Line Filter Varistor on 1978 Bally SS

[Brettski]

Hi there,
I have a 1978 Bally Strikes and Spares and have read that a Varistor is required to be connected to the Line Filter inside the cabinet.
There is no Varistor on my Line Filter, is this not right or do we not need it here in Australia?? Should I get one and connect it?

Any info here much appreciated

Cheers: Brettski... :)

[Pintoxicated]

Taken from the old Pinrepair guides, yes you should have a Varistor fitted.....

"The Varistor.

Known as VR1, the varistor's job is to aborb large voltage spikes. The first thing the
power cord attaches to is the varistor. If the power line gets struck by lightning, the
voltage spike coming down the power line can toast anything in its path. The
varistor will absorb this spike and short itself, preventing damage to the game
(electricity will take the shortest path of least resistance). A blown varistor is
usually obvious; it will no longer look like a red disc capacitor, but will be a molten
mess with two wires attached to it."

[Strangeways]

This is what I use ;

http://www.jaycar.com.au/Passive-Components/Circuit-Protection/Metal-Oxide-Varistors/275VAC-2500A-Metal-Oxide-Varistor-%28MOV%29/p/RN3406

[Brettski]

Thank you!,

Yes Pintoxicated that is the information I read and when I noticed it missing, I thought I had better ask!

Thanks Strangeways, I will pick one up from Jaycar tomorrow and connect it..

Much appreciated.. Brettski... :)

[Brettski]

It has a varistor on the rectifier board but I guess having one on the Line Filter is an extra safety net as we do get a lot of electrical storms here.

Brettski... :)

[Homepin]

The one on the rectifier board is AFTER the mains transformer and won't help protect that.

The one you are installing should be straight after the mains fuse and so can protect the transformer and many other parts.

They are doing two very different jobs in this case.

[Brettski]

Thanks Homepin, that explains it well!

Off to Jaycar! :)

Brettski... :)

[Brettski]

Looking at it there is no polarity, so I guess I just solder it to the pos and neg on the Line Filter where the electrical power lead connects.

Anything else I need to know?

Cheers: Brettski... :)

[DSB]

Remember its 240 volts would be my first tip! No polarity but I would cover both legs with some heat shrink or the sheath of some wire before soldering. The less exposed 240 the better and safer it will be.

[Homepin]

Looking at it there is no polarity, so I guess I just solder it to the pos and neg on the Line Filter where the electrical power lead connects.

Anything else I need to know?

Cheers: Brettski... :)

Correct - MOVS have no polarity - either way around is fine.

Just be certain it is installed AFTER the machines main input fuse.

[Brettski]

Here is a pic of my line filter, the power lead connects directly to it, there are no fuses.



It doesn't look like there ever was anything else (fuse)  there so I am assuming this is normal on this machine.

Brettski... :)

[Brettski]

Thanks everyone!

I bought the Varistor from Jaycar as recommended by Strangeways and fitted it without any issues.. All good now!

Much appreciated..

Cheers: Brettski... :)