Donkey Kong Voltage Issues

HarryFupa

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My DK3 cabinet worked before my move, but now it won't turn on. The monitor makes no noises of life, displays nothing, and there is no game sound (so it's not just the monitor that isn't running). I first checked the fuses but they are all fine. I then probed the voltage at the plugs inside the cabinet and found them to be only about 48V, but they should be 100V correct? I took a couple pictures with my camera phone (sorry but I cant find the use cable for my real camera) of where I have probed out.

Pic 013 is of the internal outlet with the cover removed. Each individual plug probes out to ~48V. Pic 010 is of a junction box type of thing to the right of the power transformer (where the wires from the cabinet power switch run to). It is labeled 120, 100, 0, which I assume should represent voltages; however, they all probe out to ~116V.

Do I need to replace the power supply for the cabinet, or are there things that I can try in order to fix it?
 

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If your meter probes are on terminals 0 and 120 your reading 116v ?
What is your voltage @ the wall outlet? They should read the same. The iso transformer steps the plug Voltage down to 100 V and that's what you should have at the outlet. Check the voltage @ the plug directly after the switch which is a white wire and a brown wire. This should be the same as the wall outlet. If it is not, check your cord, switch, and fuse holder if it is check your connections after the plug.
 
Double checked my wall outlet voltage, and for some reason I was getting 117V at my hot, but also about 18V on the neutral. I plugged into a different outlet (on a different circuit breaker) and I was able to probe out ~115V from terminals 0 to 120, and ~95V from terminals 0 to 110.

When I check the internal outlet voltage with nothing plugged into it, they read 70V and 8V; however, when I plug in the monitor (in the internal plug) the outlets probe 0V and 99V.

So I assume that means that my voltage is fine at plug, but the machine still does not turn on. No sign of life on the monitor, and no sound.

More thoughts? Thanks!
 
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On your iso outlet are you checking each terminal to ground or from the hot to neutral? You should be checking it from hot to neutral. That should be 100V +/- a couple of Volts but it's usually around 102V sounds to me like your checking each terminal to ground. That will give you close to what your reading. This outlet is isolated (from Ground)
 
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You are correct, I was checking each terminal to ground. I forgot about it being "isolated". Probing from hot to neutral I get 102V.

Unfortunately, I had suspected the 4A fuse as well, but it's not blown. To be sure I took it out, probed it (it passed), and re-fit it snugly. The monitor still does not turn on and there is no sign of life :(
 
Ok, did you check to see if your getting 100V at the fuse holder ? If you are, you may have to pull the chassis and inspect it for burnt traces/components.
 
There are 4 fuses in a DK.
1 - 5A fuse next to the on/off switch
2 - 4A fuses, 1 inside the power supply, 1 on the monitor
1 - 300mA fuse also in the monitor
 
Ok, did you check to see if your getting 100V at the fuse holder ? If you are, you may have to pull the chassis and inspect it for burnt traces/components.

No I didn't. I'll go check it now, what voltage should I see at the fuse holder? I assume you mean the 4A fuse correct?
 
You should have the same as at the outlet 100V. Also you may want to check the 300ma fuse as Dokert has suggested but I would think you would still get some audio if that were bad. Are you getting neck glow or any noise out of the speaker at all?
 
There are 4 fuses in a DK.
1 - 5A fuse next to the on/off switch
2 - 4A fuses, 1 inside the power supply, 1 on the monitor
1 - 300mA fuse also in the monitor

The 5A fuse, the 300ma fuse, and the 4A monitor fuses are all fine. Is it safe to assume that the 4A fuse in the power supply is fine to since I'm getting 100V at the internal plug? Can it be something other than a fuse issue?
 
The 5A fuse, the 300ma fuse, and the 4A monitor fuses are all fine. Is it safe to assume that the 4A fuse in the power supply is fine to since I'm getting 100V at the internal plug? Can it be something other than a fuse issue?

Well, if it worked before you moved and now it doesn't it could be a lose connector, maybe the neck board is loose, or you have cold solder joints on the board somewhere. You might need to pull the monitor and check the board over.
 
The 5A fuse, the 300ma fuse, and the 4A monitor fuses are all fine. Is it safe to assume that the 4A fuse in the power supply is fine to since I'm getting 100V at the internal plug? Can it be something other than a fuse issue?

Your fuse in the PS could be bad and you would still get your 100V @ the outlet the 5A fuse is for the DC voltages it protects the power supply itself not the iso.
 
You should have the same as at the outlet 100V. Also you may want to check the 300ma fuse as Dokert has suggested but I would think you would still get some audio if that were bad. Are you getting neck glow or any noise out of the speaker at all?

The 300ma fuse is fine. I'm not getting any neck glow or speaker noise at all. I'll go probe the fuse holder for 100V right now and report back.
 
I do have 100V at the fuse holder. I guess the next thing to do is to find the fuse in the power supply and check that?

Thank you guys very much for all of your input! I had put off working on my DK cabinet (converting from DK3 to DK) due to being so busy with work, but after visiting Funspot in NH last week and playing DK for hours it reminded me of how much I love that game :)
 
Well, if it worked before you moved and now it doesn't it could be a lose connector, maybe the neck board is loose, or you have cold solder joints on the board somewhere. You might need to pull the monitor and check the board over.

The neck board doesn't appear to be loose. I may have to pull the monitor and check out the board indeed. A loose connection seems plausable.
 
Unplug the monitor or marquee and take a reading right there at the plug outlet, I will bet that it is going to be low. It should read 100vac when you stick the red lead in one side and the black lead in the other side.

The fuse for the power supply is inside the power supply, and you will have to remove the outer cage to check it.
 
Unplug the monitor or marquee and take a reading right there at the plug outlet, I will bet that it is going to be low. It should read 100vac when you stick the red lead in one side and the black lead in the other side.

The fuse for the power supply is inside the power supply, and you will have to remove the outer cage to check it.

I get readings between 100-102V between the plug terminals so it's not low. I will take off the power supply cage and check the fuse.
 
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