From Newsgroup: rec.games.pinball

I blew Fuse F4 on the Aux board which controls the slingshot, boomerang and skill shot solenoids. While hard to get a solid read, all solenoids seem to test fine with the DMM. I noticed that the left slingshot solenoid had been installed incorrectly and there was clear evidence of a short against the mount (black singeing). I happily rebuilt the whole thing but F4 still blows instantly. So now I could use some advice - am I looking at a board-level component replacement now or is there something under the playfield I am missing?
--- Synchronet 3.19a-Win32 NewsLink 1.113

From Newsgroup: rec.games.pinball

On Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 6:14:46 PM UTC-7, Adam Hocherman wrote:

I blew Fuse F4 on the Aux board which controls the slingshot, boomerang and skill shot solenoids. While hard to get a solid read, all solenoids seem to test fine with the DMM. I noticed that the left slingshot solenoid had been installed incorrectly and there was clear evidence of a short against the mount (black singeing). I happily rebuilt the whole thing but F4 still blows instantly. So now I could use some advice - am I looking at a board-level component replacement now or is there something under the playfield I am missing?

Hard to say, could be anything, but it's a short somewhere. One thing that could help is purchasing some pushbutton mini circuit breakers like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Circuit-Breaker-Briidea-Voltage-Protection/dp/B09KTDDVDM/ref=sr_1_10?crid=QF0F2SC79Z0J&keywords=pushbutton+mini+circuit+breakers&qid=1681085541&sprefix=pushbutton+mini+circuit+breakers%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-10
I made a few of these up with various ampereages. This way you're not constantly blowing fuses while you look for the problem.
--- Synchronet 3.19a-Win32 NewsLink 1.113

From Newsgroup: rec.games.pinball

On Sunday, April 9, 2023 at 8:15:10 PM UTC-4, coolbet wrote:

On Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 6:14:46 PM UTC-7, Adam Hocherman wrote:

I blew Fuse F4 on the Aux board which controls the slingshot, boomerang and skill shot solenoids. While hard to get a solid read, all solenoids seem to test fine with the DMM. I noticed that the left slingshot solenoid had been installed incorrectly and there was clear evidence of a short against the mount (black singeing). I happily rebuilt the whole thing but F4 still blows instantly. So now I could use some advice - am I looking at a board-level component replacement now or is there something under the playfield I am missing?

Hard to say, could be anything, but it's a short somewhere. One thing that could help is purchasing some pushbutton mini circuit breakers like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Circuit-Breaker-Briidea-Voltage-Protection/dp/B09KTDDVDM/ref=sr_1_10?crid=QF0F2SC79Z0J&keywords=pushbutton+mini+circuit+breakers&qid=1681085541&sprefix=pushbutton+mini+circuit+breakers%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-10
I made a few of these up with various ampereages. This way you're not constantly blowing fuses while you look for the problem.

Cool, what a great idea - I didn't know such a thing existed. Thanks for the tip!
--- Synchronet 3.19a-Win32 NewsLink 1.113

From Newsgroup: rec.games.pinball

On 2023/03/30 6:14 p.m., Adam Hocherman wrote:

I blew Fuse F4 on the Aux board which controls the slingshot, boomerang and skill shot solenoids. While hard to get a solid read, all solenoids seem to test fine with the DMM. I noticed that the left slingshot solenoid had been installed incorrectly and there was clear evidence of a short against the mount (black singeing). I happily rebuilt the whole thing but F4 still blows instantly. So now I could use some advice - am I looking at a board-level component replacement now or is there something under the playfield I am missing?

Does the fuse blow as soon as you power up the game?

If yes, then you have a problem - most likely at least one solenoid
driver transistor is shorted.

If you have an ohmmeter, check the resistance to cabinet ground for the various coils. If several show low resistance to ground, then find the
one with the lowest value - that is probably the shorted coil (or the
coil diode is shorted) and needs attention. Unsolder one lug of the coil
and then check the other coils that showed low resistance to ground. If
they now show high or infinite resistance to ground the coil AND the
driver transistor are shorted and need attention.

A better way to check for shorts is to use a 24 to 28 volt light bulb
across the fuse holder (for 24VDC coils). If a coil is shorted then the
bulb will be bright. If no short the light will be out.

John :-#)#
--
(Please post followups or tech inquiries to the USENET newsgroup)
John's Jukes Ltd.
#7 - 3979 Marine Way, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5J 5E3
(604)872-5757 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
www.flippers.com
"Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

--- Synchronet 3.19a-Win32 NewsLink 1.113