PSA for Stern LED’s…

I’ve seen at least a few posts on Node Overcurrent protection warnings on Stern games caused by faulty lamp sockets or (more often) LED’s. Here is a link to one such thread:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/spike-2-node-9-overcurrent-protection-gi-failure-stern-jple

I just fixed my third such issue on my Mandalorian, and fixed my first on JP today… All were caused by failed LED’s… Not sure where Stern is sourcing these LED lamps, but I am getting tired of removing and testing whole strings of GI. Wondering if anyone else is having this issue?

I just went through and re-lamped the bayonet and wedge socket lamps on JP and Mando with because I am tired of troubleshooting the same issue. Each time it has been a different node, and or different socket—so it has definitely been a high failure rate with the LED lamps. I used Cointaker LED’s as my replacement (I have had good luck with these in the past—but as a disclaimer, no idea if they are also Stern’s supplier).

Maybe I am just unlucky… I’ve had no issues with heavily modded Stranger Things or TMNT. Still, wondering if there was a bad batch that went out at some point? Both games were manufactured in the last 12 months and see very little play as HUO games. No mods on either pin. On the upside, it would appear that the node board overcurrent protection has been functioning as designed with shorted lamps, but given the unobtanium nature of node boards today--don't want to take any chances.