REPLACING THE ENTIRE CORD
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Oftentimes, you need to replace the entire cord.
It could be:
1. The game is going into a commercial environment and replacement plugs are not allowed.
2. The cord is damaged, worn or brittle.
3. The game is an older EM that never had a 3 conductor, grounded cord
4. The game has been acquired without a cord (re-import or salvaged).
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Q: What kind of cord do I get?
A: Get an IEC style cord. They are $1 at any mom & pop computer store - usually piled up in bulk in a big cardboard box. Choose one with the thickest diameter cord, but really any computer cord will probably be fine. Most say 10-15 Amps on them, and no pinball machine draws more than 5 amps.
Get a long length, like 12 or more feet (most building codes require an outlet every 6 feet).
If you have a modern pinball machine ( mid 1990's or later) the IEC plug will just plug into a receptacle on the back of the game - no wiring required.
If you have an older game, you will cut off the female end of the IEC plug and solder in the wires directly.
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Q: All the little computer shops are out of business around my house, where else can I get a cord?
A: You can buy a 15 foot, 16 gauge, white or black extension cord from any hardware store (don't buy orange, or you will look like an amateur ), and cut off the female end.
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Q: Shouldn't I just just buy an "Appliance Replacement Cord"?
A: No, those are three times the money of just buying an extension cord of the same length and gauge, don't ask me why.
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Q: I cut the female end of of the cord, but the internal wires are Blue, Brown and Green/Yellow stripe ! Now what?????
A: Don't panic, those are Euro colors, and everything is still fine:
Blue = Neutral
Brown = Hot
Green/Yellow = Ground
(even if there were crazy color wires inside the jacket, just get your meter out and figure what conductor goes to what prong)
IEC cord.jpg
Cable-Colors-Euro.jpg