Action Pinball Logo Bally & Stern Fuse/Rectifier Board Voltages
 
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Bally & Stern Fuse/Rectifier Board Voltages
- NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER REGARDING ALL TECHNICAL ARTICLES ON THIS SITE -

Many of the Technical Articles on our site contain information and directions involving electronics and circuit board repair. They are authored with the assumption that the reader has adequate experience and knowledge required to do the work being described.

If you do not feel qualified, or are in any way uncomfortable doing any of the work described in any of the articles, then we strongly recommend enlisting the help of a qualified repair person or shop who can do the work for you. It may save you cost, time, and further repair work.

We (Action Pinball & Amusement, LLC) are not responsible for any damage to you, your game, or your property, from doing any work on your game related to any of the articles listed on this site.
  • Parts & Supplies: Free free to contact us if you have any questions about parts that we sell which are mentioned in any of our Technical Articles.

  • Technical Help & Questions: We do not provide remote assistance with diagnosing and repairing games. We are mainly a parts supplier and do not have the time or resources to provide such services. Here are some other options you can explore for help:


Page Contents:
Overview:
This article discusses checking for vital/critical voltages coming off the fuse/rectifier (power supply) board in Bally games 1977-1980 and Stern games 1977-1984. Bally games 1981-1984 are similar but use a slightly different board mounted in the center of the main cabinet.

The fuse/rectifier board is the small board (approx. 6" x 6") that has 6 fuses on it and is wired directly to the main power transformer. This is a good place to start when things don't work- checking for "vital signs"- or basically power supply voltages that the game needs to function.

The fuse/rectifier board in these games is located in the lower right corner of the backbox in Bally games, and in the main cabinet behind the coin box area in Stern games.


Fuse Testing:
Fuses are always quick/easy to check first. Unplug the game so power is not present, then inspect the 6 fuses on the board. If any are visibly bad, remove and replace them. Use correct replacement value fuses- do not over-fuse.

Sometimes a fuse can look "good" but still be open internally. In this case, simply "looking" at the fuses won't help you find a faulty one. It's best to remove each fuse and test with an ohm-meter to ensure that there is continuity through the fuse. If a fuse has no continuity ("open") or has a high resistance value, then it's bad- replace with a new fuse.

Once fuses have all been checked and/or replaced, apply power and turn game on while watching the fuse/rectifier board. If you see any fuses blow (real quick, bright flash), then you've got a short-circuit either on the fuse/rectifier board, or elsewhere in the game, and futher troubleshooting/diagnosis will be needed to isolate the fault.

If you have a game that is blowing one or more fuses when you turn power on, replace the faulty fuse(s) (or install clip-on circuit breakers for testing purposes), then remove connectors J1 and J3 from the bottom of the fuse/rectifier board. J1 is the small 8- or 9-pin connector near the left edge of the board and supplies power to the playfield. J3 is the long 20-pin connector at the bottom/center of the board and supplies power to the backbox. Leave connector J2 plugged in (supplies power to cabinet and brings 117vac power in from line cord to the fuse/rectifier board and transformer).

Make sure fuses are good (or test circuit breakers are installed) and power game on with J1 and J3 removed.

If fuse(s) still blow, then you've got a fault on the fuse/rectifier board that will have to be repaired. Consult the schematic diagram included with your game manual to see what component(s) are in the circuit of the fuse that is blowing, then diagnose and test those components to try to find the culprit.

Common causes of fuses blowing on these boards are:
Test Point: Fuse: Purpose: Common Faults:
TP1F1Feature/switched lights on playfield and backbox.Failed BR1 rectifier.
TP2F2Score display high voltage supply.Shorted rectifier diode CR1, CR2, CR3, and/or CR4.
TP3F35-volt regulator supply voltage.Failed BR2 rectifier.
TP4F5AC voltage for general illumination lighting.Short to ground somewhere on front or back of board, or in main cabinet around coin door (check coin slot lamp sockets). Power for GI lamps will still be going off board through the J3 connector to main cabinet even when J1 and J3 connectors are removed, so always check coin door and main cabinet for faults when fuse F5 is blowing with J1 and J3 removed.
TP5F4Solenoid (coil) power supply voltage.Failed BR3 rectifier or shorted R3 varistor.
NoneF6Main line power (117vac).Short at line cord plug end (wall plug), on line cord as it goes into and through main cabinet, at EMI line filter box in rear left corner of main cabinet, or shorted varistor attached to line filter box. Check wiring from line filter box to main power switch and up to J3 connector on fuse/rectifier board for any faults as well.


Note that the game will still boot and run even if you have a bad fuse or fault in the circuit for TP1 (feature lamps), TP2 (score display power), or TP4 (general illumination). Faults in these circuits will not prevent the game from booting-up (however some features may not work such as lights, score displays, or speech in some Stern games).

