Twilight Zone switch 26

[dendoc]

Anyone able to advise? Always get a "through proximity 26 switch" error on start up. I assume it's this board as the little red diode isn't lit. Can it be repaired, or anyone have one for sale?
Also, anyone have any of these little grey covers for the upper playfield? Missing 3 of them.

Thanks

[pinsanity]

Switch 26 is trough proximity (meaning the ball trough).

There is a small board located up near the ball trough (at the front on the right hand side). This will be the likely cause of your switch error.

You will know it is the correct one as it has a small 2 pin connector on it. Often it is just not making good contact with the board and the board is therefore not "powered up" so you get the switch 26 error. With machine turned on, unplug and plug back in this connector. Give the two wires in the connector a bit of a jiggle at the same time.

Let us know if the error goes away after turning machine on and off again and we can take it further if necessary.



For reference, the board is used to detect the powerball coming into play, the board basically detects that a metal ball is present so by process of elimination a lack of metal must indicate a ceramic powerball. Pretty clever, huh?  

[ktm450]

I replaced the board with the replacement board and have had no troubles for many years, I got it from BAA but I cant fin it on their site, it is the same as this one at MAD http://mad-amusements.com/product.php?id_product=737

If you  decide to buy it from them they also have the grey switch covers.  Just google the part number 20-9672 and you will find them at Marco, BAA, MAD even eGay

[dendoc]

Thanks for that, so is that board I put in the pic not number 26?

If I find the 2 pin connector, i'll give it a jiggle, otherwise may have to buy the suggestion of eGay (?)

[dendoc]

Found the little 2 pin switch just at the ball eject site. Gave it a wiggle and red diode comes on and off, so something going on. I think i'll have to get a new one from USA, or keep trying locally. Looks like a mongrel to try and replace.

[ktm450]

Thanks for that, so is that board I put in the pic not number 26?

If I find the 2 pin connector, i'll give it a jiggle, otherwise may have to buy the suggestion of eGay (?)

No that photo is of a second power ball sensor, the one that always causes problems is the trough one, located under the ball launch

[casperthefriendly]

Found the little 2 pin switch just at the ball eject site. Gave it a wiggle and red diode comes on and off, so something going on. I think i'll have to get a new one from USA, or keep trying locally. Looks like a mongrel to try and replace.

Before you order another board from the US...

It sounds like it's nothing worse than a dodgy connector, or maybe a bad solder join between the pins and the board.

Give the pins and connector a good dousing off Isopropyl Alcohol (Bunnings) then push/pull the connector onto the pins a few times to "clean" everything up a bit.

Check the white connector itself and with a small flat-blade screwdriver see whether you can close up the connector that grabs onto the pins on the board.

That may well "fix" it for a while (maybe years!). If it does help, then just cut the connector off and solder the wires directly to the pins.

If it doesn't fix it, take the board off the machine and have a good close look it it and see if you can spot any cold solder joins.

[pinnies4me]

Cutting wires and soldering directly is not usually the preferred method, and might put a collector off when you eventually sell the game. If the  connector is the issue, then is is best to re-pin.

[pinball god]

I replaced the board with the replacement board and have had no troubles for many years, I got it from BAA but I cant fin it on their site, it is the same as this one at MAD http://mad-amusements.com/product.php?id_product=737

If you  decide to buy it from them they also have the grey switch covers.  Just google the part number 20-9672 and you will find them at Marco, BAA, MAD even eGay

I too replaced mine but continue to have problems after awhile. Need to always recalibrate every few days 

[rads]

I bought new boards and the problem came back. I finally fixed it by making a new connector cable

[pinsanity]

Found the little 2 pin switch just at the ball eject site. Gave it a wiggle and red diode comes on and off, so something going on. I think i'll have to get a new one from USA, or keep trying locally. Looks like a mongrel to try and replace.

So it sounds like the board itself is fine but the connector itself is not making good contact. This is a common problem since the board is located so close to the ball launch/trough area and sees a great deal of "knocking around" the wires eventually becomes "laggy".

As suggested above you can get around this by soldering the wires directly to the board itself but also as said this is a rather unsightly way to correct it and personally is a last resort.

I would suggest first recrimping the wires to Trifurcon style pins and connector housing setup for better/tighter contact with the board pins.

This is a Trifurcon style pin which clips inside a connector housing (as below):





If this makes no change then solder the wires directly to the board.

[dendoc]

Thanks to all. Seems like a common problem. I'll have more of a fiddle and see if I can get the beasts off, clean, stomp whatever. Bloody ceramic balls.
reminds me of the old joke about Gypsies not riding horses - because of their crystal balls!

[ktm450]

I replaced the board with the replacement board and have had no troubles for many years, I got it from BAA but I cant fin it on their site, it is the same as this one at MAD http://mad-amusements.com/product.php?id_product=737

If you  decide to buy it from them they also have the grey switch covers.  Just google the part number 20-9672 and you will find them at Marco, BAA, MAD even eGay

I too replaced mine but continue to have problems after awhile. Need to always recalibrate every few days 

That's weird I have only ever had to adjust it twice.

Maybe try a little bit of the lowest strength loctite made for screws to prevent it moving

[ktm450]

Thanks to all. Seems like a common problem. I'll have more of a fiddle and see if I can get the beasts off, clean, stomp whatever. Bloody ceramic balls.
reminds me of the old joke about Gypsies not riding horses - because of their crystal balls!

It is a very common problem, that's why they made the new board. I think it replaces the old school pot with a new style that doesn't go out of adjustment so often

[beaky]

I am always happy to come around and sort it out for you if it becomes a pain to repair mate