Quick school lesson on Nintendo Monitors.

ArcadEd

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So just got back from a trip where a guy had just tons of parts all over the place. I picked up a few things including 2 19" Nintendo Monitors.

Can someone just give me a quick rundown as to what makes these monitors different than your standard variety RGB arcade monitors?

It looks like they take 110v directly to the monitor?
Is there a manual that shows what they do? The owner said they can be used on just about any arcade game, not just nintendo games.

Thanks as always.

Ed
 
They are different than other monitors, because they take inverted video.
If you wanted to use that monitor in other games, I think you would need a video inverter.
 
Do not plug 110 volts straight into it (unless you're trying to kill it). That monitor needs 100 volts isolated!

Edward
 
Interesting, both of these monitors have wired plugs coming directly from them. They are identical plugs on both and don't look like a hatchet job, but that doesn't mean they are not. Thanks for the heads up.
 
Interesting, both of these monitors have wired plugs coming directly from them. They are identical plugs on both and don't look like a hatchet job, but that doesn't mean they are not. Thanks for the heads up.

That's how they came from the factory. Nintendo cabinets had a 100 volt isolated plug inside of them.

Edward
 
they may have been hacked on the cord. because some had amp connectors and some had 3 pin molex connectors. in different cab's

some punch out and atari games used non male plug ends. and a pac land i fixed had an amp connector for its power on the harness

i fixed a couple the other day that had an amp and 3 pin moxex connectors.

and they are all 100v 110v will kill the chassis as advised above.

Peace
Buffett
 
OK, glad I didn't plug them into anything. That's why I always ask first :).

So these are pretty much good for Nintendo cabs, right? I can't use one in any old game, like if I swap one into an existing jamma cab?

Ed
 
You can if you use a 100v trans former for power to the monitor and a inverter board to correct the colors. or add the parts to the chassis so you don't need the inverter board.

if they have the inverted board mounted to the fly back cage then all you need is the 100v transformer.

i have put one in a pac, ms pac, centipeed and a frogger and they look great after a cap kit.

Peace
Buffett
 
So I took a picture. One has this board on top of the flyback area and one doesn't.

Is that the inverter?
 

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OK, so last question I think just to clear me up :).

If it has the inverter it will work like any other RGB Arcade monitor.

If it has no inverter it will work only on Nintendo stuff (Vs. Playchoice, etc.).

Either way I need a 100v iso transformer to run them.

That about it?
 
your are correct.

but you can add an inverter to one that does not have one.

and you need a 100volt transformer.

only other problem you may have is the mounting brackets might not line up very well if at all.
they were made Nintendo specific.

Peace
Buffett
 
the transformer is just any 100volt out trans former. you can probably get them from most any major electronic supply place. or just find one from a Nintendo part out and use that one.

i have inverters for sale 15.00 shipped with the cap on it replaced.

Peace
Buffett
 
The mounting bolts should be fairly standard, I have put a Sanyo into a non-Nintendo cabinet and it bolted right in. That was a while ago though - I don't remember what cabinet it was... might have been a Pac.

They do want 100v isolated, but I've seen one running on 120v isolated and it worked just fine... runs hot though. Nintendo isolation transformers are not hard to find. Also, old Sega games used 100v monitors, so something like Turbo would have an isolation transformer that is (or can be) strapped for 100v.

In lieu of buying an inverter board, it's actually possible to modify the chassis - there are places on the board for the inverter components (some transistors, resistors and capacitors), but they're not populated. It's a simple matter of soldering in a handful of parts. I would not be at all surprised if Bob Roberts has a kit for that. Adding the parts tot he chassis simplifies the wiring.

-Ian
 
The mounting bolts should be fairly standard, I have put a Sanyo into a non-Nintendo cabinet and it bolted right in. That was a while ago though - I don't remember what cabinet it was... might have been a Pac.

They do want 100v isolated, but I've seen one running on 120v isolated and it worked just fine... runs hot though. Nintendo isolation transformers are not hard to find. Also, old Sega games used 100v monitors, so something like Turbo would have an isolation transformer that is (or can be) strapped for 100v.

In lieu of buying an inverter board, it's actually possible to modify the chassis - there are places on the board for the inverter components (some transistors, resistors and capacitors), but they're not populated. It's a simple matter of soldering in a handful of parts. I would not be at all surprised if Bob Roberts has a kit for that. Adding the parts tot he chassis simplifies the wiring.

-Ian

Yep, Bob does sell a kit.....it's on his cap kit page. To the OP.....you can also (sometimes) find 100V transformers in some Centuri games....and a lot of Universal games.

Edward
 
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