Critical voltages are TP3 (5vdc regulator supply power), TP5 (solenoid power), and of course line power (117vac) through fuse F6.

If you have determined that there are problems on the board from testing/diagnosing during this step, those problems will have to be remedied before proceeding. See the section below on Replacement Parts to help find any repair parts you may need.


Voltage Testing:
Once fuses have been verified okay and none are blowing when power is turned on (with J1 and J3 connectors still removed from fuse/rectifier board), then you can do some testing of voltages to determine if voltages are present and sufficient to allow the game to boot and run.

Do two tests- one with connectors J1 and J3 removed, then turn power off and plug J1 and J3 back in, power on, and do a second test. Voltages will differ between tests- see table below for details.

When testing for voltages, you will be measuring voltage between each of the 5 test points on the board, and ground. Place your volt-meter's negative (black) lead on a ground point (metal behind or around the fuse/rectifier board or transformer) and use the positive (red) lead to test voltage at the test points.

Your volt-meter should be set for "DC" voltage for these tests, with the exception of TP4 (general illumination lights) when it should be set on "AC" voltage.

Test Point: Purpose: Voltage - J1 and J3 removed: Voltage - J1 and J3 installed: Causes - No Voltage: Causes - Low/high voltage:
TP1Feature/switched lights on playfield and backbox.5.4 to 7.0 VDC5.4 to 7.0 VDCOpen BR1 rectifier, open F1 fuse, bad transformer or connection between transformer and board.Failing BR1 rectifier, open R2 resistor, or partial short somewhere in game on feature lamp buss (if J1 and J3 are connected).
TP2Score display high voltage supply.About 150 VDCAbout 240 VDCOpen diode CR1, CR2, CR3 and/or CR4, open F2 fuse, bad transformer or connection between transformer and board.Open diode CR1, CR2, CR3 and/or CR4, failed circuitry on solenoid/regulator board for score display voltage regulator, faulty score display(s).
TP35-volt regulator supply voltage.Close to 11.9 VDC13 to 17 VDCOpen BR2 rectifier, open F3 fuse, bad transformer or connection between transformer and board.Failing BR2 rectifier, bad connections between J3 connector on fuse/rectifier board and J3 connector on solenoid/regulator board, failed C23 filter capacitor on solenoid/regulator board, failed Q20 regulator transistor and/or associated circuitry on solenoid/regulator board. Also see our Solenoid Driver Board Modifications article for more details.
TP4AC voltage for general illumination lighting.6 to 7 VAC6 to 7 VACOpen F5 fuse, bad transformer or connection between transformer and board.Failing transformer or partial short somewhere else in game on general illumination lines.
TP5Solenoid (coil) power supply voltage.About 43 VDCAbout 43 VDCOpen BR3 rectifier, shorted R3 varistor, open F4 fuse, bad transformer or connection between transformer and board.Failing BR3 rectifier, open R1 resistor, faulty R3 varistor, partial short elsewhere in game on solenoid buss line.


Replacement Parts:
Below is a listing of common replacement parts used on the fuse/rectifier board in these games for repairing problems. If you need any other items, use the Search feature at top of this page to search by game name, part description, part #, etc. Or contact us for further info.

Note on bridge rectifier replacement: The small VJ248 type rectifiers used on these old boards are still being made but are not manufactured in the same electronic specs as the originals, so may not perform as well or as long as original parts. If replacing one of these, we recommend using a larger 3504W wire-lead rectifier, and mounting it on the front of the board, rather than the back (legs can be bent to match the pinout on the front of the board). We recommend using an external heat sink on the BR1 (left) rectifier, if you are replacing with the larger 3504W type rectifier. This helps dissipate heat and make this part last longer. For an image of what these larger rectifiers look like when mounted on these boards, see our part # BSPS018, which is an aftermarket replacement board that comes with 3504W rectifiers already installed.

Fuse / Rectifier Board - Early Electronic Games (Bally/Stern)
Part #: BSPS018
Condition: New

New aftermarket replacement fuse/rectifier board for early electronic solid-state (SS) Bally and Stern pinball games (see game... more

Out of Stock
$124.99 each     Details | Related Items

Stern Games (1977-1985) Fuse/Rectifier Board Decal
Part #: PDG349
Condition: New

Replacement decal for Stern solid-state (SS) pinball games. Mounts on the metal mounting plate just above the fuse/rectifier... more

In Stock
$5.00 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Fuse Kit - Bally Electronic Games (1977-1984) (SEE NOTES)
Part #: FKBLYSS
Condition: New

