Find an old Atari Orange Test fixture. They show up on eBay once in a while. It is really handy, you can use multiple power supplies, and the two VARIACs make for a wide range of supply voltages. I modified my unit so that I could get:
+5VDC @ 15amps
+12VDC @ 5 amps
-5VDC @ 1 amp
+/-15VDC @ 1 amp
0-60VDC floating @ 2 amps
2 X 0-40VAC CT @ 2 amps

I have the two fat books on this unit that I could copy for any other owners for a suitable trade. These are FAT, about 2 inches thick with fold out pages...

Or would Al like to borrow them and pdf 'em for Spies?

This allows me to run every game (except older Nintendo stuff that needs 3 or 4 amps on the -5VDC, then I just hook up a floating switcher) and power up XY monitors. I got a bunch of the jumper plugs for the Atari and have cannibalized a couple of the duplicates to make special adapters (Galaxian/Pacman family for one)

John :-#)#

At 04:32 PM 12/21/1999 -0600, you wrote:

Is there a way for me to make a suitable bench power supply for working
on game boards? I'm not overly convinced that $300-$1,500 on a PS is
absolutely necessary since the parts alone can't be more than $15 (that
US money John ;)

I mean, just looking at the linear power supply boards in my games
doesn't reveal complicated parts or anything that looks like it would
require a high tolerance. Or am I too cheap?

tm