Nifty LED: Latest News

Shining A Bright Light On Your Machine: Picking LED Kits

Thu, 17 Sep 2015 07:18:16 +0000

Owning your own pinball machine is a lot of fun, and it's not just about playing the game itself. You can do a lot to personalize and customize your machine! Are you considering installing LEDs in your pinball machine? Here's what you need to know when picking out and installing an LED lighting kit.

Why Go LED?

LED lighting is an extremely popular option for home pinball machine owners. Why is this? There are a few great advantages to replacing traditional incandescent lamps with LEDs. LEDs are both longer-lasting and more reliable, leading to reduced power consumption and less repair work in the future. There's an aesthetic side to the choice, too: LEDs pump out brighter light that can give an older machine a new lease on life.

Fortunately, you don't have to be a master electrician to convert your favorite pinball machine to LED lighting. There are a number of different manufacturers out there who produce LED kits for most popular pinball machines. This means you can make an all-in-one purchase to dramatically overhaul your machine's lighting without fussing around with individual parts!

Choosing The Right Kit For You

Obviously your first step is find out if anyone makes a kit for your particular machine. You should never buy the first pinball LED kit you find, though! Cast a wide net and look for kits from multiple manufacturers. You can use many different factors to choose between different kits. Sometimes different manufacturers' kits produce very different aesthetic effects, so you'll want to look carefully at post-installation pictures. Price is also often a significant factor. Don't forget to research manufacturers' reputations, too; you want to buy a kit from a company that has a history of providing quality equipment.

If you can't locate a complete kit for your machine, don't give up or resign yourself to replacing individual lights one-by-one! A lot of pinball lighting companies sell "generic" kits that can be used to upgrade the lighting in any machine. While these LED kits will require a little more effort on your part, they can still save you a lot of time and money.

Installing LEDs Without Losing Your Mind

Once you've made your choice and invested in an LED lighting kit, the next step is actually installing it! Even though using a kit is a big time-saver, the installation is still a fairly involved process. While the specifics of installation will vary from machine to machine, these hints should come in generally useful:

Review ALL instructions before starting your installation.
Familiarize yourself with the lamp-numbering system used on your machine. Most machine-specific kits will pack and organize their LEDs according to the machine's own numbering system.
Check to see if your kit includes any spare bulbs. Most manufacturers provide at least a few, but you may not find any. In these cases, it's particularly important to install carefully.
Make sure all visible LEDs are frosted. Indirect LEDs can be unfrosted, but they can hurt your eyes if you see them directly while playing.
Don't be afraid to personalize your lighting scheme! You can swap out bulbs in your kit to provide different color effects. It's always easiest to experiment while you're performing your initial installation, so take your time.

If you've made the choice to move to LED lighting, congratulations! Brighter, more colorful pinball experiences are in your near future. Using a kit is the easiest way to make this upgrade to your machine's lighting systems. As long as you invest a little thought in kit selection and take your time with the installation, you're sure to be quite pleased with the results.

How to Replace Worn Out Pinball Machine Bumpers

Wed, 16 Sep 2015 06:58:40 +0000

Repairing and renovating pinball machines is a lot of fun and can also be a lucrative activity since some of these machines are very valuable. It is important to know what you are doing when you work on a pinball machine or you might cause more damage.

Replacing bumpers is something you will have to do sooner or later if you work on pinball machines since these parts go through a lot of wear and tear.

Bumpers in good working order will provide you with faster action and will make playing with the machine a lot more fun. Replacing bumpers can be intimidating if you have never done it before but it is possible to renovate a machine that needs new bumpers as long as you take your time and break this process down into smaller steps.

Start by taking the pinball machine apart so you can access the bumpers. You will have to disconnect the wiring of the machine in order to access the playfield. Take the time to label each wire so you can put the machine back together correctly. Most machines have color codes for wiring but it is best to place some colored tape on wires to remember what they were connected to since you will probably have several wires with the same color.

Once you have access to the playfield, you should be able to remove the bumpers by removing a few screws and staples that hold them down. Be very careful when removing them if you plan on re-using the same bumpers. If you plan on replacing them with newer pieces, make sure these new parts will fit properly.

