Converting an EM flipper or bumper coil to DC
Steps
- Get one bridge rectifier per coil, rated at least 4 A and 50 V.
- Work out where to mount it next to the coil (screw it to the playfield underside or let a small one hang on its leads).
- Unsolder the wire(s) from one outer lug of the coil and solder them to one AC terminal of the rectifier.
- Move the wire(s) from the other outer lug to the other AC terminal.
- Solder the rectifier + DC terminal to one outer coil lug and the - DC terminal to the other.
- On a flipper coil leave the centre lug and EOS wiring as they were. A two-lug coil is done the same way.
- Test gently: too much power can launch balls and break brittle old drop targets. Remove the rectifier if it is too strong.
Systems
Related tips
- Renew sleeves on flipper, pop bumper and sling coils
- Strengthening pop bumpers by removing coil windings
- How an EM pop bumper works
- Coil stops by maker
- Coil sleeves and plungers to keep
- Typical EM coil resistances
- Game resets but no playfield solenoid works
- EM coil voltage by maker
Source: Pinball Machine Care & Maintenance, Bernard B. Kamoroff (Bell Springs Pinball Alley)