Powering A Vintage Machine

[David Wile]

Hey folks,

What kind of transformer can one use to provide power for a vintage machine? Offhand, I really don't know how many lights or other electrical gadgets it has, and I cannot easily chech because I already stored it for moving. I have heard of some being powered by a 9 volt battery, but battery use really does not appeal to me. I would like to have a transformer that I can plug into the wall and make it look nice. Anyone have any quick and dirty ideas?

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

[logicprobe]

The battery seems to be the quickest and dirtiest.
I've not used one myself, but I hear that it will last a long time. There are only a couple of lights to power, I think. One is for when you are out of balls.
Probably any 6v or 9v transformer would do it. Just a common "wall wart" style.

[markthefixer]

Use Radio shack power adapter (at $20 a bit pricey) part # 273-1770 (9v, 800mA)
to light bulbs. a #52 bulb is 14.4v at 100 mA (radio shack again) and running at 9 volts they should last longer than the rated 10 to 20 hours. There IS a 9v battery eliminator that delivers about 30 mA (0.03 amps) if your machines' bulbs DID light with a 9v battery.
Logicprobe is right that just about any surplus "wall wart" can be used... and I have thought that the radio shack wall wart line was a little (lot) overpriced... but some people may just want the convienence.

[doodude]

This is an old post but I thunked I would add to it anyolwho.

Ive purchased several multi volt plug-in transformers from the wal-mart dollar isle recently that work great powering up the vintage machines lights & bells. This is the type you would use to power a walkman.

I have a couple of vintage machines that have a motor to return balls to the ball supply also. Does anyone know what sort of transformer is needed for this?

[d mowery]

check with Arby

[sacpinplayer]

This is an old post but I thunked I would add to it anyolwho.

Ive purchased several multi volt plug-in transformers from the wal-mart dollar isle recently that work great powering up the vintage machines lights & bells. This is the type you would use to power a walkman.

I have a couple of vintage machines that have a motor to return balls to the ball supply also. Does anyone know what sort of transformer is needed for this?

Anyone know the answer to doodude's (mine too) question about the transformer needed to power an older pachinko, I'm guessing from the 60's or 70's, with a motor to return balls to the ball supply tray and a few lights?

Thanks.

Mike

[cmk8895]

Is this part of the machine itself or some kind of semi-added-on type deal?

I've never seen this, though I'd like to.

cmk

[compirate]

Is this part of the machine itself or some kind of semi-added-on type deal?

I've never seen this, though I'd like to.

cmk

This is the back of one of mine. There is an upper tray and a mid tray in the back and the played balls get recycled to the mid tray.
Unfortunatley, it's buried in pachi-storage or I'd dig it out and see.

[d mowery]

I still use a 5 year old 9vt batt to power mine as it only has a couple of lights and its taped inside the back and not in the way of any thing , chepe to a 9vt batt a batt hookup from Radio Shack bout 25 cents and good for 5 yr or longer , thats cheep nuff fer me

[doodude]

I have one already connected that I will pull out tomorrow & see what sized transformer it is using.
I wouldnt think it would have to ber very big since a 5 amp will run a modern unit...

[cmk8895]

Well that's cool. I've always wanted a ball return for my vintage, but as an add on they are kinda expensive. But that one definately looks like it might have been an original part.

How cool. Something new to look for.

cmk

[azlew]

I am pretty sure on my vintage pachinko (it is cyclic also) that it is a 5v and it drives the lights and ball return just fine. I have it in storage and I will pull out and look at it when I get a chance to if noone comes up with the specs here.

[cmk8895]

That begs the question, why do you guys have these things in storage? Here I'd love to have a vintage with a ball return on it for a really good price, and you guys have them mouldering in storage!

So PM for the address to send them to.

cmk

[larryn2o]

while the lights would work on AC or DC voltage just fine. a motor will NOT . you can run a DC motor on a dirty power supply like a plug in unit. or you could put a diode in line with the Xformer and run it on pulsing DC. if it is a 12 volt secondary Xformer then you would see 6 volts on the other side of the diode ( 1/2 of rated voltage)
i'm guessing that these are DC motors?
ok i'll go back to the bear & crawfish now
larry

[fhagar]

Take a look and see if this is what you're looking for.
http://cgi.ebay.com/PACHINKO-ADAPTER...QQcmdZViewItem

[ZoneFighter]

I've been using a 6 volt Lantern Battery like this...

in my old mechanical machines. It just powers the lights, there are no motors or sounds. The oldest one is "still going" after about 15 years. I must not play it enough! (My wife and I did play it a lot for the first 5 years or so when it was our only machine though.)

[slotter]

Take a look and see if this is what you're looking for.
http://cgi.ebay.com/PACHINKO-ADAPTER...QQcmdZViewItem

Although you can likely find this transformer even less expensive, this is a good solution. I use a transformer on mine and enjoy leaving the lights on for long periods. I modified most of the lights on my vintage to be on all the time except for a couple pockets in order for it to look cool. When you walk into the game room, the Vintage looks very cool all lit up and then one starts looking around at the other brand new Pachinkos.

[InsaneDavid]

I use a pair of 6v lantern batteries connected in series in my vintage machine, all lamps are 14v @ 200mA.



Since my machine is fully enclosed and has an "always on" lamp in the upper right, the negative terminal of the second battery runs to an externally mounted switch. Gives me the ability to turn a vintage machine off / on without having to open it (allows anyone to walk up and play witht he lights on) and at the same time not having to be located near a power outlet.

[slotter]

Welcome, InsaneDavid. (Umm... you're not a relative of the other "david" now are you????)

[InsaneDavid]

Welcome, InsaneDavid. (Umm... you're not a relative of the other "david" now are you????)

Considering I don't know who you're talking about, nope. Just new to the forums but I've browsed them a few times before as I've been restoring a vintage pachinko over the past year or so.