(Topic ID: 212367)

Firepower Display Question

By wrb1977

6 years ago



Topic Stats

  • 9 posts
  • 4 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 6 years ago by wrb1977
  • Topic is favorited by 1 Pinsider

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#1 6 years ago

On a Firepower, what does the anode keep alive (+100VDC) do on the factory original slave displays? There is an extra brown w/ white tracer wire coming out of the connector at 4J7-2 and is +100VDC. This wire is then daisy chained to each slave display at 5J1-9, 5J2-9, 5J3-9, and 5J4-9 which is the anode keep alive. While troubleshooting a display issue, I disconnected this wire from 4J7-2 and all displays including the master work perfectly! I have the IC version of the master display and there are no hacks or mods on any of these factory displays. I am truly stumped as to why everything is working without this wire connected as manufactures typically don’t put in wires for no reason. Any answers or explanations would be greatly appreciated...thanks in advance!

#2 6 years ago

On one of my games I was missing the keep alive voltage and the first few digits on a display would flicker a bit. I think it keeps the plasma slightly energized when they're not being pulsed, or something similar.

#3 6 years ago

Thanks for the reply. I am not getting flicker or anything wrong at all. They are all working absolutely perfect...this is what has me stumped! Most people would probably just be happy it’s working and move on. I’m one of those people that needs to always know why. For +100VDC not being supplied to the slave displays it just makes no sense to me that they work at all.

#4 6 years ago

I believe the keep alive voltage is a bias current of sorts. It is similar to the warming current provided by warming resistors used on incandescent flashers. The keep alive current helps the plasma segments turn on faster and reduces the "shock" of turning on the segment.

#5 6 years ago

Thanks for the info. Do you think the displays could be damaged by not having this voltage connected?

#6 6 years ago
Quoted from wrb1977:

Thanks for the info. Do you think the displays could be damaged by not having this voltage connected?

I tried to find some info on that very subject but couldn't find anything. I suspect the display may wear out faster but how fast, I have no idea.

#7 6 years ago

Thanks again...hopefully more info will surface at some point.

#8 6 years ago

Does anyone remember vacuum tube televisions? They all had something similar to keep the tubes warm making start up faster.
If you have changed out the displays with modern LED replacement the HV connection is meaningless.

#9 6 years ago

They are all still the factory original displays.

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