Plug Goes "Boom"

paulliadis

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 18, 2010
Messages
1,715
Reaction score
65
Location
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Anybody ever have a plug go "boom" when you plugged in your game? I just plugged in my DK Junior to get some play time in, and it "popped" or "went boom" or sparked on me or whatever. Luckily I only have a black mark on my hand to show for it. It also tripped the breaker in the basement (thanks for that innovation years ago).

I'm just praying the game wasn't damaged.

Anybody have this happen to them before? Causes?

I've been playing this game for months without incident. I did but a new plug on when I got it, but haven't had any problems with that.

When is it safe to plug this thing in again?

Paul
 
I am guessing there is something wrong with your game... which caused the short... which caused the breaker to pop...
 
I did but a new plug on when I got it, but haven't had any problems with that.
Red flag here. Something tells me you didn't tighten the screws down properly, and one of the wires popped off and shorted. This was the only thing that was wrong with my "dead" Berzerk I bought last year. The previous owner replaced the plug, and just didn't install it correctly.

When is it safe to plug this thing in again?

After you check the plug.

-Ian
 
check to see if a token or quarter, screw, something metal has fallen doen on the transformer tabs or on the line filter. 9 times out of 10 a here today gone tommorow short like that is caused by something metal falling doen in the bottom of the cabinet.
 
Some older outlets (in dry places) often have an internal spark when you plug ANYTHING in, but it doesn't sound like that's the same thing. Sounds like it's an issue with the plug itself (board issues and whatnot wouldn't be able to effect the plug) so you should be good if you can fix the plug. Plugs are about the easiest fixes there are, don't worry about it too much.
 
All of the wires to the plug look good to me. You guys think I should cut them off and start anew to be safe?

I'll inspect the inside for metal also.
 
Now, you DID run the game with the new plug without issue before, right? If not, then you may have your wires crossed... if so...hmmm... look inside the cab for any source of a short.
 
I ran the game with the new plug for 2 months. I'm being dense, but what would the "source of the short" look like?

Start by looking for the obvious (a token or quarter laying on the power supply, etc)... then look for any damage to the power cord or wires, etc...

Basically you're looking for anywhere that the + and - leads could potentially touch.
 
All of the wires to the plug look good to me. You guys think I should cut them off and start anew to be safe?

You don't have to do that, just open the plug housing and make sure that nothing came loose, and that there aren't any little strands of wire shorting out. I've seen several times where a wire is loose or pulled out, and it makes a lot of black burn marks around the connection.

Also, carefully inspect the cord for frayed parts. I've seen some really beat-up cords on games before. Also, look inside the game for anything that may have shorted it out, such as the aforementioned quarter or screw. Nintendo games have a cover over the AC distribution block though, so a short there is unlikely.

Test the outlet itself with another device, like a lamp. You could very well have had a fault with the outlet - I've also seen the same sort of problem with a loose wire there. It pops off the screw on the outlet, and when you push on the outlet to plug something in, it shorts against the box.

-Ian
 
If it were an issue in the cab wouldn't the 3 amp fuse blow before a breaker? It would seem the problem would be in the plug and/or cord before the fuse in the cab. - Barry
 
^-- above post (RetroHacker) is very good advice


I've never had a cord without nicks and cuts. Every time I bring home a new game, it gets blown out with the compressor and the power cord gets replaced.
 
I'm subscribing to the whole 're-check the plug assembly' theory. Something's come loose and is shorting.

Yep yep. PLUG went boom... not the transformer, or the middle of the cord, or anything like that. It's going to boom where the short is. I just had one a couple of days ago where they bought a 2 prong plug for a game that had a power cord with a ground. They just left the ground wire in the plug, unattached, and when I plugged it in; Boom.

Double check to make sure nothing worked it's way loose or anything like that. If it doubt, cut it back a couple of inches and redo the plug.
 
The cord is nicked for sure and has been for a while. I have a bunch of electrical tape around it. These aren't deep nicks, though, if that matters.

As I said, I checked my plug assembly. Nothing came loose. I'll check it again for loose strands. That is possible.

My first step here will be to try another device. -> A lamp worked with no issue.
 
The cord is nicked for sure and has been for a while. I have a bunch of electrical tape around it. These aren't deep nicks, though, if that matters.

As I said, I checked my plug assembly. Nothing came loose. I'll check it again for loose strands. That is possible.

My first step here will be to try another device. -> A lamp worked with no issue.

Do you have another cord you could use?
 
Back
Top Bottom