TNA shooter meter info and install instructions / PREORDERS FULL

OP
Quoted from twhtalm:
Thanks Quy. Plans are for a V2 that will address all of these issues. The revised board will be offered as a board only upgrade that will be a drop in replacement. Original kits+upgrade will be cost equivalent to a full V2 kit. No eta yet on the new board.
V2 will have no tape. It will also tie into the beacon and have an under apron light bar between the flippers. I also am working on an idea for a reactor fan mod that will adjust based on the reactor load %.

Is the under apron light going to match the GI, speaker lights, or beacon?

#53 4 years ago

HLT

herg

LED OCD

13y 110K 5,551

I received the replacement sensors and installed one this morning. To get a better viewing angle on the ball, I moved the sensor as shown below. It would be nice if the board outline could be extended to include this, but depth is also an issue. My sensor is sitting "below" the board surface.

20200105_083222 (resized).jpg

20200105_083729 (resized).jpg

20200105_084019 (resized).jpg

#54 4 years ago

HLT

herg

LED OCD

13y 110K 5,551

Oh, I almost forgot, I also removed the red LED from the controller board while I was at it. Nothing major, just my OCD didn't like the extra red blinking down in there.

#55 4 years ago

TOM

twhtalm

Pinside member

Thanks for the update and glad to see you're back up and running. The little finger on the apron had to be designed around or else it needed to be bent.

#56 4 years ago

TOM

twhtalm

Pinside member

Quoted from joelbob:
Is the under apron light going to match the GI, speaker lights, or beacon?

The apron light will be tied into the beacon and have a sweeping motion to simulate another beacon. The goal has always been to keep the board as far away from the machines electronics as possible.

#57 4 years ago

PNX

xeneize

Pinside+ Frequent

11y 104K 1,418

I love this mod... and really want to get it to work as designed!

#58 4 years ago

TOM

twhtalm

Pinside member

The ball ready and autolaunch can always be disabled and have just the meter function. Setup would be much simpler focusing on just the meter. Those two other features were extras that I put in because why not.

#59 4 years ago

PNX

xeneize

Pinside+ Frequent

11y 104K 1,418

No way! I love the ready feature!

#60 4 years ago

TOM

twhtalm

Pinside member

Give me some time. I'm working on the reactor fan mod right now. Here's a quick sample using the meter program to give a basic idea. Plans are to make a puck that will have vanes inside to simulate each fan blade on the plastic.

videotogif_2020.01.05_11.43.25.gif

#61 4 years ago

YZF

yzfguy

Pinside+ Frequent

12y 146K 11,174 7

Do you still have my mailing address?

#62 4 years ago

HLT

herg

LED OCD

13y 110K 5,551

OP
Quoted from twhtalm:
Thanks for the update and glad to see you're back up and running. The little finger on the apron had to be designed around or else it needed to be bent.

Yeah, that finger would be in the way if you kept the board rectangular. I'm pretty sure that the ball would also touch the sensor if the board was simply extended and the sensor mounted flush.

With the sensor in the default location, however, once I lined up the autolaunch, there was just barely enough space for the ball sensor. It didn't allow me to point it directly at the ball without the ball touching it. It seems to be working perfectly now, though my sensor install is quite a kludge.

I also had one case where the board slid forward a bit and was no longer aligned. Drop of glue...

#63 4 years ago

JBO

joelbob

Pinside member

any idea why the 4th LED from the top seems to dim? It is nice and bright when I first start to pull the plunger back but then once I get past it and am almost fully back it dims. I have a video if that helps.

Screen Shot 2020-01-09 at 12.05.34 PM (resized).png

#64 4 years ago

TOM

tomdotcom

Pinside member

Kamloops, BC

15y 112K 6,198 2

Quoted from joelbob:
any idea why the 4th LED from the top seems to dim? It is nice and bright when I first start to pull the plunger back but then once I get past it and am almost fully back it dims. I have a video if that helps.[quoted image]

A couple of mine are like this too. I've tapped out on messing with mine. If I move one thing, then something else stops working right. I'm hoping V2 is going to work better maybe...

#65 4 years ago

TOM

twhtalm

Pinside member

Something on the cabinet wall across from the meter may be giving the meter a bit of reflection causing the missing segment. Each led segment is based on an analog value and not just on or off. Experiment with black electrical tape on the cabinet directly across from the meter to block the reflection. Also, the board seems to need a warm up period for optimal performance. After a game I cycle the power on my machine and the meter responds with a more consistent output.

#66 4 years ago

JBO

joelbob

Pinside member

OP
Quoted from twhtalm:
Something on the cabinet wall across from the meter may be giving the meter a bit of reflection causing the missing segment. Each led segment is based on an analog value and not just on or off. Experiment with black electrical tape on the cabinet directly across from the meter to block the reflection. Also, the board seems to need a warm up period for optimal performance. After a game I cycle the power on my machine and the meter responds with a more consistent output.

My flipper buttons are lit. Would that cause a problem?

#67 4 years ago

TOM

twhtalm

Pinside member

Doubtful that the lit buttons would have any affect on the meter. Mirror blades on the other hand have been reported to cause trouble. My machine is stock other than the meter and other mods were not considered during design.

2 weeks later

#68 4 years ago

MJF

Aniraf

Quoted from herg:
I received the replacement sensors and installed one this morning. To get a better viewing angle on the ball, I moved the sensor as shown below. It would be nice if the board outline could be extended to include this, but depth is also an issue. My sensor is sitting "below" the board surface.[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]

This makes a ton of sense. I may do the same thing.

2 months later

#69 4 years ago

JBO

joelbob

Pinside member

twhtalm Any update on v2?

