Fuse blown? Got any other mods drawing current?

Check all your fuses. I think the ColorDMD runs off both the 5 volts and 12 volts, right?

Please check/replace fuse at F116 (12V unregulated). This is the same circuit that drives the playfield optos which is the reason the balls are cycling.

Randy

And it's doubtful this will be a permanent solution. You will probably need to run your colordmd 12v off a separate power supply. Sometimes the older boards don't handle the added load well.

I've found this to be more often than not. Running mods off the existing 12v supply is asking for trouble.

Or properly fix the issue you are having with the 12v on your board. You don't need an external power supply to run a ColorDMD, but sometimes installing one can bring existing issues with no symptoms out of the woodwork.

Can anyone point to a guide online on how to run the ColorDMD off a separate power supply? I'm getting the fuse blowing when I plug in a bunch of LED strips on top of the ColorDMD - if I unplug them the ColorDMD runs fine. So I need to run one of them off the board but have no idea how to do this. Thanks

http://www.alliedelec.com/search/productdetail.aspx?sku=70231591&mkwid=7j1lGlDc&pcrid=48729577579&gclid=CKvj0Mu-t8ICFQVafgods3QAQg

pinballinreno - What does this connect to? Do you have something like this already installed? Thanks

Yes, more info would be great thanks - I assume this plugs into the service outlet? And then the colour DMD connects to this somehow?

Yep it is a fuse. Same thing happened to my TNG with a colorDMD.

F116 will be blown if you have the same issue. Changed the fuse and it has not blown since.

Maybe check the fuse? There is an off chance someone replaced it with the wrong fuse and that's the reason it's blowing.

I have it running into the wall outlet with a switch tapped into the wire, through a cabinet vent.

I guess you could also plug it into the service outlet inside the cab.

Do you have any other mods, like the jackpot lights, LED strips etc, running off 12V in the backbox? If you do, try disconnecting all of them and see if the fuse still blows.

You can get a cheap 12v power supply from Amazon like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Power-Supply-LCD-Monitor/dp/B003TUMDWG

To test you can use your service port. Cut off the round tip and use a 4 position idc like this http://www.alliedelec.com/search/productdetail.aspx?SKU=70042755. Use the two middle pins and push the wires in so the positive is on the right (pin 3 from left) when the idc prongs are facing up and the ground on pin 2. Then plug that into your color DMD power. You can use the color DMD aux port to run the LED strips after.

Once you get that working, locate the black and white wires that run from your games power switch to the coindoor. These are 120v AC and live for a bill accepter. With the game off, you can patch into these and wire nut the wires from the power plug portion that runs into your service outlet into these wires. After this, the 12v power supply will be powered by the games power switch.

Very nicely done markmon! I'm making these changes now.

So I've run into the same problem on my IJ after installing the Color DMD. I'm running the IJ topper from Tilt Toppers and it is already drawing power to feed the topper so after installing the Color DMD fuse F116 is blowing. I want to keep the topper cause I think it is excellent so I'm working on the fix via Markmon's instructions.

I have a couple of questions. The power supply coming into the Color DMD with the IDC connector supplied by Color DMD has three wires that connect to the Color DMD board via an IDC connector that is powered from J116 . What Markmon suggests is only two wires from 12v power supply through the IDC connector and into the Color DMD board. What's the 3rd wire for and will it hurt the Color DMD if I don't have this 3rd wire?

I also wanted to confirm that the Color DMD is a 12v supply for IJ. When I installed the Color DMD into my LOTR it says to plug the power supply into the 5v/12v power source on the manchine. So is this a 12v adapter or a 5v adaptor I have to buy? I don't want to blow anything up due to my ignorance.

Thanks for any help getting My IJ back up and running. The Color DMD looked awesome for the 20 minutes it was on before the fuse blew.

QSS

The ColorDMD won't work without all three wires. They bring 12V, 5V, and ground to the ColorDMD circuit board. Both 5V and 12V are needed.

You can turn down the backlight setting on the ColorDMD to reduce the current pulled by the display but it's likely the added combined current for the topper and the ColorDMD will continue to blow the fuse.

You can get this from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002OV1VJW

This provides a power supply that has both 12v and 5v. I've used these several times for pinball mods and threw the hard drive stuff in the trash.

Do you need to re-wire the adaptor? Tempted to buy a couple of these.

After reading some of the reviews, there is no way I would have 1 of those in my house and I sure wouldn't connect it to a $400 ColorDMD.

"Smell, spark, fizzle, pop! That's about the sequence of events after I plugged in the power supply for its 3rd use... The hard drive was connected to the adapter at that time and I'm not yet sure if it's shot. Good thing that it happened while I was right there! The power supply obviously has a defect (as confirmed by other reviews) and the seller shrugs it off saying that it's out of the 30 day warranty period. STAY AWAY from this item! It's not worth the savings..."

I looked around a bit for 5V 12V power supplies and found this company.

http://www.coolerguys.com/extps.html

If you look at their about page, it's obvious they take pride in their company and their reputation with US made components.

http://www.coolerguys.com/aboutus.html

The Mean Well external power supplies seem to be a good well-made product.
This is the one I have powering my ColorDMD and Laserriffic topper in MM:

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Supply-Dual-Output-Volt/dp/B005T7EZM8

Jints,

If you're interested in trying a separate supply, the one DCFAN points out is one that I helped him install in your former MM. I'd be glad to help you as well. Just let me know.

