Quoted from Tricky_Rick:I have a 1981 Enbryon machine that I'd like to mod. Specifically adding LEDs to certain areas. I bought a power supply to power the LED illuminated legs I just bought.
I bought this power supply... amazon.com link »
I thought it was cool as it gives 24V/12V/5V all in one tiny little supply. I received a private message saying I should post here asking if everyone thought it was a good idea because you guys would probably talk me out of it.
So... What say you? I don't see it as a hazard as I'd only be powering a few LEDs.
Thoughts?
As far as aesthetics goes, I figure, it's your game, do what you like.
Some people will adhere to purist ideals and say you shouldn't change anything. But that's an aesthetic choice in and of itself. Many people have this tendency to want to personalize objects they own, or even add adornments to their own bodies. Motor vehicles, computers, houses, even mobile phones, get this kind of treatment, and there are probably dozens if not hundreds of common examples elsewhere in consumer goods. Why not pinball machines?
Personally, I keep my machines as close to original as I can. I'm even loathe to replace incandescent lamps with LEDs in spite of the benefits of maintenance and visibility. But then, I also think jacked-up pickup trucks and lowered Honda Civics look pretty stupid too. Obviously there are lots of people who disagree with me, and I think that's fine. As long as they don't want to modify my truck or car or pin or whatever, more power to them.
The one exception to this would depend on how you view your ownership of the machine. Some people treat pinball machine collection as an act of historical stewardship. If you feel that way about the hobby, then you probably should be keeping your machines in original condition. But otherwise, whatever you like seems perfectly fine to me. And even in the case of stewardship, as long as the machine is easily restored to its original condition, then as long as the temporary change makes you happy, go for it.
All that said, I doubt you need a power supply that large for some basic LED lighting, and I'm a bit wary of any non-UL/ETL-certified product, especially sold on Amazon, and especially from China. Way too many stories of cheap Chinese Amazon-sold electronics bursting into flames, usually involving lithium ion batteries, but sometimes just bad wiring.
I would look for a smaller sealed power adapter that has just the voltage you need, and is rated closer to what you need (add up all your LEDs watts, divide by 80%, and make sure your power supply is at least that big), and make sure it's certified by UL, ETL, or both.
Fredericksburg, VA
