Data East ball trough opto board: *READY*

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/interest-check-data-east-ball-trough-opto-board-

Hello Everyone,

Status 2023:
Batch is ready.
Price is $125 shipped.
I can offer a plug&play power supply harness for $20.

Without plug&play harness, 12V is required from backbox or from external supply (in case you have many mods, extra supply is recommended anyway).

************

Status 2021 batch:
***Status January 2021: 30 slot reserved.
***Status February 2021: material purchasing is in progress.
***Status 2nd February 2021: manufacturing is in progress.
***Status April 2021: shipping.
***Status Sep 2022: SOLD OUT

Original post:

I'm checking to see if there is enough interest to run another Data East opto board batch for 2021.
Price is $115 shipped. Leadtime is depends of quantity, about 2-3 months.

2020 year's batch is sold out.

Do you have issues with ball trough micro switches? Do you have to often open the coin door to push the balls? Do you have to wait after ball drain and/or shake the pin due to unresponsive switches? This board will solve these issues.

The ball trough design by Data East is not the most reliable mech in pinball. I have tried new microswitches, old Cherry switches, finetuned the angle - without stable result. I have also sanded the ball trough.

Then, I started to think about a non-contact based solution. There is a reason why Bally/Williams introduced opto boards, and the answer is not cost saving.
My goal was to create an opto board, without any modification of ball trough (no drilling): this means a transceiver and receiver in 1 board, 2 in 1. Therefore, the classic solution (infrared light interrupted by ball), doesn't work here.
12V is required from backbox or from external supply (in case you have many mods, extra supply is recommended anyway). I can offer a plug&play power supply harness.
Other than that, the board use the existing trough wiring.

No more waiting after ball drain, no more ball search due to clogging.

Compatibility:
Jurassic Park
Guns n' Roses
Tales from the Crypt
Last Action Hero
Tommy

Should work, but we do not have test results:
WWFRR

DE BT.gifDE BT.jpg

2020 history:

Hello Everyone,
I'm checking to see if there is enough interest to run another batch for 2020. The run will be limited to 40 pieces.
***Status 17th November 2019: 20 slot reserved. List is open for few more days to give a chance for others.
***Status 29th December: material purchasing is in progress. Planned ship date: March, 2020.
***Status 3rd February 2020: manufacturing is in progress. Everything is on track.
***Status 15th March: manufacturing is almost ready, check your Inbox! Let me know if I missed your name.
***Status 2nd of April: shipped, except Australian parcels due to restrictions.

Post last edited 9 months ago: “2021 update”

#2 4 years ago

Cyrus

Pinside member

8y 68,300 280 17

OP
Quoted from Davi:
Hello Everyone,
I'm checking to see if there is enough interest to run another batch for 2020. The run will be limited to 20 pieces.
Do you have issues with ball trough micro switches? Do you have to often open the coin door to push the balls? Do you have to wait after ball drain and/or shake the pin due to unresponsive switches? This board will solve these issues.
The ball trough design by Data East is not the most reliable mech in pinball. I have tried new microswitches, old Cherry switches, finetuned the angle - without stable result. I have also sanded the ball trough.
Then, I started to think about a non-contact based solution. There is a reason why Bally/Williams introduced opto boards, and the answer is not cost saving.
My goal was to create an opto board, without any modification of ball trough (no drilling): this means a transceiver and receiver in 1 board, 2 in 1. Therefore, the classic solution (infrared light interrupted by ball), doesn't work here.
No more waiting after ball drain, no more ball search due to clogging.
Compatibility:
Jurassic Park
Guns n' Roses
Tales from the Crypt
Should work, but we do not have test results:
Tommy
Last Action Hero
WWFRR
Price is the same as first batch: $70 plus shipping ($15-20). Send me a PM in case you are interested (next batch is without T-rex logo).
[quoted image][quoted image]

Count me in.

#3 4 years ago

SMD

Draegermeister

Pinside member

Plainfield, IL

10y 61,300 175 3 12

Need one. My GNR thinks it’s a five shooter...

#4 4 years ago

PAL

ruralcollector

Pinside member

Alexandria, MN

6y 66,550 325 9

Shoot, put me down.

#5 4 years ago

P1N

P1nhead

Mödley Crüe

4y 96,550 1,652

I'm picking up TFTC in May of 2020 (a gift from my father-in-law's collection). I've played the table a bunch without ball trough issues, how many people pick one of these up and just install it prophylactically?

