Monitor display problem revisited

Ok, my arcade's monitor has a problem. There are sort of like horizontal crazy lines. I'm not sure how to describe them exactly, and I'm not sure if they're lines.. Distortion might be more accurate. They move in sort of random directions.

To give you a better idea, I capped a video (which is bloated in size, but it's a digitial camera and I didn't want to lose detail in a recompress).

http://nklb.com/screen.MPG

Give the link time to load, site sometimes is slow as it is just a friend of mine's.

I've seen this weird display problem in one other monitor before, but I have no idea what causes or if something as simple as a cap kit could fix it. What do you all think?

Thanks!

is it properly grounded? does it auto-degauss?

did you try to mess with the vertical and horizontal frequency pots?

Hmmm,..from looking at your video..
Your screen jittering looks similar to the problem I was having in my Red Cab..

I narrowed it down to the power supply..

I got my new power supply today and the machine is running perfect now...

I have STV Columns 97 running in it now as a suprise for when my wife gets home.


You may have a power supply problem..

I could get it to clear up when I raised the 5V+ up ..to 5.1--

The new one is running at 5v...



The one I bought..

is it properly grounded? does it auto-degauss?

did you try to mess with the vertical and horizontal frequency pots?

Click to expand...

I'm not sure if it is grounded properly or not. I don't really even know exactly what that means. In 3 different locations (including the dealer, which I'm assuming had it grounded) it has the same problem though. Messing with the adjustment posts didn't alter it at all. I did manage to make it considerably less noticable by messing with the monitor thingies - in some games you can barely see it, in others it is very annoying.

Your screen jittering looks similar to the problem I was having in my Red Cab..

Click to expand...

Is jittering the word I was looking for?

I got my new power supply today and the machine is running perfect now...

I have STV Columns 97 running in it now as a suprise for when my wife gets home.


You may have a power supply problem..

I could get it to clear up when I raised the 5V+ up ..to 5.1--

Click to expand...

Yeah, I've been hoping it's the PSU, but I thought I might get a better perspective from you guys with that video. Forgive my ignorance, but is it difficult to switch the power supply? I have essentially no experience with arcade stuff. Oh yeah, and how do you test the voltage on the 5V? Just touch ground and the screw head? I don't have a lot of experience with multimeters either Hoping to get a better one that actually has a digital readout for Christmas.

On a totally unrelated note, I'm starting to wish I'd waited longer... I could have gotten a big red 4 slot in better condition and with a non-crap button layout for $45 more from the same seller, with 3 games instead of 1. Sigh.

Curse me and my total lack of patience.

switchers rarely ever go bad.

i dont think its bad voltage on the psu thats causing that video glitch, but anyways...

you touch WITH A MULTIMETER the ground and +5v pins on the jamma loom. It should read +4.9+ ~ +5.1v ... you should be safe within this range, ive tested it and works good with mvs mobos.

Best thing to do is leave it at exact +5.0v

DaemoN said:

switchers rarely ever go bad.

i dont think its bad voltage on the psu thats causing that video glitch, but anyways...

you touch WITH A MULTIMETER the ground and +5v pins on the jamma loom. It should read +4.9+ ~ +5.1v ... you should be safe within this range, ive tested it and works good with mvs mobos.

Best thing to do is leave it at exact +5.0v

Click to expand...

Alright, I'll test it when I get a new multimeter. As far as the PSU goes, I want to replace it anyways. It sounds weird and looks as if it has seen better days.

KMGor said:

Alright, I'll test it when I get a new multimeter. As far as the PSU goes, I want to replace it anyways. It sounds weird and looks as if it has seen better days.

Click to expand...

Yea..My old PS was making a funny sound..

I would suggest changing it..

Hey,..
What type of noise is it making..?

chris1 said:

Yea..My old PS was making a funny sound..

I would suggest changing it..

Hey,..
What type of noise is it making..?

Click to expand...

Whiny, kind of high pitched sound. I've heard it on very old PSUs before, I think it is probably the fan motor going bad.

KMGor said:

Whiny, kind of high pitched sound. I've heard it on very old PSUs before, I think it is probably the fan motor going bad.

Click to expand...

Yes,that's most likely the fan making that noise...

The noise I had was a buzzing sound.....and the old PS didn't have a fan.

You could cut the wires to the fan...

