Opinions needed on pinball displays...
Welcome, Guest.
Portal
Please login or register.
MAACA ARCHIVES - JOIN THE NEW FORUM AT HTTP://WWW.MAACA.ORG    General Boards    MAACA Forum and Chat  ›  Opinions needed on pinball displays...
Users Browsing Forum
No Members and 1 Guests

Opinions needed on pinball displays...  This thread currently has 348 views. Print
2 Pages 1 2 » All Recommend Thread
Sparky
May 26, 2008, 10:54am Report to Moderator

Almost done.
Admin. These guys can help
Posts
10,721
Gender
Male
Posts Per Day
4.72
Time Online
339 days 10 hours 56 minutes
Location
Saint-Lazare, west of MTL
Age
36
Hey all,

OK... I now have a Silverball Mania fully running except that 3 displays are degassing and burning out big-time. I just had the power supply rebuilt and prior to that, the high voltage section was toast (probably the displays didn't help...).

My dilemna is this... do I change the plasma glass on all of them, or just go for LED displays? The prices come up to about the same... this is what I gathered:

- original glasses are about 45$ each on average, and you have to remove the old ones and solder on the new ones... and you are still stuck with an original 30-year-old display board...

- PINLED kits are about the same price as a total plasma glass change without the hassle, BUT the LED boxes are grey thus show through the glass, and would need a bit of modifying as there is a gap between the digits where backbox lighting shines through, unlike the original framed Bally displays. They would possibly need a smoky acetate in front of them to dim the grey, but that would also dim the display even more...

- there seems to be other makers of LED displays as well. Marcospec sells Pinsore displays (they actually have adjustable brightness... nice too, but again, a gap on 6-digit displays...), Pinball Resource sells the Pioneer Microsystems displays (pricey!!!), Bay Area sells PINLED (but you can get these off Ebay as well).

Any advice?

I like the Pinscore LED displays as they are black, but I question the ability for a 5V circuit to handle them...


Retiring soon...
Logged Offline
Private Message
Vengeance
May 26, 2008, 11:31am Report to Moderator

Respect my AUTHORITAH!
Complete MAACA-Wacko!
Posts
3,793
Posts Per Day
2.06
Time Online
364 days 10 hours 45 minutes
Location
Keswick, Ontario
Age
30
Gameroom Magazine did a review of the PinLED and PinScore displays and the nod was givin tot he PinScore displayes over the PinLed displays.  I could scan in the article if you wanted to read it.


Adam Becker
Logged Offline
Private Message ICQ Windows Live Messenger Reply: 1 - 15
cooke
May 26, 2008, 11:37am Report to Moderator

Say 'yes' to classic Sterns.
Complete MAACA-Wacko!
Posts
2,680
Gender
Male
Posts Per Day
1.31
Time Online
655 days 1 hours 13 minutes
Location
London, Ontario
Age
33
I have Pinscore displays in my Space Station and they're awesome.

As for the power supply being able to handle the 5V... the displays already use 5V, so I'm not sure it would be much more of a draw than normal. I've seen lots of opinions on RGP regarding the bally/stern pinscore displays and the general consensus is that they rock and cause no problems. And if they did cause any problems, chances are the components that would fail would be near their breaking point anyway. If you have a healthy 5V circuit with fresh components and a new big cap, you should be fine.

If I had 3 displays out, I'd be looking at picking up a new set of pinscores rather than repairing the 3 bad displays. Either that or I'd just purchase three used displays and hope that they have good glass. Obviously new displays is less risky... but more expensive than buying used.
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 2 - 15
Sparky
May 26, 2008, 11:53am Report to Moderator

Almost done.
Admin. These guys can help
Posts
10,721
Gender
Male
Posts Per Day
4.72
Time Online
339 days 10 hours 56 minutes
Location
Saint-Lazare, west of MTL
Age
36
Quoted from cooke

If I had 3 displays out, I'd be looking at picking up a new set of pinscores rather than repairing the 3 bad displays. Either that or I'd just purchase three used displays and hope that they have good glass. Obviously new displays is less risky... but more expensive than buying used.


