tech: is running a PSU without a load bad?

gwarble

unread,

Mar 10, 2001, 5:12:26 AM3/10/01

to

i'm asking this question actually because of the PC2JAMMA projects i see
around... and none do anything to either turn off the unloaded power supply or
put any kind of load on it...

i dont know that much about it, but would assume that a switching power supply
can handle it... but would a linear be able to?

thanks
gwarble
gwa...@hotmail.com
www.arcadefanatic.com

Joey Oravec

unread,

Mar 10, 2001, 9:33:34 AM3/10/01

to

gwarble (elb...@aol.com) wrote:
: i'm asking this question actually because of the PC2JAMMA projects i see

: around... and none do anything to either turn off the unloaded power supply or
: put any kind of load on it...
:
: i dont know that much about it, but would assume that a switching power supply
: can handle it... but would a linear be able to?

This is fine for a linear PS and bad for switched mode power supply. If
you don't have enough current moving it will not be able to
regulate. Linear on the other hand is perfectly fine to run unloaded.

Dunno how you would end up with an unloaded power supply on a project like
that though.

--
O..O Arcade machine collection:
(----) http://www.science.wayne.edu/~joey/arcade/
( >__< ) IRC - EFNet #rgvac: demigod2k
^^ ~~ ^^

Christopher Bedwell

unread,

Mar 10, 2001, 11:38:09 AM3/10/01

to

i thought the real question is " Why would you use an old linear ? "

surely switching is much better and alot safer for your boards..

and i didnt think people used linears for home systems ?

i threw out all the linears i had and went purely to switching - never
looked back !

- Chris.

Joey Oravec <jo...@gopher.science.wayne.edu> wrote in message
news:98ddvu$ioq$1...@cwis-1.wayne.edu...

gwarble

unread,

Mar 10, 2001, 2:36:23 PM3/10/01

to

hmmm... interesting...

well you end up like that because if you are running a pc inside a computer,
which has its own power supply in it... and all you connect to the jamma
harness are: video signal, controls, and audio... none of which will put any
load on the switcher (unless you run the audio amp from the switcher, but i
doubt that would be a significant load anyway...)

- gwarble

gwarble

unread,

Mar 10, 2001, 3:47:53 PM3/10/01

to

i've still got a linear on my space duel... and running certain voltages in my
robotron and scramble... and am just wondering if those being unloaded will
cause a problem

gwarble

unread,

Mar 10, 2001, 4:24:26 PM3/10/01

to

let me clarify...

i am building, instead of a PC2JAMMA (which it will eventually become), i am
building a PC2Konami harness... which will let me play vertical cocktail games
(ms pac, galaga....) in my scramble cocktail from my desktop cumputer (not
installed in the cab or anything... just a wire running to it)... now it has a
switcher and still uses the linear (for what i'm not sure, i'll check that
tonite)

hope that makes more sense

Matt

unread,

Mar 11, 2001, 3:45:56 AM3/11/01

to

Hey Joel...

If you just want to put a load on the supply run the coin door bulbs from the
+5 output of the switcher. All the outputs are basically tied together (way
deep in the supply) so if you load the +5 the others will be fine.

Most switchers will shut down if there is a problem so either way you should be
ok.

Matt

game...@aol.com

Specializing in Pac\Ms Pac Man board repairs

gwarble

unread,

Mar 11, 2001, 12:56:49 PM3/11/01

to

cool... thanks...
what if i run my audio amp from the 12 volts? will that work to?

thanks

Matt

unread,

Mar 11, 2001, 6:59:43 PM3/11/01

to

Yeah, that should be enough of a load too...

gwarble

unread,

Mar 11, 2001, 10:45:25 PM3/11/01

to

cool
thanks