The best thing to do is test the power supply anyway..with a meter when you get one..
(I can explain to you how to use it)

This is the Power supply that's needed..
http://www.happcontrols.com/powersupplies/80007200.htm

Or this one..(But it doesn't have a connection to run to a On/Off switch in the cab..
It has an on/off switch on it.
http://www.happcontrols.com/powersupplies/80001500.htm


It may not be your power supply..it may be some interference..

Raising the voltage on your power supply slightly may fix the problem.
I'm just going by what I just went through..
Man my monitor break-up looked just like yours..

Can you take any pictures of your power supply/wiring to it etc..?

Changing a power supply is very simple,you just unplug the old and put in the new.

If your having problems with the fan..and you want to keep this cab..I'd say changing the power supply anyway is a good idea.

Hmm. My cab has an external switch on the top. I'm not sure exactly how it is wired though, I'll have to look at it.

It may not be your power supply..it may be some interference..

Click to expand...

What kind of interference do you think it could be? I know it isn't the speaker, and messing around with cables doesn't appear to make a change.. Hrm..

Raising the voltage on your power supply slightly may fix the problem.

Click to expand...

How would I do that? I'm willing to try basically anything.

Does your main power cord still have its 3rd prong? If not you might want to replace the cord with a new one and make sure you are using a grounded (3 prong) outlet. Make sure it's really grounded, and not just a 3 prong outlet stuck in to replace an old 2 wire outlet.

Reznor007 said:

Does your main power cord still have its 3rd prong? If not you might want to replace the cord with a new one and make sure you are using a grounded (3 prong) outlet. Make sure it's really grounded, and not just a 3 prong outlet stuck in to replace an old 2 wire outlet.

Click to expand...

No, it used to have a 3rd prong but it was obviously broken off. Can this make a difference? How would I go about replacing it? Where do I buy a replacement?

Oh yeah, I have some pictures of the internals, but they're not very good. I'll retake some and put them up later today or tomorrow.

I really appreciate the help guys!

It's possible it could make a difference. If your power cable will disconnect from the power supply, then you can just use a PC power cable, as its the same thing.

Reznor007 said:

It's possible it could make a difference. If your power cable will disconnect from the power supply, then you can just use a PC power cable, as its the same thing.

Click to expand...

I'll check that, it'd be nice as I have like.. 10 of those damn things lying around.

KMGor said:

No, it used to have a 3rd prong but it was obviously broken off. Can this make a difference? How would I go about replacing it? Where do I buy a replacement?

Oh yeah, I have some pictures of the internals, but they're not very good. I'll retake some and put them up later today or tomorrow.

I really appreciate the help guys!

Click to expand...

I dont think that the cab being unearthed is likely to cause the problem you have. But I would earth it for safety reasons alone.
Its good practice to have arcade cabs properly grounded/earthed.

KMGor said:

I'm not sure if it is grounded properly or not. I don't really even know exactly what that means. In 3 different locations (including the dealer, which I'm assuming had it grounded) it has the same problem though. Messing with the adjustment posts didn't alter it at all. I did manage to make it considerably less noticable by messing with the monitor thingies - in some games you can barely see it, in others it is very annoying.



Is jittering the word I was looking for?



Yeah, I've been hoping it's the PSU, but I thought I might get a better perspective from you guys with that video. Forgive my ignorance, but is it difficult to switch the power supply? I have essentially no experience with arcade stuff. Oh yeah, and how do you test the voltage on the 5V? Just touch ground and the screw head? I don't have a lot of experience with multimeters either Hoping to get a better one that actually has a digital readout for Christmas.

On a totally unrelated note, I'm starting to wish I'd waited longer... I could have gotten a big red 4 slot in better condition and with a non-crap button layout for $45 more from the same seller, with 3 games instead of 1. Sigh.

Curse me and my total lack of patience.

Click to expand...

So your Cab is a Conversion...Yes..?

Curious..

Does your Power Supply look like this...?


When you say...(Just touch ground and the screw head?)..
It sounds like you may have the other type of power supply in your cab..but then you see/hear a fan..



My Red cab had a PSU like the one in the picture and it always made a buzzing noise..
It never was right..It would work fine if I had it set above 5v but that buzzing drove me crazy.....The new one I have now is at 5v..in the top pick.
Then it started to give me those lines/break-up on screen like what your seeing...