Clean the playfield while you have the machine taken apart. If you plan on re-using the same bumpers, take them apart and clean them thoroughly. You can start rebuilding the bumpers.

Start by aligning the base with the screw holes on the playfield. Place the small spring in the center of the base. The next step is to place the skirt of the bumper over the spring. The large holes in the skirt should align with the screw holes. Place the body of the bumper in the skirt and use a screw to hold everything together.

You can then move on to installing the lamp. There should be two small holes for the lamp holder in the body of the bumper. Push the lamp holder all the way to the bottom of the body and add the bulb. You can now place the cap over the bumper and tighten it with screws.

You can then move on to working under the playfield. Place the bracket assembly under the bumper and connect the wires to the lamp and to the rest of the machine. Connect the scoring switch to the bracket assembly very carefully and test it by pushing on the bumper.

Take your time when replacing your first bumper. This process will become a lot easier once you get used to it. Keep in mind that replacing a bumper can be different from one model to another.

Tips for Replacing Broken Pinball Machine LEDs

Tue, 15 Sep 2015 07:30:39 +0000

If you have a pinball machine at your home or business, you know that it requires routine maintenance. This includes both mechanical maintenance and cosmetic maintenance. One of the most common issues you will face is the LED bulbs dying. Pinball machines use a great deal of power when they are in use, so it is likely the bulbs will burn out fast. Replacing the bulbs is fairly easy, but it can be confusing if you have never done it before. If it's your first time replacing your pinball LED bulbs, consider the tips below.

First, you will need to make sure you purchase the same type LED bulbs you are already using. You can typically find information about the bulbs printed on them. If you can not find this information, simply do a bit of online research about LED bulbs for pinball machines. You will get a lot of results from various retailers. When you see bulbs that closely match your current ones, those are likely the best fit for your machine. Double check the product description to make sure they are indeed LED bulbs. Once you order the bulbs, you can begin the replacement process.

If your pinball machine came with an instruction manual, you should use that as a guide for replacing the LED bulbs. It should provide you with step by step instructions on the entire replacement process. If you do not have a hard copy of the instruction manual, you may be able to find one online. Search for the name of your pinball machine followed by the word "manual". Alternatively, the manufacturer may be able to provide you with a new manual. You can often find contact information on the manufacturer's website, so go this route if the other options do not work.

If you do not have access to an instruction manual, you may be able to find generic instructions for LED bulb replacement online. While these instructions will not be precisely dedicated to your machine, they can still help you out quite a bit. There are many how-to websites dedicated to manual tasks like this. See if you can find one that gives you clear, step by step instructions. You may also be able to find a video tutorial on LED bulb replacement. This is an excellent option if you would prefer a visual guide for replacement.

No matter what guide you use, make sure to use caution when replacing the LED bulbs. Taking the glass surface cover off of the surface of the machine should be done very carefully. When replacing the bulbs, make sure that the machine is not turned on or plugged in. Take any other safety precautions that are listed in the manual or through an online tutorial. This will ensure that you effectively replace the bulbs in the best manner possible without getting hurt. Once all of these steps are completed, you can continue to enjoy the use of your pinball machine.

How To Clean Pinball LED Sockets The Easy Way

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 07:19:28 +0000

Pinball machines can be an excellent source of entertainment for your customers. This

is why you should consider installing a few of these machines in your bar, restaurant

or coffee shop, in order to make your clients stay more and consume more in your

store rather than in other establishments. If you already have such machines, you

probably know they are fairly easy to maintain, provided that you take good care of

them and you keep them clean and in good condition. This means you should check them

on a regular basis, looking for minor problems that could turn into big messes. A LED

which doesn't light can be quite annoying for the player who wants to have the full

thrill of the game, with all the sounds and visual effects triggered by an awesome

shot.

Sometimes, those lights don't work because their sockets collect dirt and grime, so

there's no electric contact between the socket and the bulb itself. This is good,

because you don't have to replace the bulb. However, it can be tricky, because those

sockets can be difficult to access and to clean.

