Re: Question about power supplies for older arcade games
- From: James Sweet <jamesrsweet@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:51:23 -0700
Pinballed wrote:
Hi, first of all, for arcade stuff, I'm a total newb. As for repairing
things, I'm not. Been repairing pinball machines for awhile now and
I'm no stranger to electronics. However...video stuff, monitors, so
many different machines, yikes. Its a whole new world for me.
I have many questions...as I have come into a pile of boards and
monitor stuff. Most of it's older stuff...like 1980-1986.
So far I've sorted out whats what, for the most part and my first
question applies to power supplies.
In older machines like Pacman, Galaxian, etc, the power supply looks
pretty archaic. Two big transformers, some fuses, not much to look at
but big and mean. Then I was looking at some peoples restorations on
the net for their Pacman and Mrs. Pacman and they are all running
newer looking power supplies, the ones in the standard metal box with
all the terminals on the one side.
Can you rig up a Pacman and the monitor board to one of those power
supplies? Or do you have to have an old dedicated Pacman power supply
to operate the old monitor and everything? Because in each of the
restorations, in went a new monitor and monitor board to go with the
new power supply. So I'm just wondering.
Thank you and sorry if this question seems totally amateur but as I
said before...video and monitors...new to me!
I'll have more questions to come and believe me, trying to do any
research I can on my own too.
Stan
Sure, you can bypass the old linear regulator and install a modern switchmode power supply, you do get improved efficiency. The original transformer often serves as the isolation transformer for the monitor so it is required unless the new monitor doesn't need one, and even then it is recommended because someone down the road might install a monitor that does require isolation without realizing it isn't there.
That said, linear power supplies are generally very dependable, and it's not uncommon for them to go 20+ years without service. Switchmode supplies are much more highly stressed and are lucky to last 5 years of heavy use. Either one is probably just fine in home use, each has advantages and disadvantages so it's a tossup really as to which is "better".
Personally originality is very important to me and I always use the original linear power supply. They are simple, dependable, and work just fine. I use the original monitors whenever possible too. Those old Electrohomes and Wells Gardners are great monitors, cap kit and adjust them and they're good for another 20 years.
.
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