Testing the Power supply voltage would mean testing it from the Harness that connects into the board for a correct reading..
You would have to put the positive lead from the meter on the red wire/sticking it in the back side of the harness while the cab was on..
Then stick the Black or negative lead from the meter on the black ground wires in the harness.
(When you get the reader I'll send you pics of what you need to do..)Meter Settings etc

I really don't like to tell anyone to do this...it's chancy.
There is an adjustment knob on the side of the PSU..
(mark where it is set at now)
While the cab is on and you can see the screen..I guess having help or a mirror..
You have to turn the knob very slightly..I mean very little and slow..Just to see if you get any change on screen.
If the break-up clears up then your 5V is to low..
I'm pretty sure you have to turn it to the left ..(damn it I forget)..away from the arrow direction..on the PSU
No matter if you turn it the wrong way it's just start to shut down your board and you'll hear a hiss in the speakers...turn it the other way if that happens.
You'll see a change when you turn this knob...if you don't see anything right away then stop..
I was very weary when I did this the first time..whew,then I was like nothing to do..I kept having to adjust it when I changed between STV and MVS..

The new one plays both boards perfectly with no adjustment..

My warning is..I'm pretty sure it's risky doing the knob movement..so please move it ever so slightly.

I've already done the knob movements a bit. The LED indicating the 5v was red when I got it, and I adjusted it a touch to get it to greenish (it isn't exactly a bright green). No change no matter how I adjust it, though at one point I think I had it wrong and I got color RAM errors..

Oh yes, here is my power supply:

rdreams.tripod.com/frontpsu.txt

You're right, it isn't a fan I just assumed it had one. And yes, my cab is a conversion (I didn't really think about it much when I bought it, as they said it was an original even though it obviously isn't. They also said it had a great picture. Bah, I should have renigged when I saw it.).

rdreams.tripod.com/powercord.txt

That's what the power cord comes to. So no, it isn't a standard cord, unfortunately. No clue where to replace something like that, but if a new PSU will come with a standard computer cord slot I'm not gonna worry about it...

KMGor said:

I've already done the knob movements a bit. The LED indicating the 5v was red when I got it, and I adjusted it a touch to get it to greenish (it isn't exactly a bright green). No change no matter how I adjust it, though at one point I think I had it wrong and I got color RAM errors..

Oh yes, here is my power supply:

rdreams.tripod.com/frontpsu.txt

You're right, it isn't a fan I just assumed it had one. And yes, my cab is a conversion (I didn't really think about it much when I bought it, as they said it was an original even though it obviously isn't. They also said it had a great picture. Bah, I should have renigged when I saw it.).

rdreams.tripod.com/powercord.txt

That's what the power cord comes to. So no, it isn't a standard cord, unfortunately. No clue where to replace something like that, but if a new PSU will come with a standard computer cord slot I'm not gonna worry about it...

Click to expand...

What do the wires on that pwer supply go to..?
Do the go to a white Molex connector..?
Do they all run together into a plug...?
From what you see there does it look like you could unplug the Power supply easily and take it out..?

This way getting a new one will be easy to just to plug in..

If your getting a noise from that power supply then I would think it was bad..

The New Power Supply will come with a new 3 prong cord.

I think we all forgot to mention most monitors make some whiny noises like the one he describes because of the ferrite core on the flyback... Could be just that, and it's perfectly normal.
Close the cab, no more noise ;-)

Testing the Power supply voltage would mean testing it from the Harness that connects into the board for a correct reading..
You would have to put the positive lead from the meter on the red wire/sticking it in the back side of the harness while the cab was on..
Then stick the Black or negative lead from the meter on the black ground wires in the harness.
(When you get the reader I'll send you pics of what you need to do..)Meter Settings etc

Click to expand...

What setting should my meter be on? Forgive my ignorance, I've never used anything but OHMs before. I had it on some other setting by mistake before I Realized I don't know what I'm doing, and it read as 6 volts, and I'm pretty sure that's way wrong.

I've been getting periodic resets and color RAM errors again, and I'm pretty sure this PSU is fux0red now. The LED indicating if the 5V is right or not seems to gradually change colors over hours and restarts, etc. Guess that's the next thing I'll pick up

Resetting halfway through metal Slug 3 =

KMGor said:

What setting should my meter be on? Forgive my ignorance, I've never used anything but OHMs before. I had it on some other setting by mistake before I Realized I don't know what I'm doing, and it read as 6 volts, and I'm pretty sure that's way wrong.

I've been getting periodic resets and color RAM errors again, and I'm pretty sure this PSU is fux0red now. The LED indicating if the 5V is right or not seems to gradually change colors over hours and restarts, etc. Guess that's the next thing I'll pick up

Resetting halfway through metal Slug 3 =

Click to expand...

