Pinbot Increase Solar Value lighting behavior?

Tim O

unread,

Jul 30, 2012, 9:06:17 AM7/30/12

to

Is this insert normally dark, and lights when the bumpers or other
Solar Value items are triggered (which is what I believe should
happen)?

The reason I ask is that all 4 bulbs were burnt out in this location
on my Pinbot, but when I replaced them with the LED's I had on hand,
it stays lit all the time, just flickering occasionally.

I'm not sure if there is an issue with the machine leaving that insert
lit all the time, or if its just a dimming/ ghosting type problem with
the LED's I'm using.

Gorgarspeaks

unread,

Jul 30, 2012, 9:28:17 AM7/30/12

to

The "increase solar value" lights when the pops are hit. So it blinks a
lot when the pops are hit. It doesn't stay lit all the time.

Mine were all burnt out too when I got my pinbot. I replaced with
incandenscents.

I know sometimes LED's don't work the same (blinking wise) as
incandescents.

--
Gorgarspeaks
This USENET post sent from http://rgparchive.com

Kerry Imming

unread,

Jul 30, 2012, 10:02:27 AM7/30/12

to

Those are flash lamps. They're driven with a coil driver and have
heater
resistors to keep the filament warm. Those resistors will prevent
LEDs from
operating correctly without modifying the circuit.

- Kerry

calvin12

unread,

Jul 30, 2012, 11:15:47 AM7/30/12

to

Kerry Imming;1977621 Wrote:
> On Jul 30, 8:28*am, Gorgarspeaks <dray... (AT) hotmail (DOT) com>

> wrote:
> > The "increase solar value" lights when the pops are hit. So it blinks
> a

> > lot when the pops are hit. *It doesn't stay lit all the time.

> >
> > Mine were all burnt out too when I got my pinbot. I replaced with
> > incandenscents.
> >
> > I know sometimes LED's don't work the same (blinking wise) as
> > incandescents.
> >
> > --
> > Gorgarspeaks

> > This USENET post sent from *http://rgparchive.com

>
> Those are flash lamps. They're driven with a coil driver and have
> heater
> resistors to keep the filament warm. Those resistors will prevent
> LEDs from
> operating correctly without modifying the circuit.
>
> - Kerry

Easy work around to the warming circuit is put in 1 incandescent. Thats
what I did. Put on in the first socket of the chain of 4. I think I only
needed one, but I'd have to check to be sure.

--
calvin12

Tim O

unread,

Jul 30, 2012, 11:33:16 AM7/30/12

to

On Mon, 30 Jul 2012 11:15:47 -0400, calvin12 <regm...@comcast.net>
wrote:

Excellent, thanks for the info guys!

Tim

Kerry Imming

unread,

Jul 30, 2012, 9:55:52 AM7/30/12

to

"Gorgarspeaks" <dra...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Gorgarspe...@rrgparchive.com...

>
> The "increase solar value" lights when the pops are hit. So it blinks a
> lot when the pops are hit. It doesn't stay lit all the time.
>
> Mine were all burnt out too when I got my pinbot. I replaced with
> incandenscents.
>
> I know sometimes LED's don't work the same (blinking wise) as
> incandescents.
>

Kerry Imming

unread,

Jul 30, 2012, 5:57:47 PM7/30/12

to

"calvin12" <regm...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:calvin1...@rrgparchive.com...

>
> Easy work around to the warming circuit is put in 1 incandescent. Thats
> what I did. Put on in the first socket of the chain of 4. I think I only
> needed one, but I'd have to check to be sure.
>

Nice work-around. Goes into the "I wish I'd thought of that" category.

- Kerry

calvin12

unread,

Jul 30, 2012, 8:03:08 PM7/30/12

to

It want planned when i put in leds i had v the same issue and just tried
it and worked. Same thing foot the topside flashers.

AVP Pinball Division

unread,

Aug 1, 2012, 10:44:48 AM8/1/12

to

"Tim O" <timo56...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:0b1d18padpu1964o1...@4ax.com...

You need LEDs that mock flasher bulbs. There is also a low power
"keep-alive" circuit that pre-warms the incandescent lamps in that location.
LEDs are much more efficient at producing light and will glow. At the very
least you need to remove the keep-alive resistor. I can't say if the
flasher-equivalent LEDs would need this circuit altered or not. Personally
there are very few places where I would ever place LEDs on a game, but
that's just me. I hate the strobing, ghosting and overall harsh look
provided by LEDs when they're installed in a circuit that was not designed
to support LED use.

--
Pistol Pete
AVP Pinball Division
Towson, MD
410-583-9200
web: http://www.AVPpinball.com
email: ser...@AVPpinball.com

Tim O

unread,

Aug 1, 2012, 10:54:22 AM8/1/12

to

I mainly did it because I didn't have that size standard bulb. I don't
mind LED's (I think they look great in a lot of cases), so I think
I'll try the one standard flasher, 3 LED trick here and see if it
works out for me.