26 replies to this topic

[LynnInDenver]

I'm guessing the biggest intermittent power drain may come from my shaker motor OR if I hold both flipper solenoids open for an extended period; so I try not to do that too much without thinking first.

Generally speaking, I'd recommend a dedicated 12v power supply, if only that if you have friends over playing, they'll not remember to think about holding both flippers up for an extended period, and suddenly the cabinet computer shuts down.

[Rombo]

Thanks for letting me know your hardware helps me plan for the future. So far I have no noticeable issues using the shared power supply.. I think it has a pretty good high power rating. Not sure what the watts rating is.  I cheated as I did not want to fart around with a secondary power supply. I'm guessing the biggest intermittent power drain may come from my shaker motor OR if I hold both flipper solenoids open for an extended period; so I try not to do that too much without thinking first. The remaining 4 solenoids (2 slingshot and 2 pop bumpers) go off random enough that again it does not put a significant simultaneous power draw against the power supply. When I upgrade to the Sainsmart 16 I may put in a dedicated power supply but again, I'll stick with toys that can run off of 12v so I can use off the shelf automotive parts if I please (door openers, window motors and so on, just allows more of the shelf choices). 

 

P.S. Are the automotive starter relays super loud??

 

Nice setup.  From your images it looks like you have a Thermaltake 650 Watt PSU.  The 12 Volt dedicated PSU that I bought was less than $25.00, I think that you may want to consider going the dedicated route.  I am looking at getting 4 speaker SFF setup now as well.  The amp and the 4 transducers are less than $150.00.  As far as the solenoids go, I don't know how loud they are as I just ordered 3 of them today.  They won't be here until next week, so I will put them in over the weekend after next.  What are you running for a PC in your setup?

Edited by Rombo, 15 April 2021 - 09:33 PM.

[wiesshund]

Generally speaking, I'd recommend a dedicated 12v power supply, if only that if you have friends over playing, they'll not remember to think about holding both flippers up for an extended period, and suddenly the cabinet computer shuts down.

 

 

 

It's amazing how useful an antique 10 amp battery charge from a flea market can be

 

 

 

 As far as the solenoids go, I don't know how loud they are as I just ordered 3 of them today.  

 

 

 

 

They can be very loud, it all depends on the mounting and what they are mounted to.
you mount them to some cheap tin box channel, and they are really loud

You deviate from the normal hanging mounting (which is actually supposed to reduce solenoid noise in the car body)
and wedge the top of the solenoid against some hardwood (NOT pine), especially if you hollow it out like a sounding block, they can also be very loud 

You do a normal hanging mount to some soft pine, and not very loud.

[Rombo]

They can be very loud, it all depends on the mounting and what they are mounted to.
you mount them to some cheap tin box channel, and they are really loud

You deviate from the normal hanging mounting (which is actually supposed to reduce solenoid noise in the car body)
and wedge the top of the solenoid against some hardwood (NOT pine), especially if you hollow it out like a sounding block, they can also be very loud 

You do a normal hanging mount to some soft pine, and not very loud.

 

 

 

How loud would they be mounting them to laminated birch or MDF?
 

Edited by Rombo, 15 April 2021 - 10:54 PM.

[mrjcrane]

I'm running a core i7 with 16gigs ram, Vidcard is Gforce GTX 1050ti (with 4 gigs of dedicated DDR5 Ram), 500gig SSD. I have a repurposed 5.1 DVD Player Surround/Audio system + an external powered Sony sub woofer (Because I use the PinCab as a Jukebox as well). I have been trying to spec out a better sound system but hitting a lot of trial an error. 

 

Motherboard Mounts to a wood base - Pinball Parts Discussion - VPForums.org

 

I tried this mini-amp: It was small and compact and had all the right controls. I liked the design and size but the harder and louder I pushed it, the more distorted and metalic it sounded, so I am back to my 5.1 DVD player (but like the 2.1 mode better).  The bluetooth transmitter was creating radio interference and there was no way to turn it off.

Amazon.com: UWAYKEY Bluetooth Amplifier Board 2.1 Channel Class D AMP Module with Dual TPA3116D2 Chip: Electronics

 

If they made the UWACKY with twice the power and no built in bluetooth, I would probably jump back over to it.

