View Full Version : Newbie stumbled on to 21 "project" arcades...what'
Early Worm
08-01-2005, 11:39 PM
I need to know what NOT to do with these arcade machines so that I don't fry the machine or fry my ass on a capacitor or something. I stumbled on to 21 machines...from space invaders to streetfighter vs xmen. A few driving games and a couple of "get inside" sim shooters. I have played/tested each one and marked what was wrong...mostly a bad button or coin mech...two don't come on (spare parts for the others?). I'm no electrician, but I am good with tools and wiring. Past the obvious things like unplug the machine, is there anything in these beasts I should be watching out for as I start digging around the inside? I don't wish to learn anything the hard way!
Hovoc
08-01-2005, 11:56 PM
dont touch the monitor caps :)
Arcade Antics
08-02-2005, 01:13 AM
Past the obvious things like unplug the machine, is there anything in these beasts I should be watching out for as I start digging around the inside? I don't wish to learn anything the hard way!
Then stay OUT of there until you've had a chance to read up. Poking around in a machine like that is a good way to send some serious voltage through you until you're a briquette.
Check the links and other resources stickied in this forum before you go any further. Take your time. And be careful.
Early Worm
08-02-2005, 10:02 PM
well, thanks for those tidbits of advice!! I was afraid there might be something in there that might jump at me. There was a frying in my future. I'll try some learnin' first!
I'd just suggest to be careful and pay attention where you're reaching... the most painful one would be don't mess with the anode cap (large suction cup on the monitor) without discharging it... and do learn to discharge, it's only scary the first couple times, and it makes everything much safer.
Other thing, there's 120V running through each power and interlock switch, so just because the game is turned off, doesn't mean that there isn't power in the cab. UNPLUG the game if you're gonna be digging around in there. In one of my cabs, the person before me had just twisted and electrical taped some power wires together, I reached up to undo a bolt with a ratchet, and my watch touched the bare wire from where the electrical tape kinda fell off and I got a pretty large shock though my hand to the ratchet which was touching the grounded monitor frame (luckily).
It's probably a good idea when you're reaching around in there not to have one hand rested on a grounded metal piece either, since if your other hand touches something, it'll go right through your heart to the other hand (a lot more dangerous than just a shock)... some people put their hand in their pocket, I just pay attention to what I'm holding on to.
DogP