Might not have been cost savings. Easier to get UL Approval where it is.

Surprised no one has made a mod for this yet.

LTG : )

To me I have no problem with it at all on my GB Pro. With the transformer in the cab with other games it only makes sense to put the switch under the game close to it, same goes for the new Spike games which is close to the power source. I see no sense running the switch all the way down to under the cab. Get over it people.

It is not "only" a cost saving. It also cuts down on EMI/RFI and that is a very important design consideration.

We have had to go to extreme lengths to get our new machine to comply with EU regulations relating to electromagnetic interference and by putting the switch right next to the switching supply in the headbox I suspect Stern has avoided a lot of these compliance issues and thus costs.

Just my $0.02 from a design point of view - I am certainly not suggesting that it should be done but offering a reason why it might have been done?

I don't own a game with the switch in the head but I could see where it would be annoying for operators or home owners. Don't know what to do about it though. It makes sense from a cost standpoint for Stern so I don't think they will change it. Can anybody name anything that Stern has done to the structure of a pin that improved the quality or function? Maybe the Spike system?

I'm not a person that likes to sing the praises of 90s pins but those did feel like they were improving on the tech. Maybe Stern hasn't had the chance to improve the functionality of a pin till this recent upswing in interest.

Yup, close to the power source.

I still hate it. All of my games have the button in the exact same location... Except SPIKE games. I did some work on games today, and those freaking oddballs stand out like a sore thumb. I still reach down where a pinball on/off switch is supposed to be. The new location is a crap spot for a power switch. Every time I stick my hand under there and feel no switch, I'm annoyed. Working on a line of games makes it more annoying.

Lame and petty dude

Other than reaching down and trying to power off a spike game in the normal location, my only issue with it is the service outlet is now in the head which is not a convenient location to plug something in while working on the game.

Pinball 2000 machines had a weird switch location as well.

Oh your kidding, did ya remember where your car keys were today. I did it twice when I first got my game 3 months ago and haven't done it since...and I only have one Spike game, the other 13 are under the cab.

Get with the times man.

I hear ya there. I ran a 6ft extension cord with 3 outlets to solve that.

Now THAT one is a pain.

If I could vote twice it would be it doesn't bother me and Lionman!!!!

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I read one operator was frustrated with new power switch location. When having several machines in a row....its difficult to shut them off.....and some of the staff never shut his machines off....cause they didnt know where the power button was

Would it be that hard to run a wire and drill a hole in the bottom to relocate it? Of I ever get a new game again, I would be willing to do it. A hole where nobody would see it wouldn't bother me.

This has been covered before on Pinside. Someone posted pics and how to do it.

LTG : )

I have 4 of my machines against a wall. If they were the new style I would only be able to reach one. My only other option would be to use a large power strip and shut them all down at once. Frankly, the new setup was poorly designed. If it was for ul approval they saved some time, but at the cost of usability for the end user.

*Note* this would not be an issue for 1 machine on the end or 1 standing by itself, but most places have a bank of machines. Rarely do i encounter 1.

The only advantage I see is that the kids can't reach it.

Seems odd that they couldn't ( on all new machines, for that matter) use LV switching to turn these things on and off. EMI/RFI would obviously be a nonissue ( at least from the switch assembly), and can't imagine the cost being that much more.

I work w hi end, expensive electronics everyday, and can't think of any other device that uses " passive" inline switching like pb machines. Low voltage switching has many advantages ( end user safety probably the biggest) and these machines are expensive ( soft starting to avoid inrush would certainly prolong life of certain components). The switch then could be easily put wherever engineering wanted it....I've always wondered about this...

LV switching doesn't remove the mains from the circuitry and this is a mandated requirement for some countries.

It would also add cost to the design of the power supply.

If they went this route then an additional power (mains) switch would still be required to remove the mains from all components in order for the appliance to comply in some countries.

I'm a great believer in the KISS principle and I dislike the "remote" power switching option personally but others seems to think it's OK. Just my preference for keeping designs as simple as possible.

None of us are ever likely to know the "real" reason/s behind Sterns decision.

I don't like it but ultimately who gives a shit.

