(Topic ID: 258853)

My flipper coil makes loud buzz when activated, should I be concerned?

By MoSeS_1592

4 years ago



Topic Stats

  • 6 posts
  • 3 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 4 years ago by zacaj
  • Topic is favorited by 1 Pinsider

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#1 4 years ago

I have restored a System 9 Space Shuttle and the flippers work perfectly, except the right flipper makes a noticeably loud hum/buzzing noise when the flipper is activated. Even my wife asked if she was going to get electrocuted when she heard it lol. Anyways, I checked voltages and EOS switches and everything is as it should be. Anyone know what could be causing this noise? It looks like the original coil. I'm ok leaving it as-is, I just don't want to risk damage to the driver transistor or CPU board if there is risk of something shorting out.

#2 4 years ago

There is no driver transistor, it's powered directly through the cab switches. Newer games buzz because they're being pulsed through a transistor, but that's not the case here. Usually a buzz on an older game with DC flippers is due to the eos not opening, or miswired.

Coil isn't getting hot after play?

Tried re-mounting the coil stop?

If you hold the plunger while it's buzzing, does it stop?

#3 4 years ago
Quoted from zacaj:

There is no driver transistor, it's powered directly through the cab switches. Newer games buzz because they're being pulsed through a transistor, but that's not the case here. Usually a buzz on an older game with DC flippers is due to the eos not opening, or miswired.
Coil isn't getting hot after play?
Tried re-mounting the coil stop?
If you hold the plunger while it's buzzing, does it stop?

Coil gets just a little warm. If I hold the flipper down when the coil is activated and slowly let the flipper rise to it's full upper position then oddly enough, no buzzing.

Regarding coil stop, why could that be the problem?

#4 4 years ago
Quoted from MoSeS_1592:

Regarding coil stop, why could that be the problem?

Because the buzzing you’re hearing could be vibration of the flipper plunger against the coils stop.

#5 4 years ago
Quoted from chuckwurt:

Because the buzzing you’re hearing could be vibration of the flipper plunger against the coils stop.

Thanks for clarifying that! Makes sense.

#6 4 years ago
Quoted from MoSeS_1592:

Thanks for clarifying that! Makes sense.

Technically since these are directly powered DC coils, there shouldn't be any vibration. Plunger should just move all the way and stop when it hits the stop. But in AC/PWM flippers, the vibration against the stop is what causes the sound

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