I have enough confidence in stern and my ability to repair smd that I have no problem buying a Spike game and just bought GotG pro.

Then I'll figure it out. Same as I would figure it out with any of our cars, or appliances, or anything really.

I'll admit I have a lot of experience with surface mount, and have the proper tools to diagnose and repair boards like the stern node boards, so that doesn't frighten me. Not having their help (schematics, etc..) makes it more difficult, but if I'm looking at a high dollar replacement I'm going to try a repair first.

I do know that the schematics are coming, which will make it much easier. Surface mount isn't that bad.

All that aside, I put my money where my mouth is because Stern does make the best pinball machines out there today, IMO. Spike 2 included.

On Spike II games Node 8 is interchangeable on any game, as is Node 9. The 8/9 boards with letters after them like 8a, 8b, are game specific boards.

The magnifiers like wayout and mbwalker reference are a must, at least for me.

You can get a decent rig on ebay for $200 - $400 depending on features. The better ones have a small screen on them and HDMI out so you can also hook them up to any monitor/tv you want.

If you aren't going to use a display screen, you definitely want to stick to at least a stereoscopic microscope, in my opinion.

I've gotten to tinker around with Spike II over the past couple of days and I still think it's a fantastic system. With the schematics coming and some more explanation of the theory of operation, I think people will change their minds about it.

The sheer number of games using Spike II speaks volumes. There is quality engineering in what Stern have produced here.

Never heard that, but that would be neat, even if it were recorded youtube videos explaining things.

This is a bit like when telco guys were asked to start working on DSL lines, and their whole reliable concept of "if there's a ringtone it works" went out the window. They were required to learn new tools and techniques to be able to continue the pace with the constantly changing technology.

Pinball in general has been behind the technological curve significantly for the past decade or two, but Spike II appears to be a really good leap forward.

Just a couple of the reasons why I personally feel like it's a leap forward from SAM:

- They now use a bus for communication between nodes, it's what makes the system more modular. If some new technology or mech comes out, they aren't constrained to flipping transistors on and off or scanning a switch matrix, they can use their existing CPU hardware and node boards and just introduce a new type of node board. It doesn't require a re-release of the core hardware to do that. Even if Stern decided to upgrade to a more powerful CPU (Node 0), none of the other nodes have to change. Conversely, if a common node design like Node 8 gets updated, prior games that use Node 8 could potentially use the upgraded node. The bus protocol provides a nice layer of separation between devices.

- The node boards themselves have some advanced features on them. You can tell that even though all the features on the node boards may not be exposed or known about yet, the ones I've seen are pretty good. For example, the node boards have overcurrent detection and protection on them, and are able to smartly disable themselves as a line of defense. I think as we learn more about the system and Stern starts exposing that data through the display and error messages, we will really appreciate some of those features being born into the hardware.

I think as Spike II ages and platform goodies are taken more advantage of, it will be known as a really solid, long-term system.

Buying a NIB game for me is a once a decade thing probably, and I saved a while to buy GotG Pro. I wouldn't have risked that kind of money if I thought there was any chance of me ending up with a brick in a few years. Just my 2 cents.

Luckily the security dongle JJP uses is easily hackable.

Did your node board have the secured diode fix?

When that diode fails, it can send high voltage down to the light boards.

I don't think it was the solder breaking in these instances. The actual leg on the package breaks from what I understand.

I would also be cautious using rubber to try and dampen the vibration. Because of the type of vibration this is, rubber could actually amplify it.

I don't really have any information to back that up with regards to Spike II. Just from my own past experience, depending on a lot of factors, certain types of lower frequency forced vibration can actually be amplified by a rubber mount. I would guess the vibrations that the diode are experiencing are not high frequency vibrations.

Without spending too long on google:

https://earglobal.com/media/9885/basicsvibrationisolationelastomericmaterials.pdf

"Isolation mounts reduce the transmission of energy from one body to another by providing a resilient connection between them. Selecting an improper mount for an application, however, can actually make the problem worse. The incorrect mount may reduce the high frequency vibration, but resonant conditions at lower frequencies can actually amplify the induced vibration. During an impact, the mount deflects and returns some of the energy by rebounding. Preventing this energy return can extend product life"

My point being, I would follow the Stern service bulletin exactly to prevent the diode from breaking, and not try to get creative beyond that.

I don't think this is correct.

Have any of the other current manufacturers posted schematics of their hardware?

The SE line from Meanwell is one of their economy lines.

The RSP line is a decent upgrade from the SE.

Yep.

You can find them for around $90.

Sorry forgot the link: https://www.jameco.com/z/RSP-500-48-MEAN-WELL-AC-to-DC-Switching-Enclosed-Power-Supply-Single-Output-with-PFC-Function-48V-10-5A-504W_2198014.html

They have released schematics, and there are those that can repair them already. Are you content?

https://sternpinball.com/support/

Right here.