LV switching can certainly remove the main power from the circuitry completely. Can't think of a single computer, video monitor, or audio power amplifier ( things that come immediately to mind) that don't use LV switching, and are world wide compliant. What am I missing in regards to a pinball machine?

I don't like the relocation of line level power ( suspect it would be considered a hazard), hence the LV approach....

Suspect you are right, actually...

? I'm not sure what you mean. You can turn them on/off from standing in front of the machine. I have no issues, and neither do the waitresses at my location. One of the servers is 5'2", and she has no issue.

I see it as a non-issue.

LV does not remove the mains from all components. Your supply is still active in some way even if it is to provide 3V3/5V so the supply is able to start. This is the main area of compliance problems for this style of supply.

Try getting compliance worldwide on pinball machines that you might make several thousand a year VS PC supplies where you will make millions per year.

That is where the difference is.

Compliance cost is the same for both items, I know because I am in the middle of doing it.

I am 6ft and have a 32 inch waist. I cannot reach the power switch location on three of my current machines. I would have to pull them out to get to it which is what I do when I have to get into the backbox or work on the pf.

I'm having trouble picturing your set up.

If you can stand in front of your game to play it, you could reach the on/off switch easily on a Spike game. You just have to lean forward.

This part I agree with...

Wasn't that a product of them going to decals versus direct printing cabs? Isn't that an improvement related to a downgrade?

That would depend on your point of view of Sterns direct print. I like the look of the decals in comparison to the dithering of the direct print.

Imagine how many Monster Bash's wouldn't have had crumpled decals at the legs if W/B had come up with it.

Depends on the collector. I agree they are a downgrade and prefer screened cabs even if the resolution is not as good, however know I am in the minority since everyone else seems to prefer giant stickers all over their machines because of the higher resolution.

I didn't know B/W games had decals. Thanks for the info.

After hearing about the resolution of Sterns direct print, I went and looked at my Data East Hook cab. No dithering there. It's a great looking cabinet. So again it seems the decals are an improvement on a downgrade from cabinet resolution. I know it was tough for Stern at the time of their name change and up until recently but I wonder when or if they will start trying to be an innovator in their tech and build. They may just be content with letting others provide the new ideas but I'm curious if that will hurt them in the long run.

About two years ago I finally got around to moving that switch so it was in the same spot like all other games. Worked out perfectly and no more reaching way in the back anymore.

John P. Dayhuff
Battle Creek, MI.
269-979-3836

It Deanna bother me. I, tall enough to reach the switch in the new spot, even when the games are right near each other....

I don't like it! Having Spike machines in a close lineup makes the power switch impossible to reach for my eight-year-old son. I was forced to come up with a solution for this issue. I started with a simple switched power strip on the floor that my son could reach, but it was always in the way of your feet. It also confused knowledgeable Spike owners wondering why the switch in the head doesn't work.

Here's my solution for Spike machines. It's an external switch box and pigtail cable I made that mounts to the shaker motor t-nuts and requires no modification of the cabinet. It just connects between the machine and original power cord and you simply keep the head switch on all the time and use this switch box instead.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DQELHBS/ref=pd_aw_fbt_60_img_2

I use a remote control power source. One button on my bar and all the games power on at the same time.

Here's another - I relocated to the un-used tournament button knockout. Works great, so easy to use, especially for my short wife!

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/relocating-the-pwr-switch-on-spike-system-like-got#post-3005295

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That's nice. Do you give her a milk crate to stand on as well?

Boob stands on a box o' dicks

I use a wireless remote. It has 3 buttons. I think I bought it at Home Depot. It is super essy now...walk in, push remote buttons and play pinball!

That's where I lived back in my prison days.

I've only owned two pins and never two at a time. I have absolutely no problem with the power switch in my GOTPre being in the head. Actually, I did have one problem--when I got the thing I had absolutely no idea where the switch was--kept looking around under and behind the thing for hours. Absolutely no documentation in the paperwork, either. Ended up having to post a Q here to get the answer!

Which current pinball manufacturers use direct print cabinets instead of decals? Honest question.

Why cant you just lean forward and turn it on...like this.. both feet firmly on ground, lean forward, turn it on and play...

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My wife is 5'2 and can turn on a spike game no problem

Tell the truth. You just wanted to flex for the camera.