Staregate LED issue

daley

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I was swapping out my insert bulbs with LEDs on my Stargate and after I was all done I went ahead and flipped it on and entered test mode. For some reason 2 out 3 bulbs on every 3 bulbs light board was out. The bulbs all tested good but wouldnt work in the socket. The normal 44s worked just fine when swapped back in. I observed that it was the 2 bulbs furthest from the connector.

Has anyone else had this issue? Any ideas on a fix?


WP_000546.jpg
 
Nevermind, answered my own question, finally turned up in my research. Apparently there is a polarity issue on System 3 machines that affects the lower end LEDs.
 
Nevermind, answered my own question, finally turned up in my research. Apparently there is a polarity issue on all pinball machines that affects the lower end LEDs.


Fixed that for you...

It's not an issue with the machine, it's just with the bulbs. Ablaze LEDs are notorious for being polarized, so if they're in the socket the wrong way, they will not light. We had to place, and replace several bulbs on my STTNG last night because we didn't have them oriented the right way in the 555 or 44 socket. :)
 
Fixed that for you...

It's not an issue with the machine, it's just with the bulbs. Ablaze LEDs are notorious for being polarized, so if they're in the socket the wrong way, they will not light. We had to place, and replace several bulbs on my STTNG last night because we didn't have them oriented the right way in the 555 or 44 socket. :)



how do you reorient a 44 bulb? :p
 
how do you reorient a 44 bulb? :p

Very carefully, especially when it's behind a bitch of a ramp assembly and two standup targets and only accessible from the underside? Sandpaper on the nub? ;)

Okay, so 44's don't have a polarity problem. because they only go one way into the socket and the terminal on the bottom. But yes, ablaze 555's can be some stubborn little turds, often needing the wire lead pulled out to the side, or being turned around in the socket.

*edit* So did you get the LED's working on those two inserts?
 
Okay, so 44's don't have a polarity problem. because they only go one way into the socket and the terminal on the bottom. \

Which is why my original statement was correct. I am dealing with 44s, and System 3s have an issue where some sockets are reversed polarity. I didn't say it was a problem, it is just the root of my issue.

Just to be clear, it isn't all Ablaze LEDs that have the issue, just the 1 LED, the 3 LED can handle the reversed polarity.
 
I was up until like 2:30 or 3 AM yesterday, you're gonna have to cut me some slack lol. Punks came over with his wife and 3 kids, and my 2 kids, you can imagine. :)

But yeah. You got it. And for the record, I really hate those cotter pins! I still can't believe Gottlieb did that...
 
I was up until like 2:30 or 3 AM yesterday, you're gonna have to cut me some slack lol. Punks came over with his wife and 3 kids, and my 2 kids, you can imagine. :)

But yeah. You got it. And for the record, I really hate those cotter pins! I still can't believe Gottlieb did that...

No problem.

I actually don't mind the cotter pins. Makes those 44s really easy to change out.
 
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