Here's my old thread on the meter settings..
I used my old meter (with new batteries) and my dad's digi meter..They both get the same readings over and over so I know my old meter is ok..

http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=68531&highlight=Crash+Course

I say buy a new Power Supply like in the links below....I would replace it no matter what..
The unit I bought,I got off Ebay new in it's box for cheaper,but I got lucky..I don't see these on Ebay much..
At least the the just plug in units..
I did buy another..but I'm not sure if it'll work until it gets here next week..(I want to have a spare)

I'd say get one of the units below..That's the only thing I would use...

http://www.happcontrols.com/powersupplies/80001500.htm

http://www.happcontrols.com/powersupplies/80007200.htm

Now that I put this new Power Supply in the cab is working so perfectly..
I have my original 4 slot back in the cab and it's working fine..
That old PS had a noise to it and I would hear a slight hum in the speakers when it was quiet in here and I had the volume down..
Now all I hear,if I even hear it is the fan in the PS running..

I popped in the US & Japanese STV boards and the games are clear..
I also tested out my MV1 ..1 slot board and that's perfect too.

When I had the old PS in the cab some games would reset on me..
Now that I tried them again they don't reset..It was that damn old power supply that was always messed up...

Basically what I'm getting at is.....
I tried several things with this new power supply and everything I try now works fine..
Even though the cab ran fine with the old power supply in it..
It was messed up somewhere causing little problems here and there like resets in game making me believe that every damn problem I had was because of that power supply..

Sorry for the Late responce..I don't come here much anymore..

Ok, a couple things... When testing the 5v, it should be unplugged from the board right? Unless I was majorly screwing it up, it seems to indicate seven volts? Maybe I've badly messed up the settings on the meter. It's also worth noting that if I don't have the JAMMA connector connected to the board and power it on, the PSU gives off a red LED, but if it's connected it won't be. Bleh.

KMGor said:

Ok, a couple things... When testing the 5v, it should be unplugged from the board right? Unless I was majorly screwing it up, it seems to indicate seven volts? Maybe I've badly messed up the settings on the meter. It's also worth noting that if I don't have the JAMMA connector connected to the board and power it on, the PSU gives off a red LED, but if it's connected it won't be. Bleh.

Click to expand...

Ok..Try measuring the 5v+ on the power supply itself first while the Jamma Harness is "not" connected to the board by putting the red lead (Positive) from your meter to the 5v+ screw on the PS and the black lead (negative) to the Ground screw on the Power supply..

Have your meter set on DC volts DC-V 10,,set to the #10..

Basically if you take a new AA battery and set the meter on DC volts DC-V 10 and get 1.5 volts your meter is getting a good reading..an easy test..
You may need to calibrate your meter..by turning the adjustment screw until the dial is on the 0..
Make sure if you have the meter standing up and calibrate it standing up,do the testing with it in the standing up position..
If I lay mine down the calibration changes.and I get a different reading..

You should get 5 volts from power supply or a bit higher 5.1..If you get 7 volts then take that ps out and don't use it ..or lower it to 5 volts by turning the adjustment screw..if it's at 6 volts then it's to high..
If/when your getting 5v from the PS then plug in the harness with the cab off..
You have to stick the meter leads in the back side of the harness while it's plugged into the board to get a proper reading.
The cab has to be on....
You have to put red lead (Positive) from your meter the the red wires on the left side of the harness and the black lead (negative) to the black wires all the way to the left on the harness..the red + wires are right next to it..
I filed the tips of my meters leads to a fine,thin,sharp point so I could get them in the back of the harness..

As here..
http://www.crazykong.com/pins/NeoGeo246.pin.txt

The top of this would be the left side of your harness..Ground Positive....key..

When you test the voltage at the harness when it's on the board you will be getting a proper reading..the voltage that's going into the board..it should still be in the 5V+ range...it may even be a bit low..
If it's too low,
Then you would have to raise the knob/adjustment on the PS while watchng the meters reading raise up to 5V+ -5.05
(I made the meters lead ends fit in the harness so I could do that..)

Now..that's the way I tested the voltage from the harness..to the board..
There may be another way that I don't know of..to get an even better reading.

If your cab doesn't run on 5V+ or slightly above that,then I say your PS is shot..


Did you order or buy a new Power supply..?
..PM..