#70 4 years ago

TOM

twhtalm

Pinside member

Quoted from joelbob:
twhtalm Any update on v2?

V2 is coming along with the first set of test boards ordered this morning and they should be here in a week or so. Installation and alignment will be made easier with the board/sensors embedded into a new bracket. Also, reactor fan boards arrived this week and are waiting for assembly and initial testing. Stay tuned for updates.

#71 4 years ago

QUY

FatPanda

Pinside member

7y 141K 7,178 32

OP
Quoted from twhtalm:
V2 is coming along with the first set of test boards ordered this morning and they should be here in a week or so. Installation and alignment will be made easier with the board/sensors embedded into a new bracket. Also, reactor fan boards arrived this week and are waiting for assembly and initial testing. Stay tuned for updates.

Completely forgot about this thread and glad that you're still healthy and working on V2 and the reactor mod!

And just to add, I received one of the early boards and after tinkering with it a little early on, it's still performing as expected. Sorry for those that can't get it working as intended. I would still continue to play with it. You have to find that sweet spot where the board needs to sit so that all of the sensors line up correctly and the reflective tape on the shooter tip is just right.

#72 4 years ago

TOM

tomdotcom

Pinside member

Kamloops, BC

15y 112K 6,198 2

Quoted from FatPanda:
Completely forgot about this thread and glad that you're still healthy and working on V2 and the reactor mod!
And just to add, I received one of the early boards and after tinkering with it a little early on, it's still performing as expected. Sorry for those that can't get it working as intended. I would still continue to play with it. You have to find that sweet spot where the board needs to sit so that all of the sensors line up correctly and the reflective tape on the shooter tip is just right.

I gave up on making mine work 100%. I spent hours and hours fiddling with it. I look forward to seeing how V2 works. Mine just sits unplugged for now.

#73 4 years ago

QUY

FatPanda

Pinside member

7y 141K 7,178 32

Quoted from tomdotcom:
I gave up on making mine work 100%. I spent hours and hours fiddling with it. I look forward to seeing how V2 works. Mine just sits unplugged for now.

That's too bad. If I were nearby and there wasn't COVID floating around, I'd offer to help.

3 months later

#74 3 years ago

JBO

joelbob

Pinside member

twhtalm any update?

5 months later

#75 3 years ago

PGL

northvibe

Pinside+ Frequent

Any updates? Looking for mods!

#76 3 years ago

highdef

Pinside member

9y 67,050 1,058

I purchased a kit, but it was missing a part or two. I tried emailing him, but he never responded.

2 months later

#77 3 years ago

RET

SevenEightyRacer

Inactive member

7y 45,050 117 14

Would like the fan mod, and the Meter mod for my TNA. Any update on a next run? Interested in both!

2 months later

#78 2 years ago

MZR

damadczar

Mad Czar Games

11y 73,550 575 10 15

Quoted from tomdotcom:
I gave up on making mine work 100%. I spent hours and hours fiddling with it. I look forward to seeing how V2 works. Mine just sits unplugged for now.

I’m the same. Tried to install it for a few hours, could never get it working. Either my playfield is too thick or something. I could never figure out how to set the board where I didn’t hit it when plunging.

It registered the shooter rod and stuff, but the fit is terrible. Back in the box I guess.

3 weeks later

#79 2 years ago

MJF

Aniraf

Quoted from damadczar:
I’m the same. Tried to install it for a few hours, could never get it working. Either my playfield is too thick or something. I could never figure out how to set the board where I didn’t hit it when plunging.
It registered the shooter rod and stuff, but the fit is terrible. Back in the box I guess.

Is there actually a v2 in the works?

1 month later

#80 2 years ago

EWS

pickleric

Pinside+ Frequent

6y 92,050 1,071 37

If anyone is looking for a v1, pm me.

3 months later

#81 2 years ago

PGL

northvibe

Pinside+ Frequent

Looking for one of these!

1 year later

#82 1 year ago

MJF

Aniraf

This is the coolest non-working mod I own .

#83 1 year ago

PGL

northvibe

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from Aniraf:
This is the coolest non-working mod I own .

Non working? :/

This is the coolest mod I don’t own yet :-p I need some free time to tinker with these things

#84 1 year ago

CXH

MrDark

Axecadia

2y 31,650 26

Can these still be bought?

#85 1 year ago

ZOR

zermeno68

Pinside+ Addict

Ridgecrest, CA

12y 86,050 1,309 5

Quoted from MrDark:
Can these still be bought?

I second this.... CE Owners may want this solution. I can only speak for myself that I want this mod.

#86 1 year ago

PGL

northvibe

Pinside+ Frequent

The creator went silent year(s) ago

#87 1 year ago

MJF

Aniraf

I might see if I can recreate it. I really do love it, but mine stopped working a while ago. It only flashes white now.

4 months later

#88 11 months ago

???

squeekj

Pinside member

Peoria, AZ

8y 21,800 21 2 11

I'd be interested in one too for sure.

#89 11 months ago

ELA

Pinball_Eddie

Pinside+ Frequent

8y 80,050 864 1

Quoted from Aniraf:
I might see if I can recreate it. I really do love it, but mine stopped working a while ago. It only flashes white now.

Aniraf Count me in too.

#90 11 months ago

ZOR

zermeno68

Pinside+ Addict

Ridgecrest, CA

12y 86,050 1,309 5

Yup… I saw this long ago and thought it was a dead road.

If steam picks up.. I’m in.

#91 11 months ago

BOZ

Blakester

Pinside+ Frequent

7y 84,550 449 55

add us

#92 11 months ago

PGL

northvibe

Pinside+ Frequent