Common ground wire soldered to lights?

[Darrin S.]

Hi, I have a D&D pinball machine and i know eventually lights will burn out and need to be replaced. I looked under the playfield and noticed that the majority of the lights have one wire going to them soldered to the metal base that holds the light to the playfield and occasionally held in by staples. Which looks like it will hinder the replacing of the lights as it seems to be pretty tight.

I've been told that this is a common ground wire and if it gets broken when attempting to replace lights that are underneath inserts it will need to be resoldered. What will happen if it isn't soldered again will the lights not work or something more drastic?

 

[luch]

change the light bulbs from up top , remove plastics and replace

 

[Darrin S.]

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change the light bulbs from up top , remove plastics and replace

I can do that for the GI lights, but these are ones that are located underneath inserts. I don't think i can remove those from top of the playfield.

 

[luch]

can you take a picture , sometimes you just pull the socket slowly out actually bending it then change bulb and bend back ,

 

[luch]

I am also close to you , I can come down and show you , do you need bulbs . I have lots

 

[Darrin S.]

I am also close to you , I can come down and show you , do you need bulbs . I have lots

Thanks for your very quick reply, The lights are all working still. Just i know they will eventually burn out, if i can't replace them myself when that happens if you could help me then that would be great and of course i would pay you for your time.

 

[luch]

yes I can help and there will be no charge, just a cold beer , will even give you the bulbs , I have lots of them

 

[Darrin S.]

yes I can help and there will be no charge, just a cold beer , will even give you the bulbs , I have lots of them

Awesome! thank you

 

[dr.nybble]

I do have a D&D as well and found a few of the under playfield sockets had their solder joint to the common wire broken when the previous owner replaced with LEDs. So yes, you may have to gently bend the socket to get the bulb in & out but be careful not to break the solder joint.

 

[Darrin S.]

I do have a D&D as well and found a few of the under playfield sockets had their solder joint to the common wire broken when the previous owner replaced with LEDs. So yes, you may have to gently bend the socket to get the bulb in & out but be careful not to break the solder joint.

Thank you I will definitely try to be careful when the time comes to replace the lights. Did you resolder the wire back to the lights?

Also, does your skill shot work? The wire gate on mine doesn't seem to be connected to anything and it never registers the 100,000 point skill shot.

 

[DRANO]

I bend the heck out of bulb sockets to get access to the bulbs. Don't worry... they won't break (usually )
If the socket is screwed into the playfield you should also loosen the screw first of course. That will give you more flexibility. I know Bally was doing some weird things during this era, so maybe your sockets are just stapled in place? A photo would be hepful for sure.

 

[Darrin S.]

I bend the heck out of bulb sockets to get access to the bulbs. Don't worry... they won't break (usually )
If the socket is screwed into the playfield you should also loosen the screw first of course. That will give you more flexibility. I know Bally was doing some weird things during this era, so maybe your sockets are just stapled in place? A photo would be hepful for sure.

They are definitely held in by a screw/bolt to the playfield and the ground wire is stapled at spots to the playfield . I will take a picture and post it later tonight when I get home from work.

 

[dr.nybble]

Thank you I will definitely try to be careful when the time comes to replace the lights. Did you resolder the wire back to the lights?

Also, does your skill shot work? The wire gate on mine doesn't seem to be connected to anything and it never registers the 100,000 point skill shot.

Yes I resoldered although gravity doesn't help when you have the playfield vertical.

My skillshot works, I have never had a close look.

 

[Darrin S.]

Yes I resoldered although gravity doesn't help when you have the playfield vertical.

My skillshot works, I have never had a close look.

Alright thank you for your reply. If you can some time please check the metal gate under the skill shot light is yours attached to anything that would register score?