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European cabinets

Europe made almost no "candy cabs": here the cabinet is mostly the generic upright (and the cocktail), often a JAMMA conversion cab that takes any PCB. Technician specifics vs Japan: 230 V (no step-down transformer), widespread RGB SCART, and the omnipresent Hantarex monitor.

Europe specifics (worth knowing)

  • 230 V mains: EU cabs are natively 230 Vno step-down transformer (unlike 100 V Japanese candy cabs).
  • RGB SCART: RGB is standard in Europe → clean image with no mod (see RGB video mods).
  • Monitor: the Hantarex chassis (MTC-9000, Polo) is the monitor of European JAMMA cabs.
  • "Conversion" culture: many EU uprights are generic JAMMA → you swap the PCB; hence the importance of a clean JAMMA harness.

Makers & distributors

Country Maker / label Note
UK Electrocoin (since 1976) uprights & "universal" cabs; exclusive Konami distributor in Europe
UK Deith Leisure, Bell-Fruit, JPM uprights, redemption, AWP
France Jeutel (since 1980) French maker (~11 machines) — a standard FR cabinet
France Karateco (Stambouli Frères) production/distribution of games (licensed and bootleg)
Spain Sleic / Petaco pinball and video/coin-op cabinets (Madrid, 90s)
Germany NSM-Löwen 1985-86 cabinets (Hot Fire Birds, The Games, Cosmic Flash, Tag Team; 2 Gottlieb-licensed)

Common types in Europe

  • Upright — the dominant format → see Western cabinets.
  • Cocktail / table — common in cafés/bars.
  • Cabaret / mini-upright — reduced footprint.
  • JAMMA conversion cab — generic, swappable PCB.

Common faults

Symptom Likely cause Lead
Unstable / washed-out image Hantarex chassis / recap Recap (Hantarex)
No picture power / harness / chassis Diagnose power → monitor
Dead controls JAMMA harness / microswitches Diagnose I/O, clean contacts
Smeary colours on SCART RGB cable/mod Check the RGB SCART wiring

Repair & maintenance

Modernise (video, PSU, JVS, upscaler, PC/FPGA) → Modernising a cabinet. CRT monitor (discharge HV!) → CRT safety · Hantarex chassis (or equivalents) · recapRecap · 230 V mains (no transformer) · diagnosis → PCB fault-finding.

See also

Sources & attribution

Review & corrections

How this space is used

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