Fuse kit including 14 common fuses used in Bally electronic solid-state (SS) pinball games made from approx. 1977 to 1984.... more

In Stock
$9.74 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Fuse Kit - Stern Electronic Games (1977-1984) (SEE NOTES)
Part #: FKSTNSS
Condition: New

Fuse kit including 13 common fuses used in Stern electronic solid-state (SS) pinball games made from approx. 1977 to 1984.... more

In Stock
$9.02 each     Order | Details | Related Items

1/4-Amp Fuse - Fast-Blow - Small (AGX) 15/16 x 1/4 Inch
Part #: FUSE1/4AGX
Condition: New

Glass fuse, fast-blow. AGX series. 8AG type measuring 1/4 x 15/16 inches (6.3mm x 25.4mm). Rated for use up to 250 volts.... more

In Stock
$1.99 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Power Supply Rebuild Kit (Bally AS-2518-18 / Stern TA-100)
Part #: KITBLYPS1
Condition: New

For use on most early Bally and Stern electronic solid-state (SS) pinball games with original power supply boards (see game... more

In Stock
$33.94 each    Order | Details | Related Items

Power Supply Connector Kit - PCB Header Pins (Bally AS-2518-18 / Stern TA-100)
Part #: KITBLYPS2
Condition: New

PC board male header pin set for use on many early Bally and Stern electronic solid-state (SS) pinball games (see game listing... more

In Stock
$7.96 each    Order | Details | Related Items

Power Supply Connector Kit - PCB Header Pins (Bally AS-2518-49)
Part #: KITBLYPS3
Condition: New

PC board male header pin set for use on some early Bally electronic solid-state (SS) pinball games (see game listing below).... more

In Stock
$7.96 each    Order | Details | Related Items

Bally / Stern Score Display Repair Kit
Part #: KITBLYDIS
Condition: New

This repair kit is for use in early Bally or Stern electronic solid-state (SS) pinball games from approx. 1977-1985 which have... more

In Stock
$14.98 each    Order | Details | Related Items

Power Rectifier - VJ248 Type (SEE NOTES)
Part #: VJ248
Condition: New

Replacement rectifier for use in early Bally (1977-1980) and Stern (1977-1984) electronic solid-state (SS) pinballs. Replaces... more

In Stock
$3.89 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Power Rectifier- 35 amp 400v - Wire Leads
Part #: REC3504W
Condition: New

Heavy-duty replacement rectifier for most electronic solid-state (SS) pinball games- old and new models. Rated at 35 amps, 400... more

In Stock
$7.99 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Stern SS Theory of Operation Service / Repair Manual
Part #: PM0073
Condition: New (Reprint)

24 pages. Theory of Operation Manual for Stern Solid-State Games 1977-1984. An in-depth and low-level overview of operation of... more

In Stock
$18.46 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Stern SS Display Repair Service / Repair Manual
Part #: PM0074
Condition: New (Reprint)

12 pages. Solid State Digit Display Repair Procedures Service Bulletin #15. This manual covers testing, diagnostic, and repair... more

In Stock
$13.52 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Bally Games FO-560-3 Service / Repair Manual
Part #: PM0078
Condition: New (Reprint)

Electronic Pinball Games Repair Procedures #FO-560-3 (October, 1981). 92 pages. Electronic pinball repair manual used by... more

In Stock
$32.74 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Power EMI Line Filter
Part #: 150-5000-00
Condition: New

Grounded line EMI filter for main line power, as used in most all makes/models of electronic pinball and video games 1977-up.... more

In Stock
$16.99 each     Order | Details | Related Items

130V AC Varistor / Surge Protector (North America)
Part #: MOV130VAC
Condition: New

Varistor for EMI line filter box in main cabinet where power cord first connects inside... more

In Stock
$1.59 each     Order | Details | Related Items

47V DC Varistor / Surge Protector
Part #: MOV047VDC
Condition: New

Varistor for fuse/rectifier circuit board in older Bally, Stern, and Williams games for... more

In Stock
$1.49 each     Order | Details | Related Items

600-ohm Resistor - 10-Watt - Ceramic
Part #: RES600-10W
Condition: New

Discontinued - use 620-ohm 10-watt resistor as replacement. 10-watt resistor, 600... more

Out of Stock - Discontinued   more info...
Details | Related Items

25-ohm Resistor - 5-Watt 5% Tolerance - Ceramic
Part #: RES25-5W
Condition: New

5-watt resistor, 25 ohm, wirewound with ceramic exterior. 5% tolerance. Replacement for resistor R2 on early Bally / Stern... more

In Stock
$0.99 each     Order | Details | Related Items

1N4004 Diode
Part #: 1N4004
Condition: New

General switching/rectifier diode rated at 400 volts, 1 amp. DO-41 case. Replaces 1N4001, 1N4002, and 1N4003. Used on most... more

