To Rebuild or Not to Rebuild

csbartz

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Which linear power supplies are worth rebuilding? I just fixed a power issue in my Pengo by quickly wiring in a spare switcher but to repair the old PS would have required only a few parts and a few dollars.

Are there any linears worth troubleshooting or is it more prudent to just replace them with a switcher? Are any just total crap? I guess this comes down to cost and likelihood of future failure if rebuilt, potentially with upgraded components.

Chris
 
only a few

im a fan of the original power supplies. easy to rebuild and they last quite awhile.

just rebuilt the power supply in my TUTANKHAM and boy was it easy and fun.

switchers work too but what got me off the fence with them was having to adjust them not very often.
 
The old power supplies lasted 20+ years many in continuous service. Will any of the switchers in use today?

I am a big fan of rebuilding power supplies.

ken
 
The only ones I don't rebuild are the ones I can't - like Pac-Man. The voltages are AC out of a transformer, and converted to DC on the board. if the transformer is bad, I'll just put in a switcher rather than try to track down a new transformer or wind my own.

But I'll even strip, clean, and rebuild an acid-damaged MCR power supply....
 
Since most of us don't have our machines on for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, I would guess that a rebuilt original PS will probably last as long as we keep the machine. I just see a lot of people recommending putting in a switcher, perhaps because it's usually pretty easy.

Chris
 
Rebuild it. The only one I can think of NOT worth rebuilding is a taito PS. Those things are junk and a pain to fix.
 
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