(Topic ID: 116440)

How does one read a schematic?

By RyanClaytor

9 years ago


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  • 29 posts
  • 18 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 9 years ago by kyle5574
  • Topic is favorited by 26 Pinsiders

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    #1 9 years ago

    Hi Pinsiders,

    Bear with me, I'm an artist.

    So, I feel a little weird saying this, but I don't really know how to read a schematic, nor do I know my way around a digital multi-meter. Are there any good tutorials out there to help out a hopeless (but INTERESTED) ludite like myself? I'd like to better understand how they'll help me fix my pins.

    Also, a couple of addendum questions: Are EM and Modern/Solid State schematics read the same way, or are they wildily different from one another? What is a reliable and inexpensive multimeter? I've been told mine is so unreliable that it's not worth using.

    Thanks for your time and understanding,
    Ryan Claytor
    Elephant Eater Comics
    www.ElephantEater.com

    #2 9 years ago

    EM and SS are similar, at least until you hit a board.

    Don't over think it. Every switch, every light, and every coil is on there.

    One a leaf blade switch sends a signal ( completes a part of a circuit ), the other a board sends a signal ( completes part of a circuit ).

    YouTube is littered with with short how to videos. Check it out for your meter.

    LTG : )™

    #3 9 years ago

    Ryan,

    You might want to clarify whether you're working on EM or SS; It sounds like you're doing SS based on that you're asking about multimeters, but still can't hurt.

    EM schematics are very straightforward in that it's all stacks of switches that are open or closed. That, and score motor position-related stuff.

    Solid state games involve lots of chips, obviously, and you're going to be seeing a lot of those in schematics. Reading SS schematics is a good skill to learn, but many common SS issues can be found on Pinwiki and diagnosed that way.

    Would love to help further, but the depth and breadth of your question is massive; some stuff is best learned on-the-fly, and you may want to let us know generally what you're trying to do.

    #4 9 years ago
    Quoted from Collin:

    ...you may want to let us know generally what you're trying to do.

    Well, I guess that generally I'm trying to not be such a dunce about working on my own pins. I have an art background and schematics frighten me. Ha-ha! I just don't even know where to start or what they mean, really, because I haven't had ANY electronics training.

    To get a little more specific, I'd like to do two things:

    1. I have a few pins of my own, mainly SS (but a couple EM's). I'd like to understand how the diagram might help me trouble-shoot minor problems. Example: I have a 1987 Gottlieb/Premier "Monte Carlo." It has 10 drop-targets scattered around the PF. None of them will reset into the up position. (They did not long ago.)

    2. I just purchased a project machine (1972 Williams "Swinger"). It's kind of a basket-case, with several things not working. Probably a topic for a different thread, but wondering where to start, and whether or not schematics would help.

    Again, my apologies for the rudimentary questions and thanks to those with the patience to walk me through them.

    Sincerely,
    Ryan Claytor
    Elephant Eater Comics
    http://www.ElephantEater.com

    #5 9 years ago

    Hey Ryan,

    To be honest with you, for solid state games, I generally check Pinwiki before anything else; a lot of issues are common, and I feel like Pinwiki is generally pretty good at hitting the highlights of things that can go wrong. I don't know Premier games well, but I'd check Pinwiki on the drop target reset issue.

    Just in general, if the game has a solenoid test, see if that'll raise the drop targets. Or, if they raise at the start of a game, that tells you something. The game is either not sensing targets being down (a switch issue), or a solenoid to raise them isn't firing (wiring/solenoid/board issue.)

    With the EM, sometimes people can talk you through stuff, but I'd definitely check out the schematic - I know most non-Gottlieb stuff is available for free on IPDB.

    Posting a couple game-specific threads may well help - I personally found it easier to ask questions on here, and have a schematic available to refer to, than to try to learn to read a schematic and brute-force my way through the schematic on my own.

    Just my $.02

    Collin

    #6 9 years ago

    http://www.team-em.com/ Make friends with Team EM.

    LTG : )™

    #8 9 years ago

    Pin Wiki is a great site, contains a lot of info now, although I rarely need to use it. I just did a quick search and did not find the reference info i wanted listed, in understanding how to read schematics you can study reference links like these. Schematics are basically your road map to what you are seeing on the PC board it's self. As LTG mentioned the IC chips are making the connections internally that you don't see.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reference_designator

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_symbol

    Finally found it, it's section EM games, 4.1.1 Schematics.

    http://tuukan.fliput.net/emkytkis_en.html

    #9 9 years ago
    Quoted from RyanClaytor:

    I just don't even know where to start or what they mean, really, because I haven't had ANY electronics training.

    ^ electronics training is the *best* foundation. ^ Take a night class or vocational course would be a better way to learn about electronics than self-training.