Well, considering that I am restoring a Silverball Mania, an Eight Ball and a Playboy, I might just gather all the displays together and test them all. If I have at least 10 good ones, then I will get 1 set. If over 5 but under 10, I will get 2 sets.

I am just truly tired of the whole "hunting for displays" thing. The glass is expensive and takes a lot of time to replace and most that I have done ended up with the "pads" on the boards coming right off, so I couldn't solder them on, therefore almost scrapping the new glass and having to look for a board.

Hey Adam, if you don't mind, yeah, can you scan the article?

The only downside then with Pinscore is Marcospec and their completely-insane UPS shipping. I would try to ask for USPS if they do it...


Retiring soon...
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 3 - 15
Menace
May 26, 2008, 11:58am Report to Moderator

YES! Tglover is a crackhead!
Complete MAACA-Wacko!
Posts
1,734
Gender
Male
Posts Per Day
0.84
Time Online
168 days 23 hours 52 minutes
Location
GTA, Ont.
Age
35
I was talking with them last week about shipping, and they were going to send me a 4lb box of parts Fedex overnight to Toronto for under $30.  Given what we pay here @ work for Fedex P1 shipments, that wasn't too unreasonable, and the best part is the brokerage is included with that service, so no UPS brokerage bill to worry about.  You'd still be on the hook for the tax though....

D.
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 4 - 15
Vengeance
May 26, 2008, 12:35pm Report to Moderator

Respect my AUTHORITAH!
Complete MAACA-Wacko!
Posts
3,793
Posts Per Day
2.06
Time Online
364 days 10 hours 45 minutes
Location
Keswick, Ontario
Age
30
Don't have a scanner at home and don't have the magazine with me so I'll scan it for you tommorow if that is alright.  


Adam Becker
Logged Offline
Private Message ICQ Windows Live Messenger Reply: 5 - 15
Bally Boy
May 26, 2008, 2:34pm Report to Moderator

MAACA-General
Posts
761
Gender
Male
Posts Per Day
0.49
Time Online
100 days 5 hours 1 minutes
Location
Ancaster
Marco will ship via USPS Global Priority Mail if you ask in the comment box at the the bottom of the order form. I use it everytime with them. FED EX or UPS is just insane at the residential level.

Dan

P.S. I have a box of extra working displays if you're stuck.
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 6 - 15
websherpa
May 26, 2008, 4:06pm Report to Moderator

Keep groovin' to 80's pinball machines!
Complete MAACA-Wacko!
Posts
3,344
Gender
Male
Posts Per Day
2.17
Time Online
800 days 5 hours 48 minutes
Location
Waterdown, ON
Age
46
Quoted from Bally Boy
Marco will ship via USPS Global Priority Mail if you ask in the comment box at the the bottom of the order form. I use it everytime with them. FED EX or UPS is just insane at the residential level.

Dan




USPS recently changed up their offerings, now they have Global Express Guaranteed (1-2 days), Express Mail International (3-5 days), Priority Mail (6-10 days), First Class (no guarantee). (i.e. it's no longer called "Global Priority", but "Priority Mail International".

I just placed an order with Marco (new web site), and I believe that USPS Express Mail was the only choice, which is a shame because the price ($40+) seems more akin to Global Express or UPS Air which is the 1 - 2 day service (unless they've gotten the terminology mixed up).  Didn't seem cheaper than the previous UPS service (except no one will miss the $35 brokerage fee).  

Personally I like US suppliers to use Priority Mail, gives you a good mix of cost versus transit time, (particularly if they use a USPS flat rate box), and had I known, I would have asked.  Only beware their form comment box now only takes something like 10 or 15 letters, so not much room to write.  They had a "special" advertised, but their cart didn't give me the special.


