Skee Ball Lightning opto-switch conversion?

[akeym]

Is it possible to convert a Skee Ball Lightning system from optical switches to mechanical switches? The return path under the target field has two little screw holes for each ball hole in the target, which makes me think they either moved from mechanical to optical sometime during production or it was an ordering option.

I'd like to convert to mechanical switches because I don't have the proper Skee Balls to trigger the opto-switches reliably.. and the "real" ones are very expensive. If there's a way to adjust them or make the opto-switches work with the poly balls I'd definitely like to hear about it!

 

[tec9]

Let me ask you a personal question.....
What color are your balls?
Seriously....if they are not the brown plastic balls, the sensors do not detect some colors very well.
-Mark

 

[akeym]

They are brown plastic. There are also some official skee-ball wooden composite ones mixed in, and some strange smaller pressed fiberboard spheres painted brown. I've heard that the opto switches just won't work right with the poly/plastic balls because they reflect too much. Is that true?

 

[modessitt]

They won't work much at all with the black plastic balls (score double) and I've seen some minor issues with that with the brown plastic ones. If they don't score at all, you can change the mounting distance of them.

As for changing to switches, you need a different harness and a different Eprom. You can probably get them from Skeeball....

 

[tec9]

They only used switches on early production "Model S" Lightning. This was the first version of the Lightning machine. The sensors were standard on later model S lightnings, N1C, and N1E hardware. I don't recall a sensor to switch conversion kit....seems to be going backwards. You could convert it, but I don't think you will find a kit from Skeeball to do that.
-Mark

 

[Powerplayfec]

I have 9 Skee Ball Lightnings and they all work just fine with the orange poly balls (as used in Bay-tek alley bowlers as well).

 

[CEC_DFW]

I've used brown and black. No issues.
What's your +5vdc?
You can buy the optos from allied or mouser cheaper than buying from SKEEBALL