    As far as the schematic goes....the schematic is a road map of the circuits and parts in circuit, you will need to learn what the symbols represent. Even with understanding schematics diagram symbols, they will still be of limited use unless you learn some basics about electrical circuits and what the parts actually do.
    Much of the basics of schematics and electronics you should learn about:
    http://www.freeinfosociety.com/media/pdf/4446.pdf
    http://www.hobbyprojects.com/tutorial.html

    #10 9 years ago
    #11 9 years ago

    Thanks, all, for chiming in here. You've given me a ton of great resources to pour over.

    This is quite useful. Definitely helps to develop a basic understanding.

    Also, wayout440 mentioned...

    Quoted from wayout440:

    the schematic is a road map of the circuits and parts in circuit, you will need to learn what the symbols represent.

    ...and ccotenj, in that thread you linked to, number 3 on your list said:

    Quoted from ccotenj:

    3) take 5 minutes and learn the symbols... most of them are very straightfoward (such as normal switch states, coils, etc.)... there are only maybe half a dozen that are regularly used, so this doesn't take long...

    ...but in looking at this page:

    http://www.hobbyprojects.com/general_theory/circuit_symbols.html

    ...there are a lot more the 6 symbols. Any chance you could narrow down the list to those useful for trouble-shooting pinball machines?

    I'm still reading through a lot of these, but feel like I'm starting to build a basic understanding. Much appreciated, and for anyone else with helpful hints or additional resources, keep 'em coming!

    More thanks,
    Ryan Claytor
    Elephant Eater Comics
    http://www.ElephantEater.com

    #12 9 years ago

    Resistors, switches, diodes, and transistors are most of what you'll see, along with the symbol for ground and capacitors.

    #13 9 years ago
    Quoted from RyanClaytor:

    ...there are a lot more the 6 symbols. Any chance you could narrow down the list to those useful for trouble-shooting pinball machines?

    You'll need pretty much all of them. You won't need any of the vacuum tube symbols. You'll need a good understanding of the switches and relays for EM type games, and you will need a good understanding of solid state parts such as diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits if you work on solid state games. You'll find just about every symbol in modern game including speakers, batteries, transformers and more.

    You'll need to know wire connections and crossovers as well. Besides generic symbols, you'll need to understand how the pinball machine schematics are written. There are often keys for the wire colors, and keys for determining which boards connections such as jacks and plugs are connected too. More details can be provided on that when you actually pick a game and examine the schematics for it.

    #14 9 years ago

    You'll find when you reference the schematics against the real boards you will see the schematics are written in multiple fashions. You soon see that tracing a simple circuit requires a few pages to be opened at the same time as you reference the types of "artwork" on the pages depicting the circuitry.

    http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_4/chpt_6/1.html

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_diagram

    #15 9 years ago

    You might also consider signing up for an online electronics course. While many are way more into the theory side, plenty you can audit that have helpful components you can use to get a feel for how basic components work. I also recommend, mostly for the real basic basics - Forrest Mimms books.

    #16 9 years ago

    Just reading the schematic is only part of the story. IMO, you need to understand the job of each of the symbols to really decode the schematic and troubleshoot the circuit.

    As others have said, the EM schematics will be the easiest to learn to decode. Simple lamps, coils, relays, switches, motors and maybe resistors. All you will need is basic electric circuit theory and to learn each of the symbols.

    Trying to understand and troubleshoot SS or modern DMD game schematics will likely require quite a bit more schooling. I agree with some of the others, if this is your goal, a set of online courses or a few local college or tech school courses may be your best bet.

    Bottom line, just learning to READ them will not help TROUBLESHOOT them unless you understand each symbol's role in the circuit.

    #17 9 years ago

    Excellent points schwaggs. I've been able to read schematic symbols for years but only in the last year do I understand more and more what is going on. Troubleshooting and reading Clay's guides and other material really helps (Bally Theory of Pinball Machines for example). Working with actual circuits with something like an arduino also helps. Experience is the best teacher.

    #18 9 years ago

    Sorry if this sounds elite-ist... but you need to attend a 4year college and get an EE degree. Or at the very least attend some basic "technician" community college where they teach you how to understand the connection diagrams, symbols, and how you put these together.

    Maybe the best way for a layman to do it is take one of the heathkit courses which of course are no longer offered.

    I personally learned Electronics and how to run a DMM, oscope, logic probe, etc in my Vocational highschool electronics course. Those courses are the reason I went to college at got an EE degree.

    I'll leave the DIYs to come up with good resource you might be able use.

    #19 9 years ago

    it doesn't "sound elitist", it IS elitist, but that's ok...

