Need your help guys. I was rebuilding my pop bumpers. The last one I did, I made a stupid mistake and installed the coil in backwards. Which means when I re-soldered the wires back on they were flip flopped. Started the pin and of course the pop I rebuilt wasn't working, other 3 did then stopped. Solenoid Fuse in back box was blown and I changed it and turned it on again and all coils stopped working. That is when I noticed I had the coil installed upside down and wires were backwards. Reinstalled and wired correctly but now the solenoid fuse blows as soon as I turn on pin or start a game. All coils dead but the flippers. As I'm pretty new to all this, could you guys give me some guidance on what to do next?
Thanks, Jack

The one on the coil you mean? Is there a way to check it without removing it from coil?

Got a meter. Not to good with it. Not much experience vid. Something you can explain easy to me? lol

I have replaced a broken transistor on the driver board that was broke and affected the left flipper. Ran across that by accident. I can do the soldering. Just not to proficient with the meter on what settings to use and which items to check. I know vid is the best. Has been a big help to me already before.

Thanks vid1900. Will try checking tomorrow. Do this with power on or off? On my Firepower any idea which transistors I need to check? or all of them until I find the bad one or ones? What reading would a bad one be?
Sorry if I'm a pain with all the questions.. Jack

Lower left pop right above the left stand up targets.

Thanks vid your the best... Will let you know tomorrow after I check.

meter.jpg
Now vid1900 I'm really confused. If I had my meter set correctly, I read Q4 and 1 leg reads 587, other leg 007. Thing is, I read 1/2 dozen more and they all read about the same. I did this power off. Boards still in pin and all cables connected...

Jack

P.S. Yes this is one of those cheap 7 function Harbor Freight Meters

Yes battery good vid. Actually the meter is new. I'm doing this with the boards still installed in the pin. The left leg read 007 right leg 583 Reverse leads red in hole reads 003 left leg. 783 right leg. Never get a zero reading. Does it make a difference that the boards are installed even though the power is off? Get these reading on all the surrounding transistors. Meter junk? All transistors junk? Without even hitting the start button, as soon as I turn on the power the 2.5 amp solenoid slow blow fuse pops

On my above photo, do I have the meter set correctly for this?

Right vid. That's what I was thinking too. With the meter set as above photo, without the leads touching anything or each other it was reading 1.
Time to buy a new meter. This was the free one they were giving away last week. Maybe I will try the one they sell with the audible tone. Will get back to you when I pick one up. Thanks

They do have a higher end model with the audible continuity mode.

Vid, Do you also believe that the coil diode on that pop coil is blown? Also What diodes do the coils use?

Okay will do. Will have to place order to PBL for Tip102's. Believe I have the In4004's and 2n4401's.
Just so I'm on track. As stated in my 1st post. All the coils quit working but the flipper coils because the fuse blows. So we still talking about the one coil that was wired backwards. Or now do I have to replace the diodes on all the coils?

Oh oh. Now I'm worried.. I happened to have a new TIP120 in a pkg. So I tried the HF meter on it. 438 on one leg, 630 on other leg. Reversed the leads. Both legs read 0. Does this mean I have a bunch of transistors blown? I mean it appears the meter is working according to the readings I got on the new transistor that was in the pkg.

Will do. Probably can't get to it until Wednesday. Placed an order with Pinball Life. Probably have by Thursday.

Got the diode replaced on the coil and back installed in the playfield. Will remove the boards tomorrow and cut the transistor out and test it. Hopefully I get the order from Pinball Life on Thursday. I hate waiting for things. lol

Hi Vid.. Removed the Q4 Tip Transistor from the board. Test Readings. 002 - 576, Reversed 002 - 000. As of this morning, Pinball Life hasn't shipped Transistors yet.
Surrounding Tip102's tested good as per your instructions. 450-603 range & 0 both sides when reversed.
How do I test the 2N4401's? Black on center leg? And test like the Tip102's? Or different setting on meter and what should they test good at?
Thanks, Jack

For the coils I switched me new meter to it's lowest Ohm setting of 200. I checked all 4 coils and the read 4.2 to 4.3 is this correct?

Thanks Vid as always.. Had some 4401's on hand and already replaced it without even checking old one. Now just waiting on the TIP102's to come. They were shipped yesterday. Illinois to Michigan should come fast.

Checked all the other Tip102's and N4401's and are in spec.

Vid1900, your the man!! Just got the parts today. Put in the TIP102, checked that it was good. Installed the boards back in. Turned on power. No coil lock, no blown fuse. Pushed start, viola! All slings and pops working just fine!
Thank you buddy, I can't thank you enough for all your help and patience that you have giving me to help me get through this. One more pop to rebuild and I should be good. I won't make that previous mistake again! That and I'm learning how to use my meter thanks to you. I did notice one of the previous pops is not scoring, but will check the switch for loose connection and a cleaning or adjustment. It will make going to work for the over night shift tonight much easier now that I know my pin is fixed. Thank you thank you thank you!
Jack

Vid1900, looks like back to square one. Played two games today. last ball, the score display flashed. sound funny, so I cut power. Later today, turned on seemed ok. Looked down and saw ball in trough below the flippers that had not kicked up the shoot. Checked solenoid fuse was blown again. Changed fuse. Powered up, started game. noticed the LED displays went out again and left flipper was dead. All the coils seem to be working fine and fuse not blowing. Any idea what this new problem is? Should I pull the boards and start checking the transistors again? Should all the pre & driver transistors on the system 6 board test .4 - .6?
Jack

Ok, I got the led displays to come back on. either a dirty or mis-seated molex cable. The left flipper come back on for 2 weak flips then quit again. I had replaced a pre-driver transistor for the left flipper before because I had noticed that a leg broke off when I touched it about 2 months ago. Does one of the molex cables on the driver board control the left flipper?
P.S. The one pop that wasn't scoring, the switch was on wrong side of yoke. lol

Sorry. just noticed 2J12 connector pin #2 is left flipper enable.

All is resolved. Leds and flippers now working. Dirty connection on 2J12 cable. Cleaned it up and working fine again. Need to get that molex and connector replaced.
Thanks again Vid.