The Simpsons Pinball Party
Stern, 2003So I’ve had my TSPP on route for months now, after the first week I noticed I had no controlled lamps, assumed a fuse so I turned game off and it checked out fine. Restarted the game and all lamps were fine. Fast forward many months later and I encountered this again, restarted game and they came back just fine. Also worth noting is I believe the location leaves the game on 24/7. Ideas?
Interesting.
The a signal to the controlled lamps also prevents the watchdog timer from expiring, so the signal must be getting there. I wonder if the driver IC (probably a 74HCT273) is throwing up it's hands after being on for so long.
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Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
http://ChrisHiblerPinball.com/contact
http://www.PinWiki.com - The Place to go for Pinball Repair Info
Yeah it’s super odd, went this evening with friends after a game and sure enough they were out again. I quickly cycled off then on, the controlled lamps came on and then immediately faded out as if they were on a dimmer switch. After turning off for a slightly longer time they stayed on.
Quoted from tonyhoff1:I would look at the controlling bridge. I bet it’s failing.
"Controlling Bridge" ... could you add a bit more explanation to this comment Tony? Do you mean the bridge that provides the lamp matrix power?
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Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
http://ChrisHiblerPinball.com/contact
http://www.PinWiki.com - The Place to go for Pinball Repair Info
Quoted from tonyhoff1:Yes Chris! I had this same problem on a sopranos! Not saying this will be their problem. But it was in fact mine.
OK. Thanks. That is a possibility. Probably a stronger chance of the bridge failing and exhibiting these symptoms than other silicon in the circuit.
Easy to diode test C_Presley
https://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=General#Testing_a_Bridge_Rectifier
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Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
http://ChrisHiblerPinball.com/contact
http://www.PinWiki.com - The Place to go for Pinball Repair Info
Before you heat up the iron to replace that bridge, a simple test would be to see if you still have about 18V lamp matrix power once the behavior exhibits itself. If you don't, then that isolates the issue to power. It might be the bridge or it might be a simple fractured solder joint. I'd do more testing before attacking any parts. You have to deal with removing the "spade" type bridge, which requires 3 irons and a helper to do cleanly (or ChipQuik).
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Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
http://ChrisHiblerPinball.com/contact
http://www.PinWiki.com - The Place to go for Pinball Repair Info
Quoted from ChrisHibler:Before you heat up the iron to replace that bridge, a simple test would be to see if you still have about 18V lamp matrix power once the behavior exhibits itself. If you don't, then that isolates the issue to power. It might be the bridge or it might be a simple fractured solder joint. I'd do more testing before attacking any parts. You have to deal with removing the "spade" type bridge, which requires 3 irons and a helper to do cleanly (or ChipQuik).
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Chris Hibler - CARGPB #31
http://ChrisHiblerPinball.com/contact
http://www.PinWiki.com - The Place to go for Pinball Repair Info
Touché, it’s a game on location so I figured I’d get parts ordered anyway so I’m not making multiple trips, If the bridge does turn out to be bad my plan was to use a pair of dike pliers to cut the legs off the body of the bridge and then I can pull one by one. Either way the parts are in so I’ll be heading there in a bit to see what’s what.
Quoted from C_Presley:Touché, it’s a game on location so I figured I’d get parts ordered anyway so I’m not making multiple trips, If the bridge does turn out to be bad my plan was to use a pair of dike pliers to cut the legs off the body of the bridge and then I can pull one by one. Either way the parts are in so I’ll be heading there in a bit to see what’s what.
Agree, those bridges suck trying to get out as a whole!
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Northwood, OH
