pictures would help of the thing, its location and where its connected to ?
can be the operator you buy games from does something special like add a coin cointer or other security device that needs it
or maybe indeed when the +5v or +12v on the powerdriver pcb fail he uses an additional powersupply instead of repairing the boards..

DITO on the pic, or at least the name of the game.

I've seen something sort of like that though it wasn't black. In my case it was from an arcade to power/interface a "credit card" type reader in the coin door. Credits were purchased from a central location that were "imprinted" on flimsy cards with a magnetic strip, then the card is used on machine(s) instead of quarters/dollars.

DSCN5515.JPG

This would be my guess also.

Is the game a re-import? It could be a transformer for U.S. voltage if the existing one wasn't modified.

I think some ops use this to avoid the flippers from dropping out and resetting the game while in play (can't remember if the +5v drops out or something, but basically resets the machine when the flippers are activated), so they add the extra PSU to make the pin a little more reliable on route.

Kind of odd that its only a 12 VDC supply.

This is just What I was thinking.

I've also seen systems to ad ticket dispensers that require 12VDC, and 120 AC that were also used in video games as well. Older pins generally didn't have regulated 12VDC available, or in high enough current output to drive a ticket dispenser controller.

Agreed, get the pics, post them, and it sounds like you'll have plenty of help. It's not unusual to see some odd bypass work done on games to fix problems with +5 or +12 supplies, instead of fixing them 'correctly'. If something is keeping a game from making money, ops often made what they had work.

I bets its a shortcut for the lighting. Rather than move it off location use a common part to keep pin out making money and do they dreaded move as pins are heavy and just love to give you that hurt finger feeling for hours after loading and unloading only to fix and do it all over again. Its the worse part of the hobby/business moving the pins!

It's a 12 volt supply. Doubt that it's for lighting.

Could be for a ticket dispenser (redemption use) or a printer interface kit (accessory).

Possibly could be for an alarm or for wireless security cameras.

I agree with those that posted about the hacky voltage repair. The best one I've seen to date:

hamster-wheel-race.jpg

Is that U.L. approved?

Usually when I see this crap, it's a regulated power supply used to make up for whatever voltage is not working on the stock power supply.

The funny thing is, that usually the real power supply fix runs about $10 in parts.

I had a extra power supply in my T2 when I bought it.The op used it to power the backboard GI,instead of repairing the connector