Randy T.: Can an LED-Wiz be used to drive pinball solenoids ???

[RandyT]

Another thing to keep in mind is that flipper coils are 2-in-1. A timed powerful coil to move the flipper and a much less powerful hold coil to keep the flipper in the up position as long as the switch is held. (The powerful coil would burn-out, if it remains on as long as the switch is held.)

I wasn't exactly sure about the internals, but the three connection points should have made an impression .  I have found out the hard way what happens when that system stops working.  I had one of the contacts on the flipper leaf switch go bad on me once, and that caused the switchover to become disabled.  The coil smoked on me (literally).    My only reference on this stuff is an old "High Speed".  Hopefully they are managing this aspect better on newer designs.

RandyT

[Xiaou2]

Afaik,  Willaims design was one of the better out there.

 Using a leaf is about the only choice actually.   If they used Optos,  the
optos would eventually either blow,  or would get dirty from the carbon
dust... and wouldnt be able to see anything.

 Its actually the mechanical details that could have used modifications.

 For example... the Williams arm that triggered the end of stroke switch was
covered with a thin rubber like material.  However, once that wore down...
the EOS switch would get stuck on that arm assembly... keeping the flipper
pretty much locked in the uppermost position.

 
 Some things like Flippers need zero latency, and should be circuitboard
driven.  Pop bumpers and slingshots are also fairly critical.   Kicker holes are
no big deal, as they are usually slow anyways.

 I originally thought that pop bumpers could be directly driven... but then I
thought about it more.  I believe some games can turn the pop bumpers
off actually... until a set point in the game.  In addition,  I wouldnt know how to
register points and get the thing to fire as well.   Typically, the modern pins
register the switch, check with the game logic to see if pop bumper is available,
then add points and fire bumper.  The only other option that is non circuitboard
based would be a double switch system.  However, pop bumpers arent really
set up for such a thing... and would be extremely difficult to impossible to
modify it to do so.

 To be honest... I have no clue how to handle the flipper coil issue. 
(wiring)   Its bad enough that one can not easily obtain a 30+ volt power supply that has enough kick for a pins coils...   (have to use a transformer... and thats
a bit beyond my understanding.   If you try to find a powerful 30+ volt
powersupply.. it will cost Oodles of cash)

 I think a kit really would be a great option for people like me... who are
fine with simple wiring   and not a guru's in electronics.


Edit:

 I just remembered a few pins that actually control the flippers as well.   For
example... Adams Family will sometimes auto fire the flippers in time to the
hand clap in the song after the ball has drained.   Also, if you tilted a machine,
the game temporarily disables the firing of the flippers until the ball has drained.

 So, not a simple direct wire job... unless you really want something very
hacky/tacky.

   

[yugffuts]

I just remembered a few pins that actually control the flippers as well.   For
example... Adams Family will sometimes auto fire the flippers in time to the
hand clap in the song after the ball has drained.   Also, if you tilted a machine,
the game temporarily disables the firing of the flippers until the ball has drained.

Yes, proper tilt would require that all on field elements be turned off, and also a ball search would require that all on field elements be turned on to find the ball.  All electronics on the PF would need to have some kind of interaction with the main circuitboard.

Monster Bash also had 'Phantom Flip", where the flipper would fire itself to hit a shot.  And I think it was the Simpsons that reversed the flippers at one point (so, the right button fired the left flipper & vice versa). So there are multiple examples of the flippers being controlled at the circuit level, and not just directly switched to the buttons.