Doctor Who Launch Ball Button wiring

Grbgemen

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anyone out there with a doctor who or similar game that uses a launch button take a picture or tell me how to wire up the launch button?

wires were unhooked and no diode was present. hooked up the way i think they should go but need to double check.

left flipper button actually launches the ball so im trying to figure that out first. will need to make sure my wiring is correct once i get that sorted out.
 
Check out the manual on www.ipdb.com and see what wires go where. Is it possible that you have flipper button to launch ball as an option set ON, and that's why the flipper is launching the ball?
 
i have the manual but i cannot seem to find where it shows the wiring for the launch button. only thing i could find was the wire colors.

will check out the flipper fire option.

EDIT: dont think that is the case as switch 34(launch button) comes up in the test report.
 
Be aware that you wouldn't get that error if the left button was wired incorrectly as a launch button. For the game would most likely think everything is fine if the ball launches by pressing it.
 
Okay, I looked up the manual for you. It says the two wires for the launch ball button are:

white/yellow and green/orange

So, those should be the two wires that launch your ball. I assume since everything else is working, it's a wiring issue at the button itself, and not the switch matrix/bad connector. If the connection was bad at the board, you would most likely be getting other errors along either the first or second wire's string back to the back box... and it sounds like you aren't.

Also, since the game knows you are not pressing that button, I would say it's very safe to assume it's the wiring issue, and not a flaky coil. Sounds simple enough, but then again I'm not the one that has to deal with it. Good luck. Find those wires and see what happens.
 
just wanted to say i did wire the switch up right. found the problem in the backbox at the connector. wire was loose in the connector.

now i gotta get the opto switch figured out.
 
Hmm, if one of the wires was loose, then I'm surprised nothing else failed long the way. Glad you figured it out!
 
now i gotta get the opto switch figured out.

Which opto switch # is reporting a problem? I just replaced 6 in my Doctor Who and what I thought was a 7th turned out to be a flakey diode on the Opto PCB.

If you need replacement optos (TX/RX) you can grab them at your local radio shack. Chances are good the TX has gone bad rather than the RX but it never hurts to keep a few of each on hand.

Radio Shack IR TX - 276-143 $1.99 USD
Radio Shack IR RX - 276-145 $1.99 USD
 
i had this posted over on rec.games.pinball.

guy suggested pulling the opto boards and reflowing the solder joints to each opto switch. i did and the switch started working again.

i also order some parts and ended up getting a few replacements just in case for later on down the road.
 
Hey, I think I was that guy! Congrats on getting it back up and working!
 
pulling the opto boards and reflowing the solder joints

I'd say this is a far more common resolution on pins than in the early video games. All that banging around in the box definitely takes it's toll on the boards.
 
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