Wayne (webSherpa) "WEB"
"Pinballs do not die - they plunge, flip and then sewer."
http://www.pinballisnotdead.com/
Logged Online
Site Private Message Reply: 7 - 15
sylvain
May 26, 2008, 5:15pm Report to Moderator

Complete MAACA-Wacko!
Posts
1,815
Gender
Male
Posts Per Day
0.81
Time Online
18 days 2 hours 9 minutes
Location
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Quoted from Sparky
OK... I now have a Silverball Mania fully running except that 3 displays are degassing and burning out big-time.
I just had the power supply rebuilt and prior to that, the high voltage section was toast (probably the displays didn't help...).

Just curious, at what high voltage level is your Solenoid Driver high voltage regulator currently adjusted to ?
The 'burning-up' of the three displays seems a bit peculiar to me...

Cheers,
- Sylvain.


Looking for 1966 Bally Capersville, 1967 Bally The Wiggler, 1981 Stern Viper, 1986 Pinstar Gamatron,
1986 Williams Grand Lizard, 1991 Williams Bride of Pinbot, and a few others.
Cash or some trades available. Could also repair a machine of yours +/-$ if needed, in exchange for
one machine on my want list, non-working/unshopped welcome!
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 8 - 15
ethous
May 26, 2008, 7:30pm Report to Moderator

Whats that Shap pain in my back Oh it's a Knife
Complete MAACA-Wacko!
Posts
1,778
Gender
Male
Posts Per Day
0.82
Time Online
321 days 18 hours 59 minutes
Location
Gatineau
Age
32
Yeah like Sylvain said sounds a little fishy,
I had EK at Henries with that issue was a darlinton that was the problem.


Life is like Pinball!! You never know where you will bounce or where your going but sometimes you have that one amazing shot But on the other hand you have those darn gutter ball where you just get frustrated.
Logged Offline
Private Message Windows Live Messenger Reply: 9 - 15
Sparky
May 26, 2008, 9:45pm Report to Moderator

Almost done.
Admin. These guys can help
Posts
10,721
Gender
Male
Posts Per Day
4.72
Time Online
339 days 10 hours 56 minutes
Location
Saint-Lazare, west of MTL
Age
36
Quoted from sylvain

Just curious, at what high voltage level is your Solenoid Driver high voltage regulator currently adjusted to ?
The 'burning-up' of the three displays seems a bit peculiar to me...

Cheers,
- Sylvain.


Power supply was just rebuilt. I believe it is around 195 now. Don't forget... these displays are just old and tired... they didn't burn up overnight.


Retiring soon...
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 10 - 15
sylvain
May 26, 2008, 9:49pm Report to Moderator

Complete MAACA-Wacko!
Posts
1,815
Gender
Male
Posts Per Day
0.81
Time Online
18 days 2 hours 9 minutes
Location
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
I usually lower the high voltage on all my Bally machines of that era to 175 volts.

Cheers,
- Sylvain.


Looking for 1966 Bally Capersville, 1967 Bally The Wiggler, 1981 Stern Viper, 1986 Pinstar Gamatron,
1986 Williams Grand Lizard, 1991 Williams Bride of Pinbot, and a few others.
Cash or some trades available. Could also repair a machine of yours +/-$ if needed, in exchange for
one machine on my want list, non-working/unshopped welcome!
Logged Offline
Private Message Reply: 11 - 15
2 Pages 1 2 » All Recommend Thread
Print

MAACA ARCHIVES - JOIN THE NEW FORUM AT HTTP://WWW.MAACA.ORG    General Boards    MAACA Forum and Chat  ›  Opinions needed on pinball displays...

Thread Rating
There is currently no rating for this thread
 


Powered by E-Blah Forum Software 10.3.6 © 2001-2008

Valid XHTML Valid CSS Sourceforge.net Powered by Perl