    #20 9 years ago

    Point taken...
    The way I learned how to read a schematic in gradeschool was in playing with one of the old radio shack labs:
    http://www.radioshack.com/elenco-ep-130-electronic-playground-130/2800036.html
    http://www.radioshack.com/electronics-learning-lab-kit/2800055.html#.VMaJChTnaic
    You might want to act fast... as I wonder how long Radio Shack will remain In biz.

    #21 9 years ago

    Ahh you were serious huh buddy. I have DE Simpsons I am bringing in this weekend. It has all kinds of problems if you want to get your hands dirty and maybe learn a few things. We could go and tear apart that JP as well, I know you wanted to be involved with a topside teardown.

    #22 9 years ago

    Hey Ryan, here's several tutorials including reading schematics and using a meter.

    http://pinballrehab.com/1-articles/solid-state-repair/tutorials/147-solid-state-pinball-tutorials

    #23 9 years ago

    Ryan

    Thanks for posting this! I'm right there with you, I did a couple heathkit projects as a kid and have only a tenuous reach on reading a schematic, but I would love - LOVE - to read/watch a video on on a few of the "Basics of using a multimeter for testing pinball machines"

    Actually, I really wish pinball shows would offer a couple hour "how-to" clinics on some of these topics. Even beyond pin's, this would be really useful information.

    #24 9 years ago

    There are several episodes of Ray's tech tips that deal with using multimeters in pinball machines.

    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwSOD37NMgfyRdQ-c6bpSsD0yyj_gYtOe

    I don't recommend their later or non tech-tips videos. Some searching on Pinside and elsewhere will get you plenty of information on Gameroom Collectibles/GRC if you'd like to know about their business. Whatever else they have going on, Ray's tech tip videos are pretty darn good if you have the time to watch them.

    #25 9 years ago

    Here is a simple beginner tutorial of how to read schematics...
    http://www.instructables.com/id/HOW-TO-READ-CIRCUIT-DIAGRAMS/

    The major difference between Solid State pinball schematics and Electromechanic pinball schematics are the symbols involved.

    The SS pins use electronics symbols, the EM pinballs will use more electrical symbols since there technically are no electronics involved in EMs.

    #26 9 years ago
    Quoted from Zitt:

    Sorry if this sounds elite-ist... but you need to attend a 4year college and get an EE degree. Or at the very least attend some basic "technician" community college where they teach you how to understand the connection diagrams, symbols, and how you put these together.
    Maybe the best way for a layman to do it is take one of the heathkit courses which of course are no longer offered.
    I personally learned Electronics and how to run a DMM, oscope, logic probe, etc in my Vocational highschool electronics course. Those courses are the reason I went to college at got an EE degree.
    I'll leave the DIYs to come up with good resource you might be able use.

    No formal training here. Everything i got was self taught or i picked it up off my dad. I can make my way around a schematic, understand theory, and do quality pcb rework.

    #27 9 years ago

    These games were not intended to be serviced by electrical engineers

    #28 9 years ago

    To me its similar to looking at / using a road map.
    Its all about direction , flow and understanding what components actually do then following the path.

    Once you have a suspected problem you need to identify which path the problem is on then do some troubleshooting up stream and down stream to verify. Many times it could be a shorted ( grounded ) component on the playfiled or one that bridges other paths and it makes it more confusing to trouble shoot. These are the ones that the "fix" if often easy but finding it takes time.

    Other times a component on the board dies and its a very simple ID and fix.

    Get the basics, a decent multimeter and understand how to use it and what the settings actually do. Learn what the components in a pinball machine do and how they work. As to the schematics its following a line thru a maze of other lines but once you have an idea of how things work its a lot less intimidating and confusing. If you want to troubleshoot on the component level (learn what the IC ships do and test inputs and outputs ) you are going to the next level and will need a logic probe or scope.

    Often times a IC chip is not terrible expensive so replacing it without testing it is easy. Similar to testing bridge rectifiers that are cheap to replace and do not always test correctly 100%. Some people frown on this as a "shotgun" repair in replacing everything when only one item was bad.
    Personally when I rebuild power supplies I put everything new in because the parts are cheap and I like to work on boards / solder.

    A good temperature controlled soldering iron or station is a MUST if working on boards.
    A desoldering gun also makes board work enjoyable.

    Self taught here as well and a mechanical guy by profession ( Toolmaker)

    #29 9 years ago

    Reading a schematic won't help you unless you have a fundamental understanding of the components it describes. Pick up the "Make: Electronics" book and associated components kit. The book will give you the background you'll need, will teach you through hands-on experience, and will show you schematics basics. It starts you from scratch with no knowledge. It's mentioned and linked in this thread:
    https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/learning-electrical-engineering

    https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/learning-electrical-engineering#post-2075422
    https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/learning-electrical-engineering#post-2075695

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