Very Wierd Supergun Issue...

Gamester · Mar 8, 2009

Hey guys,

Ok, got a really strange one here for you. I got a 3 foot JAMMA cable extension for my supergun. I made 100% that all cables are wired exactly like my supergun JAMMA connector. I checked every wire on that sucker just to make sure.

So, I hook up my MVS Neo Geo with MS3 to the extension and it works perfectly. I then hooked up my Battletoads PCB and nothing happens. The board just starts to get warm, but nothing happens. I take off the extension and hook Battletoads directly to my supergun without the extension and it works perfectly. WTF? :scratch:

Could the extra length of the cable reduce the amps too much for a more graphically intense game like Battletoads or something? I am using a 5amp power supply with 5v, 12v, and -5v.

I have no other ideas on this one. :hammer:

Thanks a bunch,
Gamester

grantspain · Mar 8, 2009

you are losing too much power over that cable,either you need a more powerful psu(15amp is the norm in a jamma cab) or you will need to double up the +5 and ground

Gamester · Mar 8, 2009

Ok, that is what I thought. What about shortening the extension cable? I only need about 2 foot of it, or maybe even just 1.5 foot.

Murray · Mar 8, 2009

You didn't mention what gauge wire you used for your power and ground lines. Use as thick as is reasonable. 18AWG is what I see Bob Roberts using for his and they're generally considered the best.

You could try shortening it but IMO just double up on the power and ground lines (as grantspain suggested) or use thicker wire and you should be fine.

Edit: also, if I remember right, cutting the extension in half should accomplish about the same as doubling up on the wire or using something with double the diameter. I could be wrong. College physics was a long time ago.

channelmaniac · Mar 8, 2009

Check the voltage at the board. If you are using an adjustable arcade type power supply you can bump the voltage up a bit to compensate for the additional wiring.

If not, then replace the +5v and ground wires with thicker 18ga wires to lessen the voltage drop.

RJ

Gamester · Mar 8, 2009

Yep, I am using 18 gauge wire. Ok, I'll try doubling up the power lines first and if that doesn't do it I will try shortening the cable.

Thanks guys,
Gamester

Gamester · Mar 8, 2009

Ok, I have now doubled the 5, 12, and -5 volt lines on the extension with 16 gauge wire to ensure good flow and still nothing happens when I connect Battletoads through the extension. I checked the end of the extension cable's volts and amp readings and they are the exactly same as the connector right out of the supergun. Funny thing is that my PS is rated at 5amps, but I am reading 11amps with my multimeter. You think that would be plenty of amps for this to work.

You would also think that the Neo MVS would pull more amps than the Battletoads board anyways since it goes through the connector and the cart, but it works fine with the extension and Battletoads does not.

Hmm, something else has to be wrong here, but I am out of ideas :scratch:

Xian Xi · Mar 8, 2009

Check the +5v, try bumping it to 5.1v. There should be a pot next to the +5v out on the PSU.

Neo Alec · Mar 8, 2009

Why do you need an extension for it? That's something I would just never bother with.

Gamester · Mar 9, 2009

Ok, I am getting 5.19V at the end of the extension, so I don't think that is an issue. It must be the amps as I don't think I was getting a correct reading before. If I unplug the stereo jacks it will boot up Battletoads with the extension, but it is a weak signal. I am going to shorten the extension by 1 foot and see if it works better. If not I will just have to buy a 15 amp power supply. I plan to run atomiswave later on and it will probably require more amps for that anyways.

I need this extension because the jamma connector is fixed in the casing on my supergun. It is just the way I wanted to do it

Thanks,
Gamester

Xian Xi · Mar 9, 2009

I'm guessing your PSU has a max continuous output of 5A meaning all 3 voltages "together" can not exceed 5A.

What kind is it?

Gamester · Mar 9, 2009

I am using an triple output external power supply that is rated at 5v@5amps, 12v@2amps, and -5v@0.8amps.

More info here if you want...

http://www.astrodyne.com/smartcat/pdf/SPU45.pdf

Xian Xi · Mar 9, 2009

Hmmm. That one is 42 watts. But the one I use is 43 watts and I never had a problem with my SG booting boards.

Also you gotta watch out with those extensions. There was another member who had the same problem with it as well. He even rewired everything and tripple checked the connections and it still didn't work. I would just drop the extension , why do you need it any way? Is it not possible for you to move the SG closer?

