Question concerning EBD flipper switches.........

PapaJohn

unread,

Jan 6, 2010, 10:46:47 PM1/6/10

to

I just replaced the 3 switches at the flippers. I notice when I hit
the flipper button and open the high voltage points there is a small
blue flash at the contact points. they are the ones that are normally
closed that is until I actuate the flipper and the contact opens. No
blue flash with the low voltage points though. Is this normal?
THANKS, John

Reinhard

unread,

Jan 6, 2010, 11:05:42 PM1/6/10

to

Yes, it is normal for the high voltage contacts to arc since they are
controlling a large amount of current.

The low voltage switch (lane change) should not arc.

Hopefully, your high voltage switch contacts are the larger "tungsten"
points and not just silver or gold contacts. Otherwise, they will not last
very long.

RB

"PapaJohn" <mrpap...@msn.com> wrote in message
news:f5f3efb2-ddfb-45f2...@h9g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...

PapaJohn

unread,

Jan 6, 2010, 11:18:59 PM1/6/10

to

On Jan 6, 8:05 pm, "Reinhard" <reinhar...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Yes, it is normal for the high voltage contacts to arc since they are
> controlling a large amount of current.
>
> The low voltage switch (lane change) should not arc.
>
> Hopefully, your high voltage switch contacts are the larger "tungsten"
> points and not just silver or gold contacts. Otherwise, they will not last
> very long.
>
> RB
>

> "PapaJohn" <mrpapajo...@msn.com> wrote in message

>
> news:f5f3efb2-ddfb-45f2...@h9g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> >I just replaced the 3 switches at the flippers. I notice when I hit
> > the flipper button and open the high voltage points there is a small
> > blue flash at the contact points. they are the ones that are normally
> > closed that is until I actuate the flipper and the contact opens. No
> > blue flash with the low voltage points though. Is this normal?

> > THANKS, John- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

THANKS, RB

juanmaib

unread,

Jan 7, 2010, 8:24:25 AM1/7/10

to

i put a ceramic capacitor in each contact, and no more blue spark.

Mike Schudel

unread,

Jan 7, 2010, 8:31:07 AM1/7/10

to

>"juanmaib" <juan...@gmail.com> wrote in message

>i put a ceramic capacitor in each contact, and no more blue spark.

I've done this before on an EM game that threw sparks at the flipper
switches. I soldered those yellow caps, that are used on sys11 games across
the EOS switch, to the flipper switches. Worked really well.

I guess the game was no longer an EM after that, huh? :-)

--
Mike S.
Kalamazoo, MI
Gameroom: http://tinyurl.com/yxzavc
W C S Owner's List: http://tinyurl.com/8ua2n
Gameroom Video: http://tinyurl.com/y8vmz6k

MrBally

unread,

Jan 7, 2010, 8:42:14 AM1/7/10

to

On Jan 7, 8:31 am, "Mike Schudel" <schud...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >"juanmaib" <juanm...@gmail.com> wrote in message

Now it's a hybrid.

PapaJohn

unread,

Jan 7, 2010, 11:21:42 AM1/7/10

to

Do any of you guys have pictures of the capacitor installation?
THANKS, John

Mike Schudel

unread,

Jan 7, 2010, 11:49:26 AM1/7/10

to

>"PapaJohn" <mrpap...@msn.com> wrote in message

>Do any of you guys have pictures of the capacitor installation?
>THANKS, John

Pretty easy really. This is what I did.

1. Get two of these:
http://www.pinballlife.com/index.php?p=product&id=177&parent=20
2. Slip some small diameter heat shrink (or vinyl tubing) over each wire
lead on the cap, leaving about 1/4" of the lead exposed.
3. I used a very small piece of double sided tape to mount the cap to the
inside of the cabinet near the flipper switch. I didn't want the cap
dangling supported by the leads or solder joints.
4. Solder one lead of the cap to one tab of the flipper switch, where the
wire is soldered, and the other lead of the cap to the other flipper switch
tab, where the wire is soldered. Essentaiily wiring the cap in parallel
across the flipper switch.
5. Repeat using the second capacitor for the other flipper switch.