Are isolation transformers necessary?

Some monitors will die if you don't use them. Some (newer) monitors have them built it, so you are using one even if you don't think you are...
 
I think besides the monitors, they offer a level of protection to the player as well. Quarters drop into the power brick, could possibly electrify something on the game (especially if the ground pin is cut off). If the ISO wasn't there, thats the equivalent of sticking a fork in an outlet.

With the ISO being there, as long as you're not in contact with BOTH terminals of it...you should be safe.

(Disclaimer...please don't grab iso terminals.)
 
I must of overlooked the tag on the AC voltage line says an isolation transformer must be used. Also, the below video was asking to identify the chassis, but I think I did that as well. Is this a WG 4900 or 4600 chassis?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD4LlbbCCnQ
 
I accidentally plugged a monitor into unisolated power... the cab was hacked to heck, and I guess I chose unwisely (didn't trace the power properly or something). Anyway, it burnt a trace completely off of the monitor board and killed a diode, if I remember right. I replaced the parts and repaired trace that smoked, and the monitor was up and running again.
 
And what exactly about unisolated power burns up boards/monitors?
 
A fucked up monitor, gameboard, blown fuses, or all of the above.

Hehe, yup, that just about sums it up.
Each case can be a different story.

I had a Nanao one time that boggled the shit out of me after it had been plugged straight into a wall outlet....... turned out that it "arced" the B+ potentiometer internally, that was it, nothing else blown. Took me forever to figure that one out because I was too busy looking everywhere else. :)
 
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