Re: Tech: I built me a playfield tester

Another coil test you could do, with far less work, is
this. Take a 25 volt game transformer. could be an EM
transformer, or newer. does not matter. find the 25
volt (or higher) AC voltage on the transformer:

1. mount transformer on a small 1' x 1' board.

2. Cut an old extension cord and use the plug/wire
on the transformer to connect it to the mains (120 volts).

3. Connect the two AC transformer 25 volt (or higher)
lugs to a bridge rectifier's AC lugs. Just a standard
bridge rectifier (35 amps 200 volts would be nice).
On one of the bridge's AC lugs put a fuse and fuse holder.
Use a DMM to determine which transformer lugs are 25 (or higher)
volts.

4. run a 3 foot piece of wire from the + and - lugs
of the bridge rectifier. at the ends of the wire, have an
alligator clip. One wire red (+), one black (negative).

5. connect the positive wire to any coil lug which
has a BANDED side of the diode attached. This will
power ALL coils in that daisy chain.

6. power your transformer on.

7. take the black (negative) wire and momentarily
touch the NON-BANDED side of any coil in that daisy chain.
The coil should fire.

There you make a playfield tester in 5 minutes.
For the switches and lamps use the game's switch
and lamp matrix tests!!!

cfh@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> Oh, i'm bucking the tide here, but this is what i see.
> This is a complete waste of time!!! Why do you need a
> playfield tester? you *already* have a playfield tester.
> (the game!)
>
> If you want to test the coils, use your DMM set to low
> ohms and test them. The procedure is in the marvin3m
> guides. it takes about 1 minute to do the whole playfield!
> it also tests the coil diode at the same time. This
> SIMPLE test just using a DMM and about 1 minute of
> your time is all you need to do!!!
>
> if you are worried you hooked up a coil wrong, simple
> observation will determine that. power is the dual wire
> (usually solid color) that daisy chains (except for the
> last coil in the chain, one wire). Power goes to the
> *banded* diode lug. Again, simply LOOK a the coils
> to determine this.
>
> Test the switches manually? WHY???? use the game's built in
> switch edge test!!! that's what it is designed for!!
>
> Test the lamps manually? WHY???? Use the game's built in
> lamp matrix test!!! I mean if you want to test bulbs
> i guess you could use a 5 volt switcher power supply and
> a socket to do that outside of the game. but again, why?
>
> beaver wrote:
> > While the clear on my playfield is drying, I decided to build me a
> > playfield tester. It allows me to test every switch, light, solenoid
> > and associated circuitry safely without risking my CPU board and from
> > the comfort of my work bench.
> >
> > http://www.edcheung.com/album/album05/pinball/playfield3.htm#tester
> >
> > If I get complaints about the size of the page, I will move it to a new
> > one.
> >
> > Edward Cheung

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Stupid Fixes
    ... transformer was connected directly to the VUK via a small switch. ... The entire VUK assembly was toast and burnt away. ... The coil itself was half melted. ...
    (rec.games.pinball)
  • Re: Adding another switch to a relay operated light switch
    ... I'd like to add another switch to the relay. ... I have another 24V transformer with a switch. ... the relay coil. ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: Adding another switch to a relay operated light switch
    ... I'd like to add another switch to the relay. ... I have another 24V transformer with a switch. ... Run another wire from the common terminal of the 2nd switch back back to the relay coil. ...
    (alt.home.repair)
  • Re: TESLA COIL (0/1)
    ... When we tested his spark gap by connecting one wire to one of the ... copper pieces and the other wire from the transformer to the other ... >> My kid is building a tesla coil for his science fair project. ... but if your primary circuit isn't running at ...
    (sci.electronics.basics)
  • Re: Slow Man = a Menace
    ... with an auto- transformer step-down or other wiring error does it sometimes ... The OP's auto dialler device was not specified beyond a nominal "6 watt" ... untried 120 volt *only* device. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
Loading