Power Supply Preference: Linear or Switcher?

metahugh

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I am debating replacing the linear power supply in my Burgertime with a Switcher for reliability. Would you wire in a switcher using an adapter as to not hack the existing wiring or just recap the existing linear PSU?
 
I usually rebuild the linear unless I don't have it. If I don't have the linear I wire in a switcher using an adaptor so that a linear is a plug and play solution down the road. I figure this is the best way to not "hack" the cab.
 
I usually rebuild the linear unless I don't have it. If I don't have the linear I wire in a switcher using an adaptor so that a linear is a plug and play solution down the road. I figure this is the best way to not "hack" the cab.

Yup that is the rule... I won't hack any of the existing wiring. I believe Arcadeshop sells an adapter that plugs into a switcher for this purpose.
 
MCR games = keep linear. Especially on Spy Hunter you will tend to get a hum from the speakers with a switcher.
If wiring is already hacked or components are missing then switcher. My Pole Position came hacked already with a switcher. I kept it and cleaned up the wiring. Ended up removing the entire power brick as well as both ARIIs. It's a really clean setup now.
 
Yup that is the rule... I won't hack any of the existing wiring. I believe Arcadeshop sells an adapter that plugs into a switcher for this purpose.


You know... if you hack the wiring you will be (in)famous in a couple of years when the next owner of the machine comes on here to bitch about it. That kind of notoriety is hard to buy.
 
You know... if you hack the wiring you will be (in)famous in a couple of years when the next owner of the machine comes on here to bitch about it. That kind of notoriety is hard to buy.

Good thing I didn't post pics of some of the cabs I have demolished!! :001_ssuprised::001_ssuprised::001_ssuprised::001_ssuprised::001_ssuprised:
 
MCR games = keep linear. Especially on Spy Hunter you will tend to get a hum from the speakers with a switcher.
If wiring is already hacked or components are missing then switcher. My Pole Position came hacked already with a switcher. I kept it and cleaned up the wiring. Ended up removing the entire power brick as well as both ARIIs. It's a really clean setup now.

Sweet! Thanks for the opinion.
 
I usually rebuild the linear unless I don't have it. If I don't have the linear I wire in a switcher using an adaptor so that a linear is a plug and play solution down the road. I figure this is the best way to not "hack" the cab.

100% agree. I don't have any problem dropping a switcher into a JAMMA cabinet or one that has been gutted (except Williams games because of the well known switcher vs. CMOS issues).

Adapters are easy to build, you should think about DIY.

ken
 
i used to install the switcher kits but now that i've jumped in to the deep end repair wise i've started rebuilding the linear boards. gives you more fine tuning typically than a linear will, especially in the case of the 90412 vs the switcher kit. not to mention the rebuild kits are way cheaper than an adaptor and switcher.
 
I agree with most of the others. It really just depends on the game. BT, I would rebuild the linear, verify that the headers are not burnt replacing them if they are, and upgrading the crappy IDC connectors to Molex.
 
If the game already has a working linear, I would never pull it out to put a switcher in for "reliability". Just rebuild the old one. That like the people who replace good flybacks during a rebuild when they don't need to. While there are a few monitors where it is best to replace it, not all need it. Same thing with power supplies.

Now, if you have a non-working linear, or one that has a lot of damage, or is just a piece of crap with no documentation to help repair it, then I'd go with a switcher. On something like a Ms. Pac where it's all generated by a transformer then converted on the board, if the transformer goes bad I just put in a switcher rather than try to track down another transformer....
 
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