LEDs flicker in controlled lamps on Bally and Stern SCR lamp boards
These lamp driver boards switch the controlled lamps with SCRs, which only stay latched on while enough current flows. A plain LED draws too little, so the lamps strobe or flicker. Fit a 470 ohm load resistor across the affected lamp sockets (often about half of them is enough), or use a plug-in load board that does the same at the lamp board. GI lamps aren't affected.
Systems
Related tips
- How Bally controlled lamps are powered and switched
- A controlled lamp that is always on means a shorted SCR
- Controlled lamps flicker or stay out after fitting a replacement lamp driver with LEDs
- Test lamp SCRs with the power off
- Substitute SCRs for the lamp driver board
- Two inserts faintly lit all the time: failed lamp driver SCR
- Lamp driver board layout: SCRs, decoders and connectors
- One controlled lamp does not light
Source: Pinball Repair help group!! (Facebook group)