(Topic ID: 320823)
Kitchener, ON
Clermont-ferrand
Munford, AL
OK so I'm definitely having some issues, and glitches. Game starts, ball kicks out.
No pops, or kickers, only flippers, which trigger the pops intermittently.
Gi works great, special lighting and score reels are glitchy, and dim. So wiring or ground issue there.
A few of the new switches aren't registering as well.
No smoke, no fires, no blown fuses.
So I'll need a Saturday, or weekend to do some testing.
Well I fixed my pop bumpers, my kickers, and a couple other items.
Having issues with special lighting still, and my left flippers are intermittent when used. About every 3 or 4 button pushes.
Other than those two items, and finishing up sound, I've about got it licked I think.
Any suggestions on that flipper issue?
It’s always a good day when you flip for the first time. Lookin good. I’m sure you’ll figure out the issues. Could the flipper issue be as simple as a flaky leaf switch. Or loose ground?
Quoted from Luckydogg420:It’s always a good day when you flip for the first time. Lookin good. I’m sure you’ll figure out the issues. Could the flipper issue be as simple as a flaky leaf switch. Or loose ground?
Not sure yet. I've checked my solder joints, and leaf switches. Possible I have a bad diode, or something else. I think I'm getting weird voltage across my left flipper switch as well.
After talking to several homebrewers, and how much info is available out there, I pulled the trigger on a starter 3D printer. Just came today, and excited to see what I can do, and make.
Had to step away from my pin for a few days, I'm getting cross-eyed staring at wires.
20230328_183352 (resized).jpgQuoted from MrBigg:After talking to several homebrewers, and how much info is available out there, I pulled the trigger on a starter 3D printer. Just came today, and excited to see what I can do, and make.
Had to step away from my pin for a few days, I'm getting cross-eyed staring at wires.
[quoted image]
Best decision ever!
Quoted from leeoneil:Can you explain a little what are those "balls" ?
Are they independant ?
Wired to the program ?
A lightning/plasma ball is a gas charged glass that allows electricity to travel around inside the glass. It will follow your finger if you touch the glass. They can also be set to move to sound, which is what I'm doing. The don't need to be tied into the game unless you want them to come on for a need, such as multiball, extra ball, etc. Mine will just be on from a independent power supply. Google plasma ball lamp, and you'll get a lot more info
Do they create RF interference that interferes (buzz, his or other noise) with your systems stereo amplifier?
Do they create RF interference that interferes (buzz, his or other noise) with your systems stereo
. They will still follow your finger, etc, but they are completely safe, low voltage (1.5 volts DC), and are quiet. Since I wasn't sure when I first bought them, I pre-ordered a 12vdc to 1.5vdc step-down good to 2 amps with a built in filter to be safe, but they were fine, and the filter probably wasn't necessary.
Quoted from MrBigg:These particular ones do not, as they are not a high voltage type plasma. They will still follow your finger, etc, but they are completely safe, low voltage (1.5 volts DC), and are quiet. Since I wasn't sure when I first bought them, I pre-ordered a 12vdc to 1.5vdc step-down good to 2 amps with a built in filter to be safe, but they were fine, and the filter probably wasn't necessary.
Quoted from Cmartin1235:Do they create RF interference that interferes (buzz, his or other noise) with your systems stereo amplifier?
They do not, as these are very low voltage plasma lights (1.5vdc )
I used a step down 12vdc to 1.5vdc with a filter cap just in case, but I doubt that was necessary as they don't use much amperage.
They are also completely isolated in the circuit with the step down.
Good question though. I'd ass4the high powered ones would be a disaster in a pinball. These would be awesome pop bumper tops.
Quoted from Mbecker:Yeah- they are def cool! A company actually already sells them as pop tops. Spendy tho from them
These were about $12 each, so I could convert them much cheaper than buying thise others
Do you have a link on them, I’m thinking of doing a CERN or fermi lab theme pin, and they would indeed be perfect pops.
Quoted from Cmartin1235:Do you have a link on them, I’m thinking of doing a CERN or fermi lab theme pin, and they would indeed be perfect pops.
They are all over ebay, and amazon with different sizes, and shapes. Here's an ebay link for you...
ebay.com link: itm
Quoted from Cmartin1235:Is the plastic thick enough for these to be used as inserts? Obviously the bottom would have to be modified but I'm seeing possibilities.
[quoted image]
Its not plastic, it's actual sealed glass, and downside is the glass is rounded on the edges. That said the fix is matching the bevel in the wood from underneath, and using a reverse edging router bit. Or simply use a piece of lexan from top, istall light underneath. The plastic back is a battery box that can be Removed, as I hard soldered my power into them. 1.5vdc
I'll be using more of these in the future as well, very cool effect on a pin.
Would be cool behind a group of targets, with glass sticking through playfield to match the height of the targets.
Quoted from DaddyManD:loved your podcast interview with Dan on TPN!!!
Super cool, ty! It was an honor, and very fun. Dan Rosenstein is a super great guy. It was awesome getting to share my view, and take aways on the homebrew experience.
The pinball network interview on homebrews
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pinball-network/id1497645647?i=1000608607795
Absolutely amazing work! Your willpower to see this project through, even after dropping the playfield, is inspiring to say the least! I have really enjoyed silently following this thread. Your game is seriously gorgeous. Please keep the updates coming!
Quoted from gandamack:Absolutely amazing work! Your willpower to see this project through, even after dropping the playfield, is inspiring to say the least! I have really enjoyed silently following this thread. Your game is seriously gorgeous. Please keep the updates coming!