#6 4 years ago

PAL

ruralcollector

Pinside member

Alexandria, MN

6y 66,550 325 9

Quoted from P1nhead:
I'm picking up TFTC in May of 2020 (a gift from my father-in-law's collection). I've played the table a bunch without ball trough issues, how many people pick one of these up and just install it prophylactically?

I have a TFTC and the issue wasn’t present when I purchased it in August, but now it seems like I’m constantly adjusting the ball trough and it drives me absolutely bonkers. This is pretty much a no brainer for me.

#7 4 years ago

DIG

BuckNaked

Pinside member

Nijmegen

4y 34,900 25 3

PM sent

#8 4 years ago

GMK

grantopia

Pinside member

For sure interested. Would they just use the existing trough wiring?

#9 4 years ago

DAV

Davi

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from grantopia:
For sure interested. Would they just use the existing trough wiring?

12V is required from backbox or from external supply (in case you have many mods, extra supply is recommended anyway). I can offer a plug&play power supply harness.
Other than that, the board use the existing trough wiring.

#10 4 years ago

STU

Pinballer73

Pinside+ Frequent

Moe

12y 78,050 2,423

Count me in for a set please.

#11 4 years ago

GMK

grantopia

Pinside member

OP
Quoted from Davi:
12V is required from backbox or from external supply (in case you have many mods, extra supply is recommended anyway). I can offer a plug&play power supply harness.
Other than that, the board use the existing trough wiring.

Awesome thanks. Definitely in for one. I can just make a quick harness too if it's obvious where the 12v should be pulled from.

#12 4 years ago

BAD

ImNotNorm

Pinside member

6y 143K 6,896 98

Are you selling any 3D printed boxes for the external power supply like you did for JP?

#13 4 years ago

DAD

tonyhoff1

Pinside member

Parma, OH

8y 53,900 871 26

I’m in.

#14 4 years ago

DAV

Davi

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from grantopia:
Awesome thanks. Definitely in for one. I can just make a quick harness too if it's obvious where the 12v should be pulled from.

That's an easy and quick task.

#15 4 years ago

DAV

Davi

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from ImNotNorm:
Are you selling any 3D printed boxes for the external power supply like you did for JP?

Yes, it's possible. I need to know the dimensions of power supply and also the name of the pin.

#16 4 years ago

DAV

Davi

Pinside+ Addict

Thanks for the intense interest - only 6 slot left.

#17 4 years ago

JEF

Juicerc51

Pinside+ Frequent

Bellbrook, OH

5y 52,550 202 9

OP
Quoted from Davi:
Thanks for the intense interest - only 6 slot left.

I am in for one.

#18 4 years ago

P1N

P1nhead

Mödley Crüe

4y 96,550 1,652

I'm in for one.

#19 4 years ago

DVW

DorkVonWaterfall

Pinside member

Ikast

8y 37,300 225 1

could you offer a DIY option? I mean, i can can handle a solder iron , and if the price is right, i would buy one too?

#20 4 years ago

DAV

Davi

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from DorkVonWaterfall:
could you offer a DIY option? I mean, i can can handle a solder iron , and if the price is right, i would buy one too?

I can't provide assembly drawing, and won't have time to create instructions how to place and adjust the optos correctly. So DIY is not an option, sorry.
Especially now - only 1 slot left out of the announced 20 pieces.

#21 4 years ago

JOK

Jarson

PinShades

Valdosta, GA

7y 54,050 195 20 1

I’m in

#22 4 years ago

DAV

Davi

Pinside+ Addict

In 2 days, we are at the limit, amazing!
Therefore, I will keep the list open for few days to give a chance for others.
Thanks guys for intense interest.

#23 4 years ago

BAT

Iwasthebruce

Pinside member

Melbourne, FL

4y 51,300 181 5 11 1

Hm, I guess I'll be a guinea pig for LAH, put me down for one, please!

#24 4 years ago

P1N

P1nhead

Mödley Crüe

4y 96,550 1,652

Quoted from Iwasthebruce:
Hm, I guess I'll be a guinea pig for LAH, put me down for one, please!

Would you please post your results back in this thread? Thanks!

#25 4 years ago

AJO

gump79

Pinside member

Buffalo, NY

10y 52,800 97 35

I’m in for one

#26 4 years ago

koops

Pinside member

8y 60,900 1,066

What about starwars DE? Are these the same?

