cause. Oh well back to the drawing board.

[Witchboard]

Welcome to the boards.  Maybe you could put some flashing on the inside of the cabinet where the lightning disc is.  Maybe that would cut down on the interference?  

[DYNAGOD]

1/8 copper shielding might do the trick, or some thin copper shielding,like the kind used in guitars innards. ..but it gets expensive real quick..

[DYNAGOD]

an 1/8 copper plate for shielding might do the trick ..but it gets expensive real quick..
and i would DEFINETLY isolate that thing electrically.dont put it on the same line as you computer and monitor, youll have all kinds of visual noise problems..

[Witchboard]

Do you think it would need to be that thick?  1/8" is pretty thick when it comes to copper.  What about 1/16" or maybe even copper foil?  I would agree about isolating the power source.

[johnnysmitch]

Easy, just make the cabinet out of lead. Don't let the kids chew on it though.

[crashwg]

A friend of a friend had one of those lightning plate things...  He could control his stereo with it!  No joke.  When touched in certain areas it changed the radio stations.

[DYNAGOD]

Easy, just make the cabinet out of lead. Don't let the kids chew on it though.

lol thats funny..
 im not helping you move it though..

you could go with something thinner of course, but what concerns me is the proximity to the monitor and its unsheilded electronics..
using 3/4 mdf (which is invisible from an emf shielding standpoint) that thing would be a mere 3 inches or less from the tube itself..
electrically isolating it would help,as well as some copper shielding,but im not so sure that being that close to the monitor with something thats basically an arc generator is such a good idea..
ill stop short of saying it cant be done,cause i dont want to be the guy who said it couldnt be done.. but i personally dont think your going to be able to have that arc generator that close to your monitor and encoders without some negative effects..