Thank you for the kind words, and the encouragement. These builds are fun in the areas we are good at, but tough in the areas we don't excel.. At the end of the day, good or bad, it's about the love of the game, and the build.
Have a great day, and thanks again.
Quoted from trueno92:Listening to ur podcast interview as I was just cleaning my garage last night lol
What did you think?
So today I spent the morning chasing ghosts, and found my first one after a couple hours of frustration, and no signs of issues on my flipper wiring.
I have the dual eos switches because I'm running 4 flippers, and my left side was intermittent, maybe every 3 or 4 button pushes it would flip.
So I checked voltages, and good, checked wiring, and good, checked switches, and they ohmed out good.
So after all that, I stated checking the coil, the diodes, connections, etc.
The eos has a normally open side, and a normally closed side and when I would hold the button and tap the eos, it would flip.
Turned out, even though the normally closed side ohmed out, and appeared ok, it was not making good enough contact to energize the coil. Cleaned it, adjusted the flaps, and tah-dah!
We have left flippers. Anyway, I ordered new ones just in case. Those bally flippers look like they had a hard life, so I'll change them out.
So tomorrow ill start on my crazy special lighting issue. They come on dim with no ground connected, and not at all with ground connected. That one is really weird!!!
Made some ground today though.
Quoted from Cmartin1235:Have you filmed any video of game play yet?
Yes, but I've got to redo it. I'm still finding small issues. Fixed the flippers, fixed the pop issue, but my outlane switches are bad, and causing all kinds of crazy. I think my last 2 issues are those switches, and my special lighting being very dim.
I'm finally making some headway on "ghosts in the machine".
Quoted from MrBigg:So tomorrow ill start on my crazy special lighting issue. They come on dim with no ground connected, and not at all with ground connected. That one is really weird!!!
Good luck with that one. If it’s not a simple short across another circuit then could it be a bad diode? It’s odd that it shorts when grounded but works dimly without one. I’d double check that a light isn’t touching a switch somewhere
Quoted from MrBigg:I'm still finding small issues. I'm finally making some headway on "ghosts in the machine".
If I were you, I'd complain to the game's manufacturer about the issues you've been having.
Quoted from littlecammi:If I were you, I'd complain to the game's manufacturer about the issues you've been having.
I have sent an email to the quality control dept, but have had no reply. Customer service from this pinball manufacturer is very poor. I'll follow up if I receive any info from Bigg Deal Customs gaming LLC.
Quoted from Luckydogg420:Good luck with that one. If it’s not a simple short across another circuit then could it be a bad diode? It’s odd that it shorts when grounded but works dimly without one. I’d double check that a light isn’t touching a switch somewhere
I think after more research on how bally style boards work, I may have wired every light backwards. I soldered all my negatives together, and triggered the positives. From the info I have been finding, and a friend helping me, bally triggers the ground, and ties all the + sides together.
May be a bunch of resoldering in my future, ugh!
Well I'm back on the rotisserie, and rewiring special lighting.
Turns out this type of lighting controller works totally opposite of what "I assumed".
Hots all tie across each light, and are triggered by a ground from the board.
I of course had all the grounds tied together, and the positive leads trying to trigger.
Lesson learned, and pinball is hard.
20230420_172459 (resized).jpg20230420_172505 (resized).jpgQuoted from MrBigg:Thank you very much. The first playfield I dropped was nice, but the better neck paint, more detail in the flames, and other spots had me worried it would be too busy as well on the second playfield.
Overall though like you, I'm super happy with how 2.0 turned out with everything installed.
1 minor flub I made, when I measured my outlane guides, I didn't have rubber on my bottom flippers, and they aren't smooth where ball roll onto flippers. I'll have to redo those, but otherwise, so far everything else works great.
Glad you kept with it
Major breakthrough today, and some serious progress accomplished!
Special lighting is fixed, and perimeter lights are working correctly!
Lane switches were also replaced with jjp and are working correctly as well.
Down to a few small bugs, then I can start taking care of the last few items...
Thanks, and I mean Bigg thanks to @ArureOz for all his help and patience with me.
Quoted from MrBigg:Major breakthrough today, and some serious progress accomplished!
Special lighting is fixed, and perimeter lights are working correctly!
Lane switches were also replaced with jjp and are working correctly as well.
Down to a few small bugs, then I can start taking care of the last few items...
Thanks, and I mean Bigg thanks to @ArureOz for all his help and patience with me.
It has been my pleasure to be able to offer assistance with some remote troubleshooting suggestions.
That game you have made and it's playfield with all the lamps working is looking fantastic.
Quoted from AzureOz:It has been my pleasure to be able to offer assistance with some remote troubleshooting suggestions.
That game you have made and it's playfield with all the lamps working is looking fantastic.
Well I never take credit for things I didn't do alone. And the lights are our win together. I really appreciate my connection down under
Quoted from leeoneil:Beautiful !
The color, the lights, it's an amazing result !
Quoted from Luckydogg420:Heck yeah, looks great
Thanks guys. Looks like a ghost making my left pop just randomly pop at will, and reset my cpu.
Once I find that, I have 2 special lights to wire, finish my sound card, and finish painting the cabinet to call it a wrap.
This has been an up and down adventure for sure.
Quoted from MrBigg:I have 2 lights to wire and finish painting the cabinet to call it a wrap.
The playfield artwork may be a bit too racy. It looks like the guitar is only wearing a G-string.
Quoted from littlecammi:What about adding custom call-outs from a Fender Stratocaster and a Gibson Les Paul ?
That maybe the most sacrilegious post I have ever seen on pinside... kinda like putting a camaro front end on your stang lol.
Not sure how you found me Cammi, but I do enjoy your sense of humor.
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