I just ran into the same exact issue. Williams IJ running fine for months with the ColorDMD. Added the Tilttopper IJ topper a few weeks ago and fuse F116 just burnt out. The ColorDMD went dark, the topper went dark and the machine kept cycling the balls though. Replaced fuse F116 and everything is now ok !

I read through this thread and im not sure about adding in the external power supply for the Color DMD. That looks complicated and the Color DMD by itself worked fine for months and I think adding in the new topper which also runs off the same circuit was just one too many mods and that blew the fuse.

I am thinking if I simply take the topper off the circuit and run that off external power that would be an easier fix for me. I have read that some people hang toppers as wall art and power them with an AC adapter without a pinball machine.

Does anyone here know how to run a topper off an AC adapter?

thanks for your input!

they are simple to wire up, get a switching power supply and a lamp cord. wire the lamp cord to the "L" (line) and "N" ( neutral) on the PS you will have +12, +5, GRND, maybe -12. use the +12 , +5 and grnd for your dmd and the +12 and grnd for the topper, plug the lamp cord into the service plug in the cab. easy peasy.

Hello, I am now having this same issue on my Judge Dredd with ColorDMD, LCDOCD, and GIOCD. The new ColorDMDs only require 12V and 1A. I have bought an external 12v supply that I want to power it with, and have it on switched power. I would appreciate any guidance before splicing it in - which wires to splice into, which screws to wire under, etc. Any suggestions or is there a good resource online that outlines this? I know the older ColorDMDs were both 12v and 5v, but Randy says the new ones are only 12v.

Thank you for your time and consideration

For reference, link to 12v power supply: (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWUQH3E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00)

Search thread about color DMD in a gotlieb machine. Sorry so don't how to post the thread link. In that thread Pinsider way out explains the process on how to use an external power supply to power a color DMD.
This may help you. I'm also planning to do this in GNR and the getaway.

Correction!!! Check thread about data east speaker noise , ideas for a cure.

I too have gotten a Color DMD (fantastic I might add!) and have the F116 (+12VDC) fuse occasionally blow. I'm a EE, so I can sort thru the schematics. But one question I haven't found an answer to is what is the typical +12V current draw on Judge Dredd (sorry, I know this is a IJ thread, thought I would ask anyway since I really didn't see a problem specific thread but this one is related) w/no mods? No intentions of ever putting anything but a 3A fuse in for F116, but what is the supply (including the transformer) rated for w/respect to current? What is the weakest link in the +12V unregulated supply? Transformer or diode bridge (that's the only 2 components that's really in there)? There is a 15,000uF cap to filter, I guess that could be lossy - has that ever been a problem? I guess worst case, I just buy a +12V, +5V supply and run the DMD off of that.

I didn't see any +12V mods added, maybe one is hiding somewhere... I guess I could buy a clamp on current probe and monitor on a scope for the peak currents.

Apologies for all the questions and slightly hijacking the thread!

mbwalker - I wish I could answer your question but I am not sure how. I eventually replaced my power driver board with a Rottendog and my F116 fuse issue went away. Contrary to what I said above I have since added Pin Stadiums to my JD via an external power supply, but kept everything else on the new power driver board (ColorDMD, OCD boards, Pinsub board...).

Thanks Nip. I actually bought a clamp on DC current probe for a scope. I'll do some investigative work on my end when I get it. The probe will show current vs. time on a scope, ought to be interesting. The 12V (actually about 15V) remained rather solid even when everything was firing tho.

My wpc95 Mediëval Castle going nuts after installing a color dmd.
When pushing both flippers buttons the opto's goes crazy (castle gate opens and balltrue fires softly).
After disconnect the lcd display everything works.

I have to say i have 4 flippers connected in my design , when pushed you see the gi lights blinking also.

So now i powerd the display with a pc power supply.
Al problems are history even the blinking from the gi.
Mods like Colordmd can stress your powersupply because the extra 12 volt needed if your 12 volt is not 100%.

I bought this but I am a bit confused about how to hook it up to the Color DMD. I understand that the existing gray wire is 5v and therefore goes to +V1, and the gray and yellow wire is 12V and goes to +V2, but to what is the black wire attached (one of the COMs?). Thanks for helping me to sort this out.

Yes

Here are some pictures of where mine is connected to the game. The way I have the power supply mounted it is a little tight to view well. The black and white with the connector in the first picture power the meanwell after the game switch so it turns off when the game is off.

152001D3-613A-485E-92DA-27019C480225 (resized).jpeg56BF87B4-7B3D-4962-A894-33D68664F4BF (resized).jpeg62C29C6D-A497-4287-BC00-4A2CD41C3DF6 (resized).jpeg

The reason why I have two wires off of V2 is because I ran one 12 volts to the topper and the colordmd.

Thanks! I'll try hooking the existing black wire up to one of the COMs.

Herg did most of the original install of the power supply for me for the ColorDMD, and then I decided to swap it out with a higher power supply and add the topper to it. I guess I did not adhere to the wire color schemes so sorry if that makes it a little more confusing. Yellow is the traditional color for 12 volts and red for 5 volts.

I believe the old/smaller supply was used to power a Pinsound (or probably/maybe the ColorDMD so the game would not be as taxed powering the Pinsound) in Jints56's GNR . The smaller supply was enough for a ColorDMD but was not enough for multiple items.

Thanks for all of the info. I truly was not expecting pictures! All the best - Craig

P.S. Thanks again. Installation was easy and flawless, and the fuse has stopped blowing.

Thanks DCFAN for these posts. Last night I added the switching power supply to my CFTBL. It was nice not to blow the F116 fuse for once.