Gamester · Mar 9, 2009

Hmm, yea the only reason I need an extension is because I have the jamma connector mounted the back of my casing and it is a few inches off the ground so I can not plug the board directly into it. Also, my supergun is going to be sitting in a two level TV cabinet that has only a few inches in height between shelves making it impossible to put in a jamma board in the back. So, what I am going to do is have the extension go out the back and down to the bottom shelf so I can plug in my boards to that so they can lay flat on their own shelf

Xian Xi · Mar 9, 2009

You might wanna double check the wiring in the extension then. I'm guessing the Battletoads needs the max ouput of the PSU but with the extension it doesn't get it.

Gamester · Mar 9, 2009

The wiring is definitely correct and has big thick 16 gauge wires on the power connections. I have checked every wire so many times it makes me sick to think about it anymore, lol.

I am almost done shortening the cables and if that doesn't do it I guess I'll buy a PS with more amps.

Just curious, do you know how many amps a atomiswave board needs?

Thanks,
Gamester

Xian Xi · Mar 9, 2009

For an atomiswave I don't think it's documented in the manual so I would go with the standard 10A until someone can clarify. I would guess in the area of 4-5A though.

Gamester · Mar 9, 2009

Yea, if I do upgrade my PS it will have to be 10amp I guess. That is the highest amp triple output external PS I have found online anyways.

BTW, does atomiswave use a 4 button configuration like Neo?

Thanks,
Gamester

xiao_haozi · Mar 9, 2009

Gamester said:
Yea, if I do upgrade my PS it will have to be 10amp I guess. That is the highest amp triple output external PS I have found online anyways.

Do you have any linkage for these guys... ?

Gamester · Mar 9, 2009

Sure, here is their full list of external desktop power supplies...

http://www.astrodyne.com/catalog.asp?pageType=filter&famID=1060&vid=0,0,0,0

I must warn you though, these guys are not cheap. However, they are about the only people on the planet that have high output 5v,12v,-5v external power supplies. My 5amp was $64 and the 10amp is $150.

One thing to note, my 5amp PS has a 5-pin DIN connector, but the 10amp has an 8-pin. I will have to rewire it a little to make it work, but it would be worth it if I can run any JAMMA board with my extension.

xiao_haozi · Mar 9, 2009

Gamester said:
Sure, here is their full list of external desktop power supplies...

http://www.astrodyne.com/catalog.asp?pageType=filter&famID=1060&vid=0,0,0,0

I must warn you though, these guys are not cheap. However, they are about the only people on the planet that have high output 5v,12v,-5v external power supplies. My 5amp was $64 and the 10amp is $150.

One thing to note, my 5amp PS has a 5-pin DIN connector, but the 10amp has an 8-pin. I will have to rewire it a little to make it work, but it would be worth it if I can run any JAMMA board with my extension.

Thanks.
Yeah those are salty salty indeed. I have a triple voltage from jameco that was only $9 but doesn't output high enough current on all the lines so that is why I was curious.

Neo Alec · Mar 9, 2009

Gamester said:
Hmm, yea the only reason I need an extension is because I have the jamma connector mounted the back of my casing and it is a few inches off the ground so I can not plug the board directly into it. Also, my supergun is going to be sitting in a two level TV cabinet that has only a few inches in height between shelves making it impossible to put in a jamma board in the back. So, what I am going to do is have the extension go out the back and down to the bottom shelf so I can plug in my boards to that so they can lay flat on their own shelf

Gamester said:
The wiring is definitely correct and has big thick 16 gauge wires on the power connections. I have checked every wire so many times it makes me sick to think about it anymore, lol.

I am almost done shortening the cables and if that doesn't do it I guess I'll buy a PS with more amps.

Just curious, do you know how many amps a atomiswave board needs?

Thanks,
Gamester

I'll say what everyone else here is being too nice to say: Stupid supergun design.

Gamester · Mar 9, 2009

Neo Alec said:
I'll say what everyone else here is being too nice to say: Stupid supergun design.

Beats having all of those ugly wires hanging out all the time. It is really nice when you can detach the system from an extension easily and have a nice clean look. I think this is the way the SIGMA AV 6000 was too, if I remember right...

http://ultimateconsoledatabase.com/superguns/sigma.htm

When I finish my system, I will post some pics. Believe me, it is anything but stupid. :angry:

Xian Xi · Mar 9, 2009

Just enclose an arcade PSU like I have for some SGs I made.

Neo Alec · Mar 9, 2009

That looks good, Xian Xi.

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