Fix Lamp Issues on Pinball Machine (Early Stern or Bally)

[@lougarou007]

Thank you. I learned from your video. Found a broken transistor

[@timsnow1588]

Brilliant video, you don’t get enough credit!

[@gregordiseth6651]

When I have an issue like this, I test the associated SCR first. It only takes a few seconds, and can save a lot of troubleshooting time. If it's good, then I troubleshoot as per your method.

[@pauz2175]

Great video. Just fixed an issue on a Bally and found this after the fact but learned a few great things. Thanks.

[@PinballEvangelist]

Appreciate the comment and the Sub.👍

[@victorsvarietychannel2459]

Great video, you have a way of simplifying troubleshooting. Thanks

[@dr.davespinballrestoration3764]

Very nice tutorial. =)

[@PinballEvangelist]

Thanks, glad you found it helpful.

[@1976aztec]

Great Video thanks much

[@carl5490]

Excellent teaching. Thanks for this.

[@PinballEvangelist]

Glad you found it helpful.

[@dangermartin69]

Anyone wanting to do things like this. Get yourself a nice soldering station with a solder sucker. You don't need an expensive solder sucking gun, just a spring loaded one to start with. Many kits on Amazon have the station that comes with a solder sucker. They aren't that expensive and they are really worth it.

[@PinballEvangelist]

100% agree solder sucker is one of the best tools I have bought

[@pinballKing012]

Very informative, thank you....

[@PinballEvangelist]

You are welcome.

[@arymonem]

Great video! Any idea why some of my playfield lights flicker as soon as my flippers are activated? Actually anytime a coil is activated, a lot of lights faintly flicker.

[@pablohernanviera3012]

Hi! I have a "pinball" from Stern (the same mpu), year 1977. I need to replace some 2n5060, but I don't find its in Argentina. Reading forums, many users says use mcr100 to replace it. It's ok? Excuse me for my english! I hope can you understand me. Thank you and I wait your reply!

[@PinballEvangelist]

I tend to use 2N5061, 2N5062 or 2N5064 all are higher voltage substitutes but it looks like MCR100 will also work fine. Pinwiki has a great table of parts with datasheets and substitute components www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Pinball_Part_Datasheets Let us know how you go.

[@Jetrulez15]

Can the same rough logic be used on WPC games, too? I'm currently restoring a WhiteWater and I'm noticing that the bottom R in R-I-V-E-R is starting to get flaky. I just replaced the bulb and it worked, but I turned it back on a few days later and it stopped again. Kinda want it working 100% before I put the LEDs in!

[@PinballEvangelist]

All pinball repairs are just a matter of progressive elimination. I don’t know WhiteWater well enough but expect that the RIVER lights would be on a board and often the legs on the twist in lamp holders just need to be bent up so they make better contact with the solder on the board.... if that does not work post another comment and I will give you the next thing to check.

[@Jetrulez15]

@@PinballEvangelist Yep, you are correct! The river letters are on their own board and a little bit of pressure has gotten the light working again. Unfortunately, now some of the GI is not dimming and instantly came on even before the game booted. The problem appears to have disappeared for now, but that was unusual. It was only the GI in the section the machine calls "playfield center".

[@billwilliams6338]

PINBALL EVAGNELIST, Why does the lamp matrix and switch matrix use PIA chips? When does a PIA chip send out IRQ signals to the microcontroller?

[@PinballEvangelist]

Have a look at this link www.flippers.be/basics/101_switch_matrix.html

[@crapcbm]

Hi, can you tell me, what is modern replacement type for the "MCR106-1" ? Have bought a 1978 Bally and the pre owner did not fix all korrosions of the leaking battary, now I want to rework the complete light board Thanks! ;)

[@PinballEvangelist]

Below are three links to suppliers who sell replacement SCR's suitable for early solid state lamp driver boards. www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/MCR106-1 www.greatplainselectronics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=MCR106-6 au.element14.com/littelfuse/mcr106-6g/scr-thyristor-4a-400v-to-225aa/dp/2777152 If you are located in Australia and get stuck and I would be happy to have a go at repairing/refurbishing the board for you... just pay postage and parts.

[@thomast7748]

Thank you very much. Next time i suggest you don’t add music, it’s really annoying.

[@PinballEvangelist]

Thomas thanks for the feedback... I only add the music to suppress the background noise and take the feedback onboard, maybe it was too loud on this video. Will go back and review it.