Hello all,
Ok, I've been thinking, looking and planning where to go from here with my current skills.
So, we know so far that with J8 connected to the motherboard in the top box, that fuse f21 blows, for 50v DC coils.
I've made a spreadsheet for all 7 coils, listing info about them from the manual, and my observations, notes, test results. I may have some unnecessary fields, or missed others, but it's a start.
First coil I decided to pick was the Auto Launch named coil, as it was easy to access and looked quite sooty.
Here's a pic of it, top right of the picture:
Putting my multi-meter on it, with the meter on the ohms setting 200, I ready 3.9 from the coil no matter what way around I connect the meter's probes. This is above the 3ohm number I've read that is a rough minimum for a working coil, so this one /appears/ to be ok.
I note that this is a lower ohm value than any of the other coils on this J8 connector that i tested. Once i figure out a way to paste/import my spreadsheet into this post, i'll do that at a later time so you can see my progress/results.
This Auto Launch coil only has 2 wires in total connected to it.
QUESTION1: Since this coil only has 2 wires total, if i I want to remove the coil to test out of circuit, do I just desolder the 2 wires from the coil and separately tape them up so they can't short together/against anything else? If I'm understanding correctly, I should only keep 2x hot wires soldered together when removing a coil if I have them (I think this would be a 3 wire coil, not a 2 wire like this one). I hope that's correct, if not please let me know.
Next I figured I could do some things safely without powering on the machine. From reading, I should really test the diodes, and that they can only be tested out of circuit. With that in mind I decided that I will replace all coils+diodes in the machine, but first will try to find the troublesome things as a learning process, while being as safe as possible.
I've desoldered the 2 wires from coil:2, and cut out the diode, taped the wires up separately and will wait for answers to my question above before considering turning on the machine. I've tested that coils resistance again with my meter and it's a little lower but still above 3.
I've read about a bit about testing diodes and on the diode setting on my meter, I get a reading one way, not the other as well as no continuity beep, so I think that diode was possibly fine. No matter, I have learnt a lot just by getting to this stage, and diodes are cheap so will get some ordered (
QUESTION2: Or do new coils come with diodes already fitted?)
I thought I could paste from my spreadsheet into this post, but it's not previewing, so forgive the **** formatting, have just typed them in instead:
Coil: 2
(INFO BELOW = FROM MANUAL)
Description: Auto Launch
Drive Transistor (D.T): Q2
D.T Control line colour: BRN-RED
D.T Contol Line Connect: J8-P3
Power Line Colour: YEL-VIO
Power Line Connection: J10-P4/5
Voltage: 50v
Coil GA/Turn or Bulb Type: 23-700 // 090-5022-00T
Location: Above playfield
(INFO BELOW = JOHNNY'S RESULTS/OBSERVATIONS (THEREFORE PROLLY WRONG/STUPID)
Coil In Machine Details: BLACK BEAST 23-700. 090-5022-0T OR -01, messy label writing
Ohm Measurement : 3.9ohms (tested while coil in machine untouched by me)
Diode?: Yes - markings: in4004,g1636m i think, fecking small writing
test diode: yes with multimeter on diode+continuity setting. one way round it gives '569', other way around '1' and does not make the continuity beep sound
test of coil without diode attached or in machine: 3.6ohms
Conclusion thoughts about coil:2 so far:
* Next need to build/buy an adjustable psu thingy so i can test coils firing out of machine (just thoughts atm)
* buy new diode and replace one I cut off
* clean up, but do not lube anything and check plastic shaft if needs replacing
Here's a picture of that unit removed from the machine:
Doesn't sound that much progress now I've written that up, but I've have spent some enjoyable time reading up about diodes/coils and watching testing videos on youtube to learn and making the spreadsheet which I can't work out how to paste in just yet, has been fun an interesting, as well as time consuming.
I did find that the x-wing launcher coil did not have a diode on it, unlike every other coil on this J8 connector, that stood out on my spreadsheet so before bed tonight I'm going to read the manual and see what it says about that x-wing coil.
Have a great night everyone, seeya soon
Cheers,
Johnny