Free arcade... Bad Power Supply?

Raab

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So I picked up my first free arcade today, if gas and time doesn't count. Its Konami Racin' Force. Well anyway I knew it wasn't working in the first place but it is complete and clean (no hacked wiring, solid cab, clean side art, like new coin door and mechs, and good pedals and steering). Well the power supply that was in it was just laying disconnected in the bottom of the cab. Great he must have just been an idiot (just my way of saying that he was a very nice guy). Hooked it up no go except the marquee light lit up bright but nothing else. No sounds no screen blink nothing. When I looked closer I noticed the fan on the ps was not spinning at all. Are these signs enough for a bad ps or should I be looking elsewhere? I thought of testing the current but im not sure how to with the molex connectors.

Any common problems with this?

P.S. I can supply pictures if necessary.
 
So I picked up my first free arcade today, if gas and time doesn't count. Its Konami Racin' Force. Well anyway I knew it wasn't working in the first place but it is complete and clean (no hacked wiring, solid cab, clean side art, like new coin door and mechs, and good pedals and steering). Well the power supply that was in it was just laying disconnected in the bottom of the cab. Great he must have just been an idiot (just my way of saying that he was a very nice guy). Hooked it up no go except the marquee light lit up bright but nothing else. No sounds no screen blink nothing. When I looked closer I noticed the fan on the ps was not spinning at all. Are these signs enough for a bad ps or should I be looking elsewhere? I thought of testing the current but im not sure how to with the molex connectors.

Any common problems with this?

P.S. I can supply pictures if necessary.

If the fan isnt spinning then you got a PS issue. Best place to start.
 
I figured as much but I don't want to just go replacing parts that are not necessary. Thanks for the second opinion. Any cheap ways to fix these or is it pretty much buy and replace?
 
Switching power supplies can be fixed, but you really don't want to if you are a n00b. I've done it since the early 90s and even with my experience I got bit once.

It took 10 years for the scars to finally fade away on my left hand.

:eek:

They can hold some massive amounts of power if poorly designed or if the wrong part fails. The one that bit me was a cheaply designed Apple II series power supply that did NOT have bleeder resistors across the main filter cap. I was hit with full force of bridged rectified and filtered power from the AC mains that was stored in the big capacitor on the high voltage side.

That was DC. DC makes your muscles contract. This made it impossible to let go and the only way I was able to get it out of my hand was to flail my arm and let the power supply's weight take it out of my hand to where it could fly up and put a dent in the ceiling.

Now, if you are comfortable working on monitors and can take basic precautions around possibly energized circuits (which monitors can be!!!) then you can learn to fix these power supplies. Outside of that, it's cheap and easy to order most replacement supplies. :)

I still fix switchers from time to time. Mainly when the shape/size is odd, a replacement is expensive/hard to find, or if I really need the system up and running quickly.

RJ
 
Ya I worked on a few monitors so im okay with high voltage shocks. I have been shocked by monitors, cars, houses, etc. I would prefer to not get shocked at all but it happens :). Is there any good tuts on where to start the repairs? Also how can the marquee light turn on but nothing else?
 
The marquee light is powered by the mains power so a faulty power supply shouldn't affect it. The monitor should come on as well if the power supply is bad, though without a picture to display it may not appear to be on.

To check for voltage from the power supply just go to the Jamma edge connector and test there. Normally power lines are color coded, black is ground, red is +5vdc, yellow is +12vdc, and any number of colors can be -5vdc (if it is even present). I have seen many power supplies continue to supply +5vdc after the fan dies.

Can you identify the power supply type from any markings on it? Ken Layton has documented a few repairs of these power supplies.

http://home.comcast.net/~mtpacifico/_kenskorner/kenskorner.html
 
Ya I worked on a few monitors so im okay with high voltage shocks. I have been shocked by monitors, cars, houses, etc. I would prefer to not get shocked at all but it happens :). Is there any good tuts on where to start the repairs? Also how can the marquee light turn on but nothing else?

Likely because of the way it's wired. The marquee runs on 120VAC, so when you turn on the power switch, it sends power to the marquee, the power supply, and the monitor. If the marquee is good, it'll turn on... but if your PS is dead, that's all. You monitor should also be on, but you may not know if if the PS isn't generating 5VDC for the game PCB.
 
I just switched it on and I noticed that there is no glow from the neck of the monitor and it doesn't make the normal noise of a monitor. Here's a picture of the ps if anyone could help me identify it.
 

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Just ran a test and none of the 12v or 5v outputs are working the multimeter just sits at 0. Anyone know what power supply I should buy to replace it? They are cheap enough for me to just buy a new one. Or could I wire in a pc ps?
 
Really? I though it would be way smaller. Mines 9in wide x 5.5in tall x 4.5in deep. Lol its fn huge and the inside is very empty.
 
Really? I though it would be way smaller. Mines 9in wide x 5.5in tall x 4.5in deep. Lol its fn huge and the inside is very empty.


From your pic I assumed your PS was smaller. This should be pretty close to the same size.


THe TNT power supplies aren't bad, but if you don't want to spend time rebuilding one you should go with something new. Remember most of the TNT supplies are just as old as the one you are replacing and will likely fail soon. Todd pulls them for good reason.
 
but, but, but


:)

You didn't get offended did you? Did I say anyting that wasn't true?

Personally I wouldn't have any problem buying your power supplies, but I am willing and able to repair them when they fail. For guys who just want their machines to work I suggest buying new power supplies from reputable dealers.
 
:)

You didn't get offended did you? Did I say anyting that wasn't true?

Personally I wouldn't have any problem buying your power supplies, but I am willing and able to repair them when they fail. For guys who just want their machines to work I suggest buying new power supplies from reputable dealers.

Todd's not reputable?
 
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