In Stock
$0.39 each     Order | Details | Related Items

C23 Capacitor Replacement Kit - Bally/Stern Games (1977-1985)
Part #: KITC23CAP
Condition: New

For Bally and Stern solid-state pinballs, 1977-1985. Replaces the original C23 filter capacitor (11,700uF 20vdc or 10,000uF... more

In Stock
$10.73 each    Order | Details | Related Items

LM323K 5V Voltage Regulator
Part #: LM323K
Condition: New

Discontinued - use # LM323KA as replacement. Type LM323K for use in 5v power supply... more

Out of Stock - Discontinued   more info...
Details | Related Items

Heat Sink Compound - 5g Tube
Part #: HSCOMP
Condition: New

5 gram tube of white heat sink grease (thermal paste). Used to assure proper heat transfer between semiconductor component and... more

In Stock
$3.99 each     Order | Details | Related Items

DeoxIT Anti-Oxidant Compound D100L (2cc)
Part #: D100L
Condition: New

Great for improving connections. It's what we use! We use DeoxIT anti-oxidant compound in our shop all the time on all... more

In Stock
$6.99 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Heat sink - Q20 - Solenoid / Regulator Board (Bally/Stern) (USED)
Part #: U177
Condition: Used

Large heat sink used in upper right corner on solenoid/regulator PC board in Bally and Stern solid-state pinball games,... more

In Stock
$12.50 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Heat sink - Q21 - Solenoid / Regulator Board (Bally/Stern) (USED)
Part #: U440
Condition: Used

Small heat sink used in upper left corner on solenoid/regulator PC board in Bally and Stern solid-state pinball games,... more

Out of Stock
$7.50 each     Details | Related Items

Capacitor - 150uF 400v Axial Lead
Part #: CAP150UF400VAXL
Condition: New

Replacement for C26 capacitor on solenoid/regulator boards used in early solid-state Bally and Stern pinballs from approx.... more

Currently Unavailable   more info...
$35.19 each     Details | Related Items

2N3584 Transistor
Part #: 2N3584
Condition: New

High voltage regulator transistor for display power in solid-state (SS) Bally and Stern pinball games, 1977-1985. Replaces... more

In Stock
$16.49 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Header Pin Connector - 9-Position - 0.156 Inch Spacing Break-Away
Part #: 26-48-1091
Condition: New

Header pin connector, 0.156-inch spacing. Break-away style- can be easily cut-down to smaller size if needed. Pin... more

In Stock
$1.99 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Header Pin Connector - 10-Position - 0.156 Inch Spacing Break-Away
Part #: 26-48-1101
Condition: New

Header pin connector, 0.156-inch spacing. Break-away style- can be easily cut-down to smaller size if needed. Replaces Bally #... more

In Stock
$1.99 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Connector Housing - 9-Position - 0.156 Inch Spacing
Part #: 09-50-3091
Condition: New

Connector housing, 0.156-inch spacing, with locking ramp. Crimp/solder pin type. Replaces Bally # E-00715-033. Pins sold... more

In Stock
$0.88 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Connector Housing - 10-Position - 0.156 Inch Spacing
Part #: 09-50-3101
Condition: New

Connector housing, 0.156-inch spacing, with locking ramp. Crimp/solder pin type. Replaces Bally # E-00715-034. Pins sold... more

In Stock
$0.96 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Connector Housing - 20-Position - 0.156 Inch Spacing
Part #: 09-50-7201
Condition: New

20-position connector housing, 0.156-inch spacing, with locking ramp. Crimp/solder pin type. Pins sold separately- use part #... more

In Stock
$1.99 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Connector Housing Pin - 0.156 Inch Spacing - Trifurcon Type 18-20AWG
Part #: 08-50-0189
Condition: New

Heavy-duty Trifurcon connector pin for use in standard 0.156-inch crimp-pin style housings. This connector pin can be crimped... more

In Stock
$0.18 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Connector Housing Pin - 0.156 Inch Spacing
Part #: 08-50-0108
Condition: New

Standard connector housing pin for use in 0.156-inch crimp-pin style housings. This connector pin can be crimped to stripped... more

In Stock
$0.18 each     Order | Details | Related Items

Soldering Kit - 30-Watt General Purpose (4 pcs)
Part #: SI-30-KIT
Condition: New

Basic soldering kit for doing most anything on pinball and other arcade games. Includes 30-watt soldering iron, soldering iron... more

In Stock
$24.29 set     Order | Details | Related Items


Game Manuals/Schematics:
Essential for any repairs, troubleshooting, and testing on your game. Use the Search feature at top of any page to search by game name to see what we have available for your game!

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