Going to see some cabs but no where to plug in, suggestions??

sohchx

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Going to see some cabs but no where to plug in, suggestions??

I am going to see some cabs next week and where they are stored there is no way to power them up. Have any of you guys been in this type of situation? Would there be anyway I can power them up on the cheap using maybe an AC inverter of some sort? I don't wanna go buy a generator if it can be avoided. I have a 1.74 amp max 200 watt inverter, would this be enough?
 
Why bother? Just offer based on the games being non-working. If they fire up after you get them, bonus.
 
What do you plan to plug the inverter in to? Your car battery?

Where is the closes power? Can you bring a long ass extension cord?

Is it in a storage unit with no power? If so, I am sure there are lights somewhere close by, bring a converter you can plug in to a socketed light with a plug on the end. Note that they are only 2 prong so make sure to bring an extension cord and a 2 to 3 prong converter...and don't touch the cabs as you power them up.

EDIT: Or follow cnlmoores advice. :D
 
I am going to see some cabs next week and where they are stored there is no way to power them up. Have any of you guys been in this type of situation? Would there be anyway I can power them up on the cheap using maybe an AC inverter of some sort? I don't wanna go buy a generator if it can be avoided. I have a 1.74 amp max 200 watt inverter, would this be enough?

I think you can rent them from Home Depot for 4 hours at a time. I can't imagine it would be more than $30-$40, but I'm not positive on that.
 
I am going to see some cabs next week and where they are stored there is no way to power them up. Have any of you guys been in this type of situation? Would there be anyway I can power them up on the cheap using maybe an AC inverter of some sort? I don't wanna go buy a generator if it can be avoided. I have a 1.74 amp max 200 watt inverter, would this be enough?

I carry an inverter with me in my truck. You can get the smaller ones pretty cheap but you can't put a ton of load on them. I've run games on the one I've got and it's pretty small.

That said... I would just try to get the games cheaper and untested as already suggested. If you plug them in and they work the price just went up :)

I have a 1.74 amp max 200 watt inverter, would this be enough?

That's what fuses are for ;)
 
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I have a 1.74 amp max 200 watt inverter, would this be enough?

Probably not, try a bigger one, like 400 watts, 3 amp

As has been suggested, a long ass ext cord is a good idea, but the price usually goes up if something is in known working condition. If there are games you want that are in decent shape and mostly complete, then they are worth fixing up if they're not working. Make an offer based on non-working condition.
 
There are plenty of places that will rent generators (HD, Rent's All, etc.). Just get the one with wheels or the frame that will fit on your dolly (you'll know why the first time you haul it :)). Keep it in the truck and negotiate without it, If you can get the price down then don't mention it. If the guy won't budge, then casually mention that you have a generator and would he mind if you plugged them in. I've had prices suddenly take a big turn lower when the possibility of the "working when stored" games might get turned on.

ken
 
A few times I have plugged in non-working games, and gotten them to work for one reason or another. Usually the seller wants more $$$ for the game once it's discovered that it actually works.

Might be better just to get them all as non-working and then figure it out later. I guess it depends on what you are spending.
 
actually, a 200-watt inverter (that is, one that outputs 200 watts 120v AC) should be enough to run most 19" raster games, which generally pull under 150 watts. vectors (especially color) and 25"+ rasters may be problematic as they may exceed that 200-watt limit.

however, as stated before, i may behoove you to buy any you're interested in as "not working." if the seller wants to get working prices he should be the one providing a power source or moving them to a location with electricity. if he's not willing to do either (provide power or drop the prices) i have a feeling you're in for a difficult time with a seller who isn't motivated to move the cabs.
 
actually, a 200-watt inverter (that is, one that outputs 200 watts 120v AC) should be enough to run most 19" raster games, which generally pull under 150 watts. vectors (especially color) and 25"+ rasters may be problematic as they may exceed that 200-watt limit.

however, as stated before, i may behoove you to buy any you're interested in as "not working." if the seller wants to get working prices he should be the one providing a power source or moving them to a location with electricity. if he's not willing to do either (provide power or drop the prices) i have a feeling you're in for a difficult time with a seller who isn't motivated to move the cabs.


Here are the specs for what I have

# High Surge Capacity: 400 Watts
# Output Wave Form: Modified sine wave
# Convert's Vehicle's 12 Volt DC Power to 115 Volt AC Household Power
# Black & Decker 200 Watt Power Inverter / 400 Watt Peak
# Maximum Continuous Power 200 Watts
# Input Voltage: 12.8 Volts
# Output Voltage: 115 Volts
# Powers up to: 1.7 Amps

The seller has a good idea of what is working and what is not. The prices are already set for what I chose to buy I just wanted to test them first before commiting to buy something that has a serious problem that I cannot fix or costs more than the cab itself. All of the games will be rasters.
 
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should be enough to run most games, but if you're looking to pony up some pretty decent cash you'll probably want to go the rental route for a small generator just to make sure you don't run into any snags. or at least find out if there's a rental location nearby that you can run to if your inverter doesn't work out.
 
Why bother? Just offer based on the games being non-working. If they fire up after you get them, bonus.

+Eleventy Bazzilion!

I did that with a Q*Bert and a Ms Pac Man. got them cheap as they did not work and there was no power to test them in storage. Both beautiful cabs.

Ms Pac worked with no issues (re-capped the monitor, but there wasnt even dust in it.). Q*Bert needed a fuse or two.
 
It really depends on whether you want major projects or not. It can also work to your advantage price-wise if you play your cards right.

If you get a 50/50 work don't work ratio, you just showed the seller he has a few working games. More importantly, you just showed him he also has a large collection of 300 pound paper weights. Leverage the fact that you'll be doing him a favor by still taking the dead ones into lowering your price.

This method worked great for me several months ago when I bought 3 machines with issues. I only wanted one, but got all three for about what he wanted for one.
 
Ask for a general list of the games in the storage unit. Do your research on parts and availability. As great as game x is, will you be able to get parts for it at a reasonable price.

Get a lock pick set or ask the guy before hand if he has keys to all of the games. That way you have an idea of what's inside the cab

Personally I wouldn't plug them in. Have a general idea of what you want to pay and then go from there. If he comes in higher than you anticipated let him know that you are taking on x number of projects. You don't know if they board issues, monitors issues, etc. Work your way to a figure you are comfortable with, load them up and go home.
 
Didn't George Costanza use a car battery to keep his Frogger high score?

That was on the other day lol.


JERRY: Hey, look at the high score--"G.L.C." George Louis Costanza. That's not you, is it?

GEORGE: Yes! 860,000. I can't believe it's still standing. No one has beaten me in like 10 years.

JERRY: I remember that night.

GEORGE: The perfect combination of Mountain Dew and mozzarella...just the right amount of grease on the joy stick...
 
Plugging in the games before buying them is generally a bad idea... UNLESS the seller for some reason assumes they are all working 100% and has prices based on that idea. Then plugging them in might help.
 
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