Even if you don't know how to clean pinball LED sockets, you should consider learning

it, as it's not rocket science. If you didn't know it, you will be glad to know there

are some special pinball bulb socket cleaning sticks. They only cost a few dollars

and they can enable you to clean those sockets fast and easy, without the need of any

special tools or qualified technicians. Even if you don't succeed in doing a perfect

job from the first attempt, you should know that practice makes perfect. Try again,

with a bit more care and you are going to manage it eventually. If you don't, check

the bulb, because it could be broken. Of course, checking those LED lights which

don't work should really be the first step before attempting to clean their sockets.

It's only after you've seen all bulbs are good, that you can go ahead and use the

cleaning tool to remove the rust and the grime that may have accumulated there.

All you need to check out is whether you have the bayonet style of bulbs in your

pinball machines and you're good to go. You can clean them yourself, because removing

those bulbs is extremely easy. There's no thread and no need for special tools. These LED bulbs

can be removed by twisting them a quarter of a turn and pushing them slightly.

After you've removed the bulb, you need to insert the cleaning stick into the socket

and twist it gently. Its surface is made from an abrasive material which is going to

remove all debris and dirt on the socket, making it shiny clean and ready to receive

the bulb.

If you are careful with your pinball machines, they are going to serve you for a very

long time, despite all the smoke, dust and wear and tear caused by those avid

players.

Be Subtle: Tips on adding color to General Illumination

Thu, 05 Mar 2015 16:00:22 +0000

Add touches of color to your playfield without overwhelming the player. Read on for great tips!

At shows, we've been told on several occassions "I don't have an artistic eye, so I wouldn't try to add color to the GI and other places, because I'd probably make it look bad". Although you may also feel this way, that doesn't mean that you can't learn how to add hints of color to your playfield here and there to brighten up the playfield in certain areas.

General Illumination

In our experience, adding too many colors can detract from game play and may also make the playfield dimmer than it was originally. It's important to remember to remember that you don't need to do ALL of the GI bulbs.

Tip 1: Adding a green LED here or a blue LED there may be all that you need in order to liven up a particular area of the playfield. Don't feel like you need to overpower that area of the playfield with a bunch of color. If there is a group of 3 GI lights under the same plastic, start with a couple white and one colored one. This will soften out the color but it'll still be noticeable.

Tip 2: Coordinate the GI LED color with the color of the game and the color in that particular area of the playfield. You probably wouldn't want to put red GI on a Fish Tales or green GI on a Tron.

Tip 3: Less is more. Keep the look subtle and you'll have people notice that there's something about your game that looks great but they can't really point it out. If you achieve this, you've done a great job at adding touches of color.

Tip 4: Remember that the "darker" colors like red and purple will bring the overall brightness of your playfield down, so seeing the game while playing in a dark room may be more difficult.

Tip 5: In newer Stern games, use the row of lights at the back panel of the playfield to their max. We like putting Flex LEDs in there and shine them down onto the playfield. This gives a lot of light and really illuminates the playfield. In the picture of the Metallica playfield, we added a couple of purples for just a hint of character and we spaced them a couple bulbs apart so that there wasn't a concentration of color.

Backbox

This can be done with great success, really making your game look great, but be careful here!

Tip 1: Don't make it look "forced". Just because there is a touch of purple in a particular area of the backbox, doesn't mean that you need to go all out and put a bunch of purple LEDs in that area. Try sprinkling in a few here and there as recommended in the GI section.

Tip 2: Use the flexes creatively. Often times, we'll put a flex bulb in the backbox but instead of pointing the light directly at the backglass/translite, we'll point the light towards the backboard. The reflection of light off the white backboard spreads the light more and makes for subtle color.

Tip 3: Use color sparingly because if you're trying to make something look green (for example), the red are right next to it might get some over-flow color and will look bad. Color flooding can lead to a backbox that looks too busy plastered with color.

Overall, the summary is to be subtle. Adding too much color can be done easily, so don't be afraid to buy fewer bulbs and just drop a color lightly around the playfield instead of going all-out with a particular color.

