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Thread: Ball Lifter voltage question

  1. #1
    Master Inventor daverob's Avatar
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    Default Ball Lifter voltage question

    I'm thinking about getting one of the orange ball lifter units to design into the 4 game cabinet that I'm planning out, and the question of how I'm going to power the thing up came about.

    The lifters only seem to be readily available from US vendors at the moment, and so are supplied ready to plug into a 110v outlet. Now over in the UK, we have a 230v mains voltage, so I'm going to need a transformer of some kind.

    Now it's not going to be difficult to add a 230v to 110v transformer into the cabinet design, but I was wondering if the ball lifter motor actually runs directly from the 110v supply, or is there already a transformer in the unit that converts it down to a lower voltage, that I might already have available in the cabinet.

  2. #2
    Crippenese spoken here. drcrippen324's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    cant help with the voltage arby might know as he put some intresting pics of 2 or three difrent ones somwere in here
    im just intrested in pics when you finished the cab
    My rice krispies told me to do it



    please note pachitalk.com cannot be held responsible for any injuries or death that occur as a results of anything strange people like me suggest you do

  3. #3
    Kungishi DaStooge's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    I personally like the Bilko's ball supply
    take a look here http://www.pachitalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2098
    "betcha can't have just one"

    PachiFu "the way of the sphere"

    ダン

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    Sphere Chucker fhagar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    I just picked up a ball lifter from this place:
    http://www.slotsdirect.com/balllifterused.html

    It runs on 110v so you'd need a converter for your 230v system. This seems to be the best price here but you probable should try to find one locally as the shipping would be high. I like mine. It works great and I'm building a cabinet for it now.

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  7. #5
    Master Inventor daverob's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    Thanks everyone.
    I was looking at getting one from slotsdirect, but they said that they don't export to the UK. I don't really blame them as half of the nigerian cashiers check scammers seem to have moved here recently.

    The next best price I could get would be $240 shipped, plus whatever UK customs decide to add to it (probably another $50), so it's starting to look really expensive now. I could get another pachinko with that kind of money.

    If I don't have any luck with the local suppliers, I might have to see what I can come up with using a motorcycle chain sprocket and a bit of plumbing tube!

    I did take a look at Bilko's system before I drew my plans out and it did provide some inspiration, but I want to have a recirculating ball supply system to collect the spent balls from under the machines and return them to the top hopper, hence the ball lift unit!

  8. #6
    Captain Weirdo Sid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    Dave Rob,
    Getting a transformer for changign US currency to European is not that difficult

    have had experience with this since i moved to Greece from Canada.

    the important thing to know is that you must get a proper transformer/converter.
    dont cheap out and make sure you dont get something that wont handle the output.. consult with a local electronic supply store.. (not the kind that has 16 year olds as sales reps) as to what power the machine you are looking to power will require. alot of the cheep premade solutions cant handle the wattage for biggger machines and may damage the machine etc.. electronics gotta to love them.. and of course electronic parts are very Noble.. the expensive parts always tend to sacrifice themselves for the poor little cheap ones.

    Good luck.. and if you do go the way of building your own.. let us know the details.. we love to learn..

    cheers
    Sid
    Last edited by Sid; 01-27-2006 at 04:49 AM.

    "I've stopped fighting my inner demons, we are on the same side now."

  9. #7
    Master Inventor daverob's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    Quote Originally Posted by Sid
    Getting a transformer for changign US currency to European is not that difficult
    You use a transformer? I find that a bank is better for my currency

    I don't think I'll bother consulting with the 16 year olds at the local store, I've been an electronics engineer for longer than they've been on this planet, so I hope that I'll be able to cope with selecting a suitably rated transformer.

    If the ball lifter is well enough insulated to be safely connected to a 230v system (and doesn't need too much juice), then I'll probably end up tapping off one half of the split primary windings of one of the pachinko transformers to give me a convenient 115v supply (ie using the primaries as a makeshift autotransformer).

  10. #8
    Captain Weirdo Sid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    Quote Originally Posted by daverob
    You use a transformer? I find that a bank is better for my currency
    .

    I find optimus prime always had a better exchange rate then the bank...

    (the problems of multitaksing at work)

    "I've stopped fighting my inner demons, we are on the same side now."

  11. #9
    Stuey - The RADministrator MrGneiss's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    Did someone call?


    "Blowing smoke rings at the moon."

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  13. #10
    Blind Shooter Solidstate's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    I've just won this one on Ebay
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=6247849059

    It cost me approx $180USD/£102UKP inc delivery :-)

    The seller tells me I'll need a transformer. I've already got a few US > UK transformers - but I assume that I'll need a Japanese > UK one but I suppose I'll have to wait until it turns up to find out for sure.

    Anyone got any hints or tips about installation or general operation of this device.

  14. #11
    Captain Weirdo Sid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    Quote Originally Posted by Solidstate
    I've just won this one on Ebay
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=6247849059

    It cost me approx $180USD/£102UKP inc delivery :-)

    The seller tells me I'll need a transformer. I've already got a few US > UK transformers - but I assume that I'll need a Japanese > UK one but I suppose I'll have to wait until it turns up to find out for sure.

    Anyone got any hints or tips about installation or general operation of this device.
    Nice Buy.. tried to take it from you but i should have bid higher..

    Enjoy

    "I've stopped fighting my inner demons, we are on the same side now."

  15. #12
    Master Inventor daverob's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    Quote Originally Posted by Solidstate
    The seller tells me I'll need a transformer. I've already got a few US > UK transformers - but I assume that I'll need a Japanese > UK one but I suppose I'll have to wait until it turns up to find out for sure.
    You should be OK with a UK > US transformer, the voltage difference between the two isn't that great, it might make it run about 10% faster and get a little warmer, but it shouldn't be a problem.

    I didn't see this auction and have just ordered one from the US for a couple of tenners more, and now I see that the seller has listed another one

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  17. #13
    Kungishi DaStooge's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    he has another one for sale
    "betcha can't have just one"

    PachiFu "the way of the sphere"

    ダン

  18. #14
    Blind Shooter Solidstate's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    It was peanuts for so long - I was beginning to think I might get it for about 60 euro.
    Hope another one comes along for you - are they hard to come by?

  19. #15
    Blind Shooter Solidstate's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    No sooner did I finish typing than another one appeared.

    The seller does speak (type) good English. He also said he will accept payment via Paypal - but needs to figure out how it works because he hasn't used it before.
    Postage to the UK was 24 Euro

  20. #16
    Captain Weirdo Sid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    yeah exactly i waited patiently for it too. then whamo.. i was offered 24Euro for insured air to Greece. i shall lurk patiently again for this one and see what happens.. cheers

    Sid

    "I've stopped fighting my inner demons, we are on the same side now."

  21. #17
    Blind Shooter Solidstate's Avatar
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    Default Re: Ball Lifter voltage question

    I've just sent the Paypal payment and recommended that they visit Pachitalk as I'm sure there will be quite a few people here who will be interested in their ball lifts if they can get hold of more.

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