(Topic ID: 178681)

Bulbs immediatly burning out during attract mode

By bpa

7 years ago


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#1 7 years ago

I am converting my Genesis over to led lighting and I am having an issue where some of the controlled lamps go out. I replace them with another bulb, fire up the machine and the bulb will flash during attract mode and then burn out...literally (checked continuity on the bulb). The problem first started on the body parts bulbs at the back of the play field but I also have the problem on the ABC lights and the green ramp entrance light. Does this usually mean there is too much voltage? I can measure the sockets when the machine is running. I am assuming one probe on the socket an another on ground?

#2 7 years ago
Quoted from bpa:

I am assuming one probe on the socket an another on ground?

One probe on the socket or bracket, the other on the round tip on the end of the socket.

#3 7 years ago

I'm fairly new to pins, but from working on other things. I would guess that the voltage is too high if bulbs are burning out quickly. That's where I would start looking first too. I'll bet they are bright though!!

#4 7 years ago

Yes it is brighter than normal. It seems like many of my controlled lamps are burning out. It is hard to get a voltage level in attract mode and the lamp test cycles through too quickly. I know you can hold one of the front buttons to stop on a light but I do not have a second pair of hands to help out right now. So in attract mode, I am getting upwards of 15V on lamps. Is this normal?

#5 7 years ago

Nope. That's way too high.
Do you have the Genesis manual?

You should have 6VDC.
Genesis uses a red-green-green (color code 255) wire to daisy chain 6VDC to each socket.
Since Gottlieb does NOT use a lamp matrix, and instead uses discrete transistors to drive lamps on, you can measure power at the lamp at any time. Red on either lamp solder tab, but let's use the red-green-green one. Black on game ground. Should read about 6VDC.
--
Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
http://www.ChrisHiblerPinball.com/Contact
http://www.PinWiki.com - The Place to go for Pinball Repair Info

#6 7 years ago

Yes I do

#8 7 years ago

On page 45, there is a bridge, lowest bridge on the right. That's the one that rectifies the AC into about 6VDC. If you have more than 6VDC at the lamp socket, then either the bridge isn't connected properly or the bridge has failed in some oddball way.
--
Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
http://www.ChrisHiblerPinball.com/Contact
http://www.PinWiki.com - The Place to go for Pinball Repair Info

#9 7 years ago

Ok. I will check that out. Is it also possible over voltage can happen if a lamp socket was touching something else on the play field? I decided to inspect all the sockets underneath because I remember bending a couple back to fit a bulb in instead of unscrewing the socket mount screw and one socket was touching a switch for one of the kickback targets (i think thats what it was)

#10 7 years ago

The reason why I ask is there were a couple of suspect sockets and after making sure they were both not touching I am getting between 3 and 6 volts on control lamps during attract mode and bulbs are no longer burning out.

#11 7 years ago

Well there you go. Nice work. To answer your question, yes. If a lamp socket touches something of higher voltage like a coil or flasher circuit, that would happen. Nice work. You should be good to go.
--
Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
http://www.ChrisHiblerPinball.com/Contact
http://www.PinWiki.com - The Place to go for Pinball Repair Info

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