Need advice or have questions?? Send us an email, we're always happy to help!

To Kit or Not to Kit??

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:00:00 +0000

Kits: for me or not for me? That is the question...

You may be wondering if a kit is what you really want or not. Why have a pinball LED kit? What’s the benefit? Are they easy to install? These are all valid questions, so let’s take a look and the features and benefits of kits.

Kits simply off the convenience of everything you need in one bag. No need to think about what color goes where or which bulb is needed. The legwork has already been done for you. Your Nifty LED pinball LED kit will come complete with instructions on where to put each bulb so you don’t have to worry about it. General Illumination will not be shown in the diagram since they’re pretty much self-explanatory and same goes for the backbox lighting.

If you’re looking for more of a custom style and don’t mind counting out your bulbs on your own, then you may want to consider buying individually. This allows for some personalization and adding touches of color here and there, that will not likely be offered in the kit.

Another option is to buy the kit so that you have the instruction sheet and then to add a few more bulbs to touch up your look with a bit of color here and there. This also allows for a bit of experimenting, seeing which lights and colors you like best.

If ever you’re unsure of what might look good where, please send us an email and ask- we’d be happy to share our experience and opinion with you.

How To: Identify an LED Bulb

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:00:00 +0000

There may be a time when you need one or two of a particular bulb that you ordered but don't quite remember which labeled bag it came from or what its called. By identifying a few characteristics of the bulb, we can narrow down the type of bulb it is. Note that this information applies only to the 44/47 and 555 type bulbs commonly found in pinball machines and does not apply to the flashers, although some of the same information can be applied.

Looking at the diagram pictured, you can see the different components that make up the bulb. Starting from the base, we need to know if it is a wedge or bayonet base (most commonly it will be a 555 or 44, respectively). Next, look at the collar of the bulb. The color of the collar is going to indicate the light color. If the collar is clear, it would be either a warm white or cool white bulb. “Cool White” and “Warm White” can sometimes look similar because of the same white/clear collar, but on the base a “WW” will appear on Warm White bulbs; if there is no “WW” then the color will be Cool White. For many of the 555 style bulbs, the entire base may be the same color as the collar, but ultimately, we want to use the collar to determine the color.

Now that we have the base type and color, we need to determine the type of bulb. Here is a list of the types of “tops” or “caps”:

No Cap (diode is exposed): Super Bright

Elongated Frosted Top: Standard Frosted

Short/Stubby Frosted Cap: Super Bright Frosted

Short/Stubby Clear Cap: Retro

Slightly Domed, Facetted Cap: Non- Ghosting

Once you've established the bulb type, the "call-out" is the last step. A call-out would be the verbal translation of all this information and should be listed in order of BASE-CAP-COLOR For a bulb that has a 555 base, red collar and no cap (exposed diode), the call-out would be "555 Super Bright Red". For a bulb with a blue collar, 44 base and an elongated frosted top, the call-out would be "44 Standard Frosted Blue".

Click the diagrams above to see the different components of the bulbs for reference. Remember that we’re always happy to help with any questions you may have, so feel free to call us or email us for assistance.

Ghosting Explained!

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:00:00 +0000

The phenomenon of of pinball LED ghosting explained. Ever wonder what makes the pinball LEDs have that faint glow? Read on to find out ...

What is this “non-ghosting” thing I’ve heard about? It’s a question that comes up often, especially from people who are relatively new to installing pinball LEDs in their games.

I’ll try to make this simple: Lamps that are controlled by the boards (i.e. insert lighting primarily) sometimes have very small amounts of current going to them even if they’re supposed to be OFF. Now, in an incandescent lamp, this tiny amount of current isn’t enough to illuminate the lamp however, since LEDs require such little power/current to turn on, that small amount of current that may be going to the lamp socket might be enough to illuminate the LED ever-so-slightly, and could produce a faint glow. This faint glow is what has come to be known in the pinball world as “ghosting”.

