OK, I wanted to keep the other thread on subject, so here is the lowdown:

Seems that the AC power doesn't pass through the switch first and then to the power supply. The switch seems to control a relay board and yadda yadda yadda. So basically, everything before the relay seems to be powered if there is a short right before the relay for some reason, i.e. the switcher and main transformer fried.

Now, you ask... how can all this fry??? Isn't there a fuse??? Well, there was in fact... what we in the hobby oh-so-enjoy calling a Scottish fuse! It couldn't blow being wrapped in foil, so everything else fried, except the spare transformer as ordered installed by our friends at Ontario Hydro. Looks like it has been like that for a while... the fuse cover was as dusty as the rest. I gather the switcher is dead as it has a little smell to it, and the transformer had a bad day. Paper is all burned and smells like the insulation melted.

BUT... on the bright side, I installed a spare transformer I had, a new switcher I had laying around (took all of 30 minutes), and A NEW 3A FUSE, and the damn thing still runs!!!

What a frickin tank!!!

So, in the end, I end up with a working stinking NARC, but working nonetheless! And YES, I am glad it happened at my place with people around. My father goes to bed late and always watches TV until 2am. He caught it right on time.

Can you imagine what could have happened if it was still at Gory's shop at 2am??? I hate to imagine... I simply have a stinky basement... he could have potentially lost his shop.

So, moral of the story, if you have a vid or pin in your place of residence or work, please check if you have the correct fuse in your game. It takes 2 minutes of your time. Problem is that most games are older and we don't necessarily know what has been done to the game over time. Probably this game passed through a dozen hands with this fuse in place, and nobody knew...


...Take the couple of minutes and check your games tonight.

Thanks.

Ian

that sucks man.  as i told you i just got it from another member and played it alot.  but we never leave any machine on or anything like that at night.  shoot, we even unplug alot of machine every night.  glad to hear it still works.  if it didn't end up going to you it would have went to mark.  really glad no one was hurt and nothing wrecked.  

Quoted from Sparky

So, moral of the story, if you have a vid or pin in your place of residence or work, please check if you have the correct fuse in your game.

You mean people *don't* check the fuses for the correct value the moment they get the game in the door?

  

shoot i never even open the sucker up once.  just came from a member to me.  was working great and i was happy just that.  had it for alittle while.  i do check most times.   but now will check all the time.

errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, fuse?  What fuse?  Are these on pins or just vids?  And where on vids I got 3 in my basment and I know for sure I've never checked um.

Glad to hear nothing horrible happened Ian

Quoted from gorydeath

that sucks man.  as i told you i just got it from another member and played it alot.  but we never leave any machine on or anything like that at night.  shoot, we even unplug alot of machine every night.  glad to hear it still works.  if it didn't end up going to you it would have went to mark.  really glad no one was hurt and nothing wrecked.  

Nothing some Fantastic and elbow grease couldn't fix! As for checking the fuse, I think that probably less than 10% of people check them prior to turning on a game.

Quoted from cooke

You mean people *don't* check the fuses for the correct value the moment they get the game in the door?

  

Start owning 10+ machines. You would be surprised what passes by without notice when you become a home op and have the rest of what life presents you. I am pretty anal but still sometimes get a rude surprise.

I had 13+ vids and pins at one point and always managed to check the main line fuse (if nothing else) before putting the machine in the game room. Like Sparky said, it takes all of two minutes and can prevent that nasty thing called FIRE!! Having a lot of machines doesn't excuse laziness, Glen.  

Quoted from necro_nemesis

I am pretty anal but still sometimes get a rude surprise.

ooooh boy    from Horses or Bubba ?!   

Quoted from necro_nemesis

Start owning 10+ machines. You would be surprised what passes by without notice when you become a home op and have the rest of what life presents you. I am pretty anal but still sometimes get a rude surprise.

Going to agree with Necro on this one -- except the anal part  . Corey did you happen to have kids when you had all those machines?

Also, it doesn't help that alot of times the games are over fused from the factory! My buddy who is an operator tells me Data East pins are over fused and if you ever have a problem, it will take out stuff on the boards BEFORE the fuse blows! The answer is to put in lower rating fuses than the manual calls for. I need to do that for my JP -- was told this on Tuesday I think.

Duane

So I guess that me owning machines named Lightning, Fire!, Fireball, Blackout, Firepower, and any other machine with a reference to electricity or flames should be out of the question!!!