Technical Learning Thread?

[Marty Machine]

Just wondering if anyone want's a Technical Learning Thread? probably aimed mainly at newbies, covering basic electronic principals within pinballs to help service the basics in their own pinballs.

Obviously the threads can be as simple as learning how to rebuild a flipper-kit right upto modifying eproms or fault-finding cpu signals on a completely dead machine.

Just a thought.
MM.

[Extra Ball]

I would appreciate that very much.
:)

[faza]

Sounds like a gret idea

[Strangeways]

We have the board repair section with "How To..." threads - I want to add to that shortly..

So another section could be created for tutorials on general pinball repairs ?

As long as there is no Grey area between the "Hints and Tips" and "General Repair Procedures" ?

Happy to do it - thoughts ?

[MartyJ]

Sounds like a great idea.

I'm still very much a noob in this area.  If I read and see pictures saying - part A needs to be removed and replaced with part A(2)...I can do it no probs.  Same as testing part A with DMM lead on this bit, reading should be between x & y...No probs.

I don't understand how things actually work (ie MOSFETS, transistors)...Also I have major trouble understanding schematics.  For me, if I can learn some basics - ie what does what, how it works in simple man's terms that would be very good.....

[Marty Machine]

Yep Nino, This would be purely educational thread, nothing to do with tips & mods covered in the other Technical threads.

The way i see it :

"Hints & Tips" - Aimed at specific machine problems e.g. "how to repair/mod Star Wars machine" etc.

"General Repair Procedures" - "How To" repair a generic items on most pins, such as rebuild a flipper kit or pop-bumper etc.

"Technical Training" (new) - Explains how electronics/component work inside a pin, plus fault diagnosis etc.

MM.

[ajlaird]

Great idea re technical learning thread; sort of had something similar in mind when I posted the multimeter basics link.

Could even start with real basics in a FAQ such as - how do I open the machine? how do I get the glass off? how do I enter the test menu? and so on

[Marty Machine]

Yep agreed, i don't think anyone needs to know how electrons work inside components, but you would certainly learn what a component does, why and when, and how to check if it is/isn't doing it's job.

I'd intend to provide very simple pics and simple terms & descriptions to get the point across.
(like what i've done previously with the LED tester recently).

MM.

[MartyJ]

Yep agreed, i don't think anyone needs to know how electrons work inside components, but you would certainly learn what a component does, why and when, and how to check if it is/isn't doing it's job.

I'd intend to provide very simple pics and simple terms & descriptions to get the point across.
(like what i've done previously with the LED tester recently).

MM.

Sounds good.

[Marty Machine]

Yep, there's probably a great deal that we take for granted, that could be explained clearly for newbies.

[Extra Ball]

I recently learnt that you cant trust the reading you get when testing a diode in circuit (which still pisses me off lol). I am yet to service a pop bumper, and am wanting to do all mine for preventitive maintence. Infact the more I learn, and the more capable I get I really feel the hobby becomes a whole lot more satisfying. Hope that makes sense! I still feel chuffed that I have got Flash working 100%, its giving me so much more pleasure because I fixed it.
 

[Peach]

Sounds really good to me...pics would make it so much easier to understand... 

[Strangeways]

So I can add a section ;

"Pinball Training 101" - something along those lines ?  A section devoted to Pinball Theory of Operation and General Maintenance ?

[Marty Machine]

Nothing better than playing a pin you fixed yourself, and knowing (& learning) more about what's under the bonnet as you go.
MM.

[63wizz]

Nothing better than playing a pin you fixed yourself, and knowing (& learning) more about what's under the bonnet as you go.
MM.

I would have to agree totally with that statement Marty.

cheers Ian