Wiring & Repair — GameCity Recovery

How an ArcadeBox is wired

PS4/Console ──HDMI──▶ [BOOSTER in]   [BOOSTER out] ──HDMI──▶ TV
                            ▲
                     5V power (through RELAY)
                            ▲
   ESP32 board ── controls ─┘

The box never touches the picture cable. It switches the booster's power: no power → no signal → TV shows nothing. Session starts → relay gives power back → picture returns.

Control wiring (ESP32 → relay)

ESP32 pin	→	Relay pin
VIN (5V)	→	DC+
GND	→	DC−
GPIO 26 (D26)	→	IN

Use VIN, not 3V3 — the relay needs full 5V. If the relay module has a High/Low jumper, set it to LOW.

Power wiring (relay → booster)

Take the booster's power lead and cut the positive (center) wire
Adapter side of the cut → relay COM
Booster side of the cut → relay NO
Negative wire stays untouched

Verify (don't assume): use the Recovery Console → "Signal ON/OFF" buttons. Signal ON should light the booster; Signal OFF should kill it. If it's backwards, move the booster wire from NO to NC. Done.

Common repairs

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
No relay click ever	DC+/DC−/IN wiring, or jumper	Re-check control wiring; flip trigger jumper
Click but TV never dies	Power wire bypassing relay	Redo the power cut; verify with console buttons
TV flickers mid-session	Weak joints or weak booster adapter	Solder/lever-connect the cut wires; use original adapter
Box restarts when relay clicks	Power adapter too weak	Use a solid 5V 2A adapter, short thick cable
Picture slow to appear (>5s)	HDMI handshake	Shorter HDMI cable to the TV

Spare parts per branch (keep in a drawer)

1× spare ESP32 board (flashed — see Downloads)
2× relay modules (5V 1-channel, optocoupler)
1× HDMI booster + its 5V barrel adapter
2× good USB data cables + 1× 5V 2A adapter
Jumper wires (female-female)