Checking a pre-solid-state flipper coil

Steps

• File the cabinet button and EOS switch contacts clean with a small flat file.
• Enable the flippers (start a game, or diagnostics on some games). Meter on DC volts, black lead on the prop rod ground strap, red on any flipper coil lug: expect 50-80 V.
• No voltage means a blown fuse, a broken wire or a fault at the flipper enable relay.
• In diagnostics, clip a jumper to the ground strap and briefly touch the coil lug at the non-banded end of the diode; the coil should pull in.

Keep hands off coil lugs and the solenoid supply while the game is on; 50 V coil circuits read up to about 80 V unloaded.

Systems

• Data East CPU Version 1/2

Games

• Laser War
• Monday Night Football
• Playboy 35th Anniversary
• Secret Service
• Time Machine
• Torpedo Alley

Related tips

• Flipper coils 090-5020-02 and 090-5020-20
• Measuring voltage at a solid state flipper coil
• Flipper coil runs very hot (Time Machine and earlier)
• Solid state flipper board versions
• Flipper circuit on Laser War to Time Machine
• Flipper sometimes sticks up, even with power off: replace the coil sleeve
• Solid state flipper boards are in the cabinet, not the backbox
• Some Playboy and MNF games have solid state flippers

Source: Repairing DataEast 1987 (Laser War) to Sega 1995 (Batman Forever), Part Two, Clay Harrell (pinrepair.com)