#27 4 years ago

BAD

ImNotNorm

Pinside member

6y 143K 6,896 98

OP
Quoted from Davi:
Yes, it's possible. I need to know the dimensions of power supply and also the name of the pin.

I'll send you a PM shortly.

#28 4 years ago

DAV

Davi

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from koops:
What about starwars DE? Are these the same?

As I know, Starwars DE has an older version ball trough, not the 6-pack assembly.

#29 4 years ago

BAT

Iwasthebruce

Pinside member

Melbourne, FL

4y 51,300 181 5 11 1

Quoted from P1nhead:
Would you please post your results back in this thread? Thanks!

I most certainly will!

#30 4 years ago

koops

Pinside member

8y 60,900 1,066

OP
Quoted from Davi:
As I know, Starwars DE has an older version ball trough, not the 6-pack assembly.

*slaps forehead* of course. I'm an idiot Thanks.

Add me to the list.

1 x jp + wiring harness
1 x gnr + wiring harness

#31 4 years ago

JEF

Juicerc51

Pinside+ Frequent

Bellbrook, OH

5y 52,550 202 9

Is someone doing the harness? I must have missed that.

#32 4 years ago

koops

Pinside member

8y 60,900 1,066

Quoted from Juicerc51:
Is someone doing the harness? I must have missed that.

In the first post.

OP
Quoted from Davi:
Hello Everyone,
<snip>
12V is required from backbox or from external supply (in case you have many mods, extra supply is recommended anyway). I can offer a plug&play power supply harness.

1 week later

#33 4 years ago

???

djh00000

Pinside+ Frequent

Southport, NC

12y 75,050 557

I'm in

#34 4 years ago

BTF

PinballManiac40

Pinside+ Frequent

14y 234K 17,615 104

I would like to put one in my JP as my project is currently missing all the trough switches.

#35 4 years ago

TOM

PBFan

Pinside member

10y 60,300 673

If there was any more available I would take one.

2 weeks later

#36 4 years ago

CCC

Crafty

Pinside member

Adelaide

7y 20,400 34 9

I'm definitely down for one. Posted to Oz

#37 4 years ago

DAV

Davi

Pinside+ Addict

The list is almost full, 4 slots left. Don't miss it, last call

1 week later

#38 4 years ago

DAV

Davi

Pinside+ Addict

Update: material purchasing is in progress.

1 month later

#39 4 years ago

DAV

Davi

Pinside+ Addict

Update:
Manufacturing is in progress. Everything is on track.

1 month later

#40 4 years ago

DAV

Davi

Pinside+ Addict

Update:

***Status 15th March: manufacturing is almost ready, check your Inbox! Let me know if I missed your name.

1 week later

#41 4 years ago

CJY

cysnake

Pinside member

Pittsburgh, PA

13y 35,650 85 6

Interested if you have any left!

#42 4 years ago

JKG

jugood20

Pinside member

Vienna, VA

6y 37,550 166 2 10

Any more of these available? Thanks

#43 4 years ago

DAV

Davi

Pinside+ Addict

***Status 2nd of April: shipped, except Australian parcels due to restrictions.

#44 4 years ago

???

djh00000

Pinside+ Frequent

Southport, NC

12y 75,050 557

Thanks for the update.

#45 4 years ago

GMK

grantopia

Pinside member

Oh yeah! Can't wait!

#46 4 years ago

CJM

CrisUK

Pinside member

Ellesmere

9y 19,650 28 1

Fantastic!

Is there a fitting guide, or is it pretty simple?

Cheers

Cris

#47 4 years ago

DAV

Davi

Pinside+ Addict

Quoted from CrisUK:
Fantastic!
Is there a fitting guide, or is it pretty simple?
Cheers
Cris

I am going to prepare a step by step guide with pictures.
The installation is easy.

#48 4 years ago

BUD

cbudmgui

Pinside apprentice

Lyon

6y 11,500 2 1

PM for 1 x jp + plug&play power supply harness.

1 week later

#49 4 years ago

DIG

BuckNaked

Pinside member

Nijmegen

4y 34,900 25 3

Received mine today. Neatly packaged in a plastic box to protect it during shipping. Board also looks great, well assembled. Hopefully will have some time this weekend to install.

Davi Thanks!

20200416_203623 (resized).jpg

20200416_203836 (resized).jpg

#50 4 years ago

GMK

grantopia

Pinside member