EagleTG
Active member
Been working on this one for a bit... off and on. I wanted a completely portable, mostly self-contained, and ruggedized testing "workbench" for working on JAMMA boards and monitors.
I love seeing the test benches others have posted, so I thought I'd share my take on the issue.
This is what I came up with:
Inside the aluminum case, note the isolation transformer (with a universal monitor plug you can almost see in this pic), also note the Peter Chao power supply, switchbox that independently controls the isolation transformer and power supply and contains a fuse and power noise filter, the controller breakout box also fits in here for storage:
The Controller and break-out box. Edit: The Genesis controller is hacked internally to enable all three buttons and the start button. Simply remove all internal chips/capacitors/resistors from the board, trace everything out, connect directly to each of the 9 pins. I stuck mostly with Genesis pinouts, with two minor modifications:
Plugs into a run of the mill CGA to VGA converter (for now, I have a PSOne LCD Screen I'm working on prepping to go with this kit). You'll notice the CGA/VGA converter wiring terminates to a standard video connector, this way I can connect to a real arcade monitor externally OR the converter board.
And it all packs up into a small, easily portable, and rugged enclosure. I will find some way of containing the board and controller that will also protect them.
Things that remain to be completed... I want to sleeve the wiring, right now it's just wire tied. I would also like to complete the PSOne LCD hack. I will be adding second player controls eventually, right now it's just player one. I need to label everything. I need to reinforce some of the solder connections and plugs (stress relief for the wires, will probably use silicon and/or hot glue). I would like to power the CGA/VGA Converter and the PSOne LCD from the power supply... Will cross these bridges shortly. Edit: Also need to add provisions for a speaker/audio, especially because a few of the boards on the "to be fixed" pile have audio issues.
All-in-all, I'm very pleased with how this turned out. Works perfectly, was troubleshooting my Strikers 1945 board this evening using this newly built kit. Already found the issue on the Strikers 1945 board, just trying to determine the best course of action. Might post about that and give a few additional details.
I love seeing the test benches others have posted, so I thought I'd share my take on the issue.
This is what I came up with:
Inside the aluminum case, note the isolation transformer (with a universal monitor plug you can almost see in this pic), also note the Peter Chao power supply, switchbox that independently controls the isolation transformer and power supply and contains a fuse and power noise filter, the controller breakout box also fits in here for storage:
The Controller and break-out box. Edit: The Genesis controller is hacked internally to enable all three buttons and the start button. Simply remove all internal chips/capacitors/resistors from the board, trace everything out, connect directly to each of the 9 pins. I stuck mostly with Genesis pinouts, with two minor modifications:
Plugs into a run of the mill CGA to VGA converter (for now, I have a PSOne LCD Screen I'm working on prepping to go with this kit). You'll notice the CGA/VGA converter wiring terminates to a standard video connector, this way I can connect to a real arcade monitor externally OR the converter board.
And it all packs up into a small, easily portable, and rugged enclosure. I will find some way of containing the board and controller that will also protect them.
Things that remain to be completed... I want to sleeve the wiring, right now it's just wire tied. I would also like to complete the PSOne LCD hack. I will be adding second player controls eventually, right now it's just player one. I need to label everything. I need to reinforce some of the solder connections and plugs (stress relief for the wires, will probably use silicon and/or hot glue). I would like to power the CGA/VGA Converter and the PSOne LCD from the power supply... Will cross these bridges shortly. Edit: Also need to add provisions for a speaker/audio, especially because a few of the boards on the "to be fixed" pile have audio issues.
All-in-all, I'm very pleased with how this turned out. Works perfectly, was troubleshooting my Strikers 1945 board this evening using this newly built kit. Already found the issue on the Strikers 1945 board, just trying to determine the best course of action. Might post about that and give a few additional details.
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