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(Topic ID: 252352)

Transistors in EM games

By MarkG

4 years ago

Topic Heartbeat

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12 posts
6 Pinsiders participating
Latest reply 4 months ago by sizteves
Topic is favorited by 2 Pinsiders

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Fan-Tas-Tic Williams, 1972

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0flippermarkt-Gtb-300-pic-02 (resized).jpg

FanTasTic Electronic Delay Timer (resized).jpg

#1 4 years ago

A recent comment on facebook mentioned a transistor in an EM game. I hadn't seen one before so I checked and sure enough Williams Fan-Tas-Tic uses a transistor in a delay timer:
FanTasTic Electronic Delay Timer (resized).jpg
Diodes are commonly used in rectifiers to create DC voltages from AC but I hadn't seen a transistor before in an EM game. Were they used in other games?

This circuit is a delay timer. Gottlieb used a similar circuit with a capacitor and diode in games like Flip A Card. Bally used a clever delay circuit that relied on a 455 flasher bulb to provide the delay. Did Williams use a delay circuit before this one without the transistor?

Inquiring minds want to know...

/Mark

#2 4 years ago

ZAC

zacaj

RPC

Rochester, NY

11y 158K 10,385 85 122 1

I think grand prix has a similar delay circuit. Later though...

#3 4 years ago

MarkG

Fun With Pinball

9y 71,300 4,353

Grand Prix does have a Delay relay (upper left in the schematic below) but it uses a capacitor-diode circuit similar to the one Gottlieb used.
Grand Prix Delay relay (resized).jpg
Interesting that Grand Prix is several years after Fan-Tas-Tic but doesn't use the transistor. I wonder if the circuit requirements were different or if they leaned away from transistors in the end?

#4 4 years ago

rolf_martin_062

Inactive member

Aarau

9y 59,550 4,150 14 8

Hi Mark
funny - You and I did at almost the same time write about "diodes, capacitors, resistors" --- here https://www.flippermarkt.de/community/forum/threads/firecracker-von-bally-wer-erklaert-es-mir-warum-sind-kondensator-diode-und-widerstand-verbaut.212060/ in post-2 You can see "my JPG" - Gottlieb Super Soccer and Williams Grand Prix. The OP did encounter in his Bally Firecracker diode - capacitor - resistor and did ask about.
In 2017 in the german forum there was a topic about "Mystery bonus on Gottlieb 300" - I show JPGs from there.

I am not happy with the name "Delay-Relay" - I would prefer "Relay that automatically shuts-off after some time has elapsed".

The transistor in Fan-Tas-Tic is a switch --- as long in time a little bit of DC is flowing from the capacitor downwards - through the transistor - then to the left and upwards (in the JPG in post-1) --- as long in time the "switch (is transistor)" is kept open so current can flow "Coil on Delay-Relay to the left, through "switch (is transistor)" - then to the left and upwards.
Maybe (maybe ?) the Fan-Tas-Tic solution was made as they were asking an electronics engineer (state of the art) --- then they learned "we can make it less costly - without the 'transistor is a switch' ". Greetings Rolf
0flippermarkt-Gtb-300-pic-02 (resized).jpg0Gtb-300-Work-5 (resized).jpg

2 years later

#5 1 year ago

MarkG

Fun With Pinball

9y 71,300 4,353

I discovered that Chicago Coin's '75 Top Ten and Gold Record use a photo cell, I think to detect when the record on the playfield spins:
Top Ten Photo cell (resized).jpg

11 months later

#6 8 months ago

MarkG

Fun With Pinball

9y 71,300 4,353

I found that '77 Zaccaria Nautilus has not only transistors but a 555 timer (a small common IC chip) to drive some lights and a relay:
Nautilus 555 circuit (resized).jpg

#7 8 months ago

???

pinballdaveh

Pinside member

Unknown

10y 38,800 1,955

Some gottlieb EM’S with a solid state counterpart used a sound board instead of chimes.

#8 8 months ago

ZAC

zacaj

RPC

Rochester, NY

11y 158K 10,385 85 122 1

OP
Quoted from MarkG:
I found that '77 Zaccaria Nautilus has not only transistors but a 555 timer (a small common IC chip) to drive some lights and a relay:
[quoted image]

Aerobatics has a similar unit but with more outputs, and and adjustable timer (via a potentiometer) for turning off the pop bumper lights after a period of time

#9 8 months ago

MarkG

Fun With Pinball

9y 71,300 4,353

Quoted from zacaj:
Aerobatics has a similar unit but with more outputs, and and adjustable timer (via a potentiometer) for turning off the pop bumper lights after a period of time

The "New Flashing Unit" includes an opto coupler too...
Aerobatics Flashing Unit (resized).jpg

4 months later

#10 4 months ago

???

pinballdaveh

Pinside member

Unknown

10y 38,800 1,955

Travel Time belongs on the list. Part of its dc power drives a timer board that has a transistor that fires a relay coil. Located just above the right flipper coil.

IMG_0656 (resized).png

#11 4 months ago

BallyCrazy

Pinside member

Nantes

5y 41,650 125 23

No transistor for Evel Knievel EM. She has a Delay Re (with #455 lamp). Also CMOS ICs, SCRs, diodes, caps etc for the bus jump lamps
20231023_130823 (resized).jpgEK (resized).jpg

#12 4 months ago

SNL

sizteves

Pinside+ Frequent

3y 37,650 103 4 8

Segasa Casino Royale (1976) :

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