IJ - Solenoid issues / testing

[ianw]

Hi

Williams IJ

This is the 1st time I have had solenoid issues, so looking for some advice please.

I have power on both sides of the solenoid, approx 80 volts.

I have tested the wire that connects to the driver board and all okay.

To test the solenoid, connect one of the wires to earth on volt meter and set to 10A, then touch the Q transistor metal bit? Nothing happens..... Can i check the solenoid by connecting the 'fire' wire to earth? I assumed the game must be running to do this.

Or what should I be looking to do?

Many thanks in advance

Ian

 

[pinballmania]

Yes. You can. You can fire it at the drive side of the solenoid , and then at the connector to the driver board.

 

[ianw]

Okay, then I assume the coil has failed. Suppose if it shorted it would blow a fuse, what else can go wrong with a solenoid?

 

[pinballmania]

But you said you had 80v on both sides of the coil, so it must be continuous. If it was short you'd get a huge spark when grounding the drive and fuse blow probably. I assume the coil plunger is free to move and not jammed.

 

[ianw]

The plunger is free moving

 

[pinballmania]

If you have 80v on both sides of the coil, then the only other thing that would stop this working is if your ground isn't actually grounded. Use a continuity test to check that your grounds are all connected back to the earth pin on the plug.

 

[ianw]

Top call, I had a poor earth.

Now I have 2 soleniods that don't work. (1) fires when connected directly to earth, fires when connecting cable connected to earth, doesn't fire when metal tab on transistor connected to eart. (2) a bumper that doesn't fire on test, fires when earth connect to metal tab on transistor, switch on bumper works...... I'm guessing these are independant issues? Agree?

 

[ianw]

All now sorted, due to strange other things happening it was tracked to the the main CPU chip. It needed its socket replacing Thanks Phil at PH