 

On mounting toys, I tend to mount them on strips of 5.5 inch laminate tongue and groov flooring so I can create spares and swap toys in and out very quickly. All solenoids are mounted onto a small platform before they are attached inside my cabinet. I used the same flooring material to build my backbox in a manner that lets the back box be assembled or deassembled around the monitor. It is held together mostly by dowels and pressure joins and as few screws that I could get away with. Everything I build, I build to come apart if needed.  The monitor had grooves on the side so the tongue part of the flooring slid right into the grooves and was a perfect fit for my HP monitor for the 2 side face and 1 top face panel. 

 

Edited by mrjcrane, 16 April 2021 - 01:27 AM.

[JimmyC]

Hi There,
 
This will be my first post to this community as I need help getting the relay to work.
I am only able to get so far with all the videos and documentations.
I installed everything last month so all software should be up to date.

 

My goal is to get a VPX table to run with the relay working.

• Cabinet with 2 monitors.
• KL25Z for the plunger, nudge and coin acceptor - working well with VisualPinballX but FuturePinball the nudge does not work. 
• Knockoff of the Sainsmart 8 rely - ( I read somewhere that Pinscape can know handle other boards) This works using RelayCtl to control the channels and fire the solenoids.
  • -- 24/03/2023 11:30:58 -- (can't attache image of app for some reason)
    USB Receiver
    USB Receiver
    USB Receiver
    USB Receiver
    USBRelay8
    Generic   USB  Joystick  
    USB Receiver
    Pinscape Controller
    Generic   USB  Joystick  
    USB Receiver
    00 FE 01 - FF
    00 FC 01 - 00
    00 FF 05 - 10
    00 FD 05 - 00

I went through this list and its all done but still not working when I load a VPX tables. Even the dof_test_table_vpx.vpx does nothing.

Point 3. I also have directoutputconfig.ini as the DOFlinx wants it. For what I understand is DOFLinx is for Future Pinball only that I had installed already but not sure it's working or install properly?

1) Did you use the USB 8 Relay Manager tool to at least prove that the solenoids 1 & 2 are triggering?
2) You do have a login account on DOF Config Tool site, correct?
3) Did you at least get set up with DOF and get the configuration file placed in C:\DirectOutput\config\ as directoutputconfig40.ini (that tells the VPX games what DOF devices to trigger, I have all 8 connected) ?

4) Did you at least get the "Activate Plugins" flag set correctly to on in the B2S server?
5) In the B2s Active Plugins/Plugin Settings is DOF showing as an "Active Plugin"?

 

 

Hope everyone is well,

James

[JimmyC]

So I found that I needed a Relay board that is FT244R compatible and mine was not. Swopped it with a Sainsmart relay and it all works.

I'm so happy to finally get it done.

 

Hi There,
 
This will be my first post to this community as I need help getting the relay to work.
I am only able to get so far with all the videos and documentations.
I installed everything last month so all software should be up to date.

 

My goal is to get a VPX table to run with the relay working.

• Cabinet with 2 monitors.
• KL25Z for the plunger, nudge and coin acceptor - working well with VisualPinballX but FuturePinball the nudge does not work. 
• Knockoff of the Sainsmart 8 rely - ( I read somewhere that Pinscape can know handle other boards) This works using RelayCtl to control the channels and fire the solenoids.
  • -- 24/03/2023 11:30:58 -- (can't attache image of app for some reason)
    USB Receiver
    USB Receiver
    USB Receiver
    USB Receiver
    USBRelay8
    Generic   USB  Joystick  
    USB Receiver
    Pinscape Controller
    Generic   USB  Joystick  
    USB Receiver
    00 FE 01 - FF
    00 FC 01 - 00
    00 FF 05 - 10
    00 FD 05 - 00

I went through this list and its all done but still not working when I load a VPX tables. Even the dof_test_table_vpx.vpx does nothing.

Point 3. I also have directoutputconfig.ini as the DOFlinx wants it. For what I understand is DOFLinx is for Future Pinball only that I had installed already but not sure it's working or install properly?

1) Did you use the USB 8 Relay Manager tool to at least prove that the solenoids 1 & 2 are triggering?
2) You do have a login account on DOF Config Tool site, correct?
3) Did you at least get set up with DOF and get the configuration file placed in C:\DirectOutput\config\ as directoutputconfig40.ini (that tells the VPX games what DOF devices to trigger, I have all 8 connected) ?

4) Did you at least get the "Activate Plugins" flag set correctly to on in the B2S server?
5) In the B2s Active Plugins/Plugin Settings is DOF showing as an "Active Plugin"?

 

 

Hope everyone is well,

James