Testing your Solenoid/Regulator board is almost as important as the repair job. The last thing I want is for you to unpack the board you sent me for repair and have it not work in your machine. In the years I've been doing Bally and Stern repair work, with help from Clay Harrell and Ed at GPE, I've developed a nice bench setup that allows me to test your solenoid/driver board completely. While machine testing is nice, be aware that most machines DO NOT test all 19 solenoid circuits, so a machine-tested board can not really be tested 100%. Mine can! Here'w why:
- I apply the proper input voltage to the 5-Volt regulator, and subject it to a 5 ohm load. This load draws 1 amp of current from the regulator circuit to assure it works under normal operating conditions
- I apply the proper input voltage to the high voltage regulator, and subject it to a 2K ohm load. This load draws between 85 and 95 milliamps from the regulator circuit to assure it works under normal operating conditions
- I have 19 simulated coil load circuits on my test setup so when I test each solenoid circuit, they're subjected to a 100 ohm load to draw about 1/2 amp to make sure the driver transistors can handle the current. I then use an MPU with custom ROMs which will exercise
ALL 19 driver circuits (not just the game specific solenoids), one at a time.
- I put a voltage and load on each of the two flipper relay contacts to assure they properly open and close when told to.
- I then measure each test point and assure it's reading as it should.
Rest assured when I say your board is tested 100%, IT IS!!!
Created 8/1/05 - Last Modified 8/1/06 - Steve Kulpa
Nolensville, TN
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