To prevent this from happening, we have available the Non-Ghosting bulbs that you could buy. The components contained within the lamp itself keep the ghosting from happening, and when the lamp is supposed to be off, it is truly off!

Now, some games are more prone to this than other games. Nearly all Electro-Mechanical pins will have this issue. For Solid State games or DMD games, some games are worse than others and it really just varies.

Another important factor to consider is the conditions in which you play. If you play your pinball machines with a lot of ambient lighting, then the ghosting issue will likely be less noticeable since the ambient light will likely dilute any faint glow coming from the LEDs. Conversely, if you play in complete darkness, any glows coming from LEDs will likely be more noticeable because there is little or no ambient light.

As always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have with pinball LEDs or with any other questions regarding this blog, pinball LED kits, etc.

General Illumination (GI) Tips

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:00:00 +0000

Are you spending too much time installing the GI lighting on your game? Read on for time saving tips!

When it comes to General Illumination, it can be quite time consuming to install new pinball LEDs- depending on how you do it.

Typically, GI lighting is accessible from under the playfield and this is surely the quickest way to change out the GI lighting to your shiny new LEDs. Simply locate the lamp that you want to replace, and from the bottom of the playfield, remove the small screw holding the lamp socket to the playfield, replace bulbs, and you’re done! It really is that simple. Each light should take about 1 minute which can save tons of time over laboriously removing ramps, plastics, toys, etc...

For this job, life would be so much easier if you had a ¼” nut driver. Our favorite nut driver is the Klein Magnetic Tip Nut Driver. The magnetized tip is especially helpful if you drop a screw in a tight place where fingers can’t really reach. After you change a few GI lamps you’ll soon realize that your nut driver went from a valuable tool in your toolbox to a priceless tool.

It seems sort of obvious, but one may not have thought about it until shown how to do it. We’ve had several customers ask what the easiest way to remove ramps was so that they could access the GI. We tell them of this method and they quickly realize that this way makes much more sense.

Here are a couple things to remember when doing this. We strongly recommend changing out the GI lights with the machine powered *OFF*... it may be easier to just keep the game on so that you can keep track of your progress as you go, but the risk of shocking yourself and/or shorting something out simply isn’t worth it. If you insist that keeping your game on is the way to go, you may want to consider using heat-shrink tubing or electrical tape to coat the shaft of the nut driver and keep it from accidentally making contact with coil tabs, other lamp sockets, etc...

Also remember that this method isn’t available for all games. Unfortunately some manufactures, such as Data East, didn’t make replacing the GI so easy... therefore they may not be accessible from under the playfield.

Blinkers and Flashers Explained

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:00:00 +0000

Really, what is the difference between flashers and blinkers? Find out here!

The Blinker versus The Flasher

A 'Blinker' does just that... it blinks however it does this on its own. Many older games used a 455 bulb to automatically blink on and off in the backbox.

Lets take it back a few years... The humble blinker was used as an attraction feature since there really weren't "attract modes" at that time. The bulb worked by heating up a filiment inside the bulb and when it got to a certain temperature, the bulb would automatically turn off. Then, once it cooled down enough, it would let the filiment heat up again and produce light until the cycle repeated. The filiments would never be exactly the same and the temperatures would vary slightly which is what would make these bulbs blink randomly instead of in unison.

Some newer games (i.e. Twilight Zone) also used a similar type of bulb called the 545, which is basically the same concept except the base is a "555" style base and the the 455 has a "44" base.

Our blinker will automatically blink just as the incandescent bulbs did. These are primarily used in backboxes to blink on their own while the rest of the GI lights in the backbox stay lit. And they are avaible in a wedge base (555) and the bayonette base (44).

The 'Flasher' on the other hand is different in that its a higher voltage (13V) and only lights when power is running to the light. These bulbs are significantly larger than standard bulbs or even blinker bulbs. Your typical flashers that will be replaced will be the 89 style and the 906 Style, both of which we have in replacements for LEDs. Because they're larger in size and require higher voltage, you can imagine that these bulbs are quite a bit brighter than blinkers and are on for just a brief flash and not a constant blinking.

As usual, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have with Flashers or Blinkers!