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MIllipede Power Supply
Question from E: Hi guys, thanks for your site. I’m hoping you can help me with a question or two.
I have an original millipede stand-up that I bought in 2003, it’s never given me any problems.
I recently moved to virginia, plugged it in and POOF! Got a smell of something burning, opened the back and saw two thin puffs of smoke rising from bottom. I checked the fuses and it looks like I blew two of them, I’m assuming that’s where the smoke came from.
I ordered new fuses, but I saw your video on checking a classic power supply and noticed the isolation transformer. My millipede doesn’t seem to have one of these, even though there is a tag on the monitor that says to ALWAYS use one. So I looked in the service manual and it doesn’t have one in any of the diagrams. Also the monitor listed in the manual is a Matsushita, while mine says RCA.
Here is the question part.
Is it possible that the original monitor didn’t need an isolation transformer?
Did the previous owner maybe switch out the monitor and not realize that the new one needed an isolation transformer?
Is this maybe one of those power supplies with the iso built into the supply?
If I need to install one, where in the circuit should I connect it to the power supply and what is the right gauge wire to use?
any help would be appreciated.
thanks again.
E
1 answer
Response from Jonathan: E,
> Is it possible that the original monitor didn’t need an isolation transformer?
Nope, if it says it needs one to operate it must have it installed or the monitor would not power on at all. I believe that Millipede has a combination power supply/isolation transformer unit which is why the monitor plugs in where it does.
> Did the previous owner maybe switch out the monitor and not realize that the new one needed an isolation transformer?
Some new monitors do not require isolation transformers but I think, in your case, that the power supply is a combination unit as I mentioned above.
> Is this maybe one of those power supplies with the iso built into the supply?
Yep! =)
> If I need to install one, where in the circuit should I connect it to the power supply and what is the right gauge wire to use?
It doesn’t look like you need to install an isolation transformer. If you did need to install one, it’s best to take the input for it straight from the wall plug either by splicing it or joining it to an AC distribution block. 16 or 18 gauge wire is sufficient for most arcade games.
Now that we’ve gotten the questions out of the way, let’s get down to your issue. Atari arcade games are known to have problems with their AR boards. Millipede uses the AR-II board. You might want to read this article about AR boards to help give you a little better insight: http://bitslicer.tripod.com/ar_sense_mod.htm. You might also try the SENSE mod that he talks about as that might solve the issues you’re having with your game.
Hope that helps. Thank you for your question and good luck with your repair.
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