The Aussie Pinball Arcade
Aussie Pinball Forums => Technical Matters => Pinball Repairs / Problems & Assistance => Topic started by: Marty Machine on July 05, 2009, 01:52:20 AM
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Hi All,
I received a 'South Park' pin today, and first thing i noticed was how dark the playfield was, then realised absoluterly NO G.I. (General Illumination) Lamps were working.
Here's what i checked (as normal):
- Checked GI fuses, nup, still ok.
- Checked 6.3v AC coming into G.I fuses - Yep.
- Checked solder joints around GI AC-in and fuses and output connector- all ok.
- Checked 6.3v AC was leaving driver board into GI loom (when GI Relay is energised) - yep....
- Checked GI looming under playfield, all in tact.
Damn.....I decided to pull a lamp out of socket and confim volts was actually on the lamp sockets - yep, all ok too....
Hmmmm, Checked a lamp - Blown!
Replaced that 1 lamp and it came on, but all others still out.....
Checked next lamp - blown, next lamp blown, next lamp blown.....
Removed 25 lamps - all blown ! WTF !!!!
Replaced 25 lamps, all working fine'n'dandy now....
WTF, how did they all blow? unless they died slowly over the years and previous user didnt know how to change lamps ??? although i would never expect EVERY lamp to have died.
At first i thought maybe previous owner put 1.5v torch lamps in, and they all blew at 6.3v, but the lamps are clearly marked '44'....standard issue....
Moral of this story? test your lamps FIRST before blowing 2 hours inside the box hehehehehe.
Hope this helps someone in future.
MM.
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Classic! I thought the standard practice was to test the globe first!
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Classic! I thought the standard practice was to test the globe first!
Yeh, when a 'few' are dead, but not when ALL are dead.....instantly think of Fuse or connector fell out etc....oh well...
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Yeh, when a 'few' are dead, but not when ALL are dead.....instantly think of Fuse or connector fell out etc....oh well...
I agree, you'd expect something that covers them all.
The big question is - why? Pretty unusual to have them all blown. Is the fuse the correct reating?
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Previous owner ignorance or laziness; some people just don't know better or can't be bothered.
Always try the easiest answer first!!
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Someone could have shorted across to the coil voltage??
I remember repinning a Galaxy once and accidently putting the coil voltage through the feature lamps. The light show was bright and brief - turned it off before all the lights had been 'gone through' in attract mode !@)
cheers
Ian
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Fuses were correct, i think it was just laziness of owner.
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Was the machine a reimport MM?
Perhaps was set for different country voltage and when in 240?
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Someone has put a higher voltage thru them blowing them all I rekon
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Not sure, it came from NSW from family home who had it for several years.
Maybe they ran it without GI, not knowing any better?
Oh well, looks lively NOW hehehehe.
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Just been digging under the playfield again, and found that about 15 of the #89 lamps were also blown.....oddly 2 or 3 were ok, but dull/tired, so i replaced anyway.
Sheesh.
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Did they even know how to open it to get at the playfield?
I am guessing no.
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Just been digging under the playfield again, and found that about 15 of the #89 lamps were also blown.....oddly 2 or 3 were ok, but dull/tired, so i replaced anyway.
Sheesh.
My vote is still over voltage to machine. I bet the coils were probably very powerful as well!
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I don't think they knew anything techy about pins, in fact it was delivered on it's legs with headbox in upright position becuase he couldnt work out how to undo it, yet i looked in the coinbox and found the gigantic allen-key to release the headbox lock.
I think they *may* have rung a local pinplace for globe replacement/service and got put off by the price and left it at that.
oh well, it's coming to life now, very bright and playable :lol
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Yep, i'll be looking at the Mains-pinning soon, to confirm if it's set to 220 or 240 etc etc.
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Guys this is a no brainer......Its obvious, the old 4wd in the outback trick. When you run out of globes you sell or dump the pinney &^&
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of course, why didnt i think of that hahahahaha :lol #*# :lol
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Marty is this your first DMD? I remember you saying something about you were waiting on some new arrivals???? not that long ago
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My 2nd DMD, i got a white water a few weeks back too..
I imagine the hi-voltage lines (although only 100v) will be attracting dust and junk to it, much like HV (25kv does in TV's).
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My 2nd DMD, i got a white water a few weeks back too..
I imagine the hi-voltage lines (although only 100v) will be attracting dust and junk to it, much like HV (25kv does in TV's).
MM,
Sounds like you may be onto a holy grail of pins...Strikes and Spares (NIB), South Park and WW???? Any Fathoms or Spirits hiding out back!?
Still need to drop those plastics off to you at some stage. I should be at Marks on Sat or will give them to you at Meet.
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OH, i just sold 2 Fathoms and a spirit, i didnt like them much.....
I'll be at Marks this sat to unload boxes with you anyway, and/or fri arvo too.