Transformers

[mustangjeff]

I was thinking about rewireing my A electrical box, and was wondering, can you replace the transformer with a modern version. They just seem to be so old style. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Ted]

The original Brunswick elec box has 2 secondary transformer outputs. The managers control side was a higher voltage to account for the length of wire to and from the front desk -usually 28 to 30 volts measured right at the terminal strip. The other secondary is for the masking unit light circuit, closer to 24 volts and a 'local' circuit. This is also a main consideration in the 115 - vs- 208 - vs - 230 primary transformer wiring based on building incoming voltages to the pinsetters. These 2 secondary circuits could be protected by a single fuse (3.2 amp) if on the '0' volt position of the secondary windings of the transformer. So, you only have one fuse for 2 secondary outputs - only issue is the secondary '0' volt had to 'float' to be usable in a bank of 8 machines. Thus the term a 'floating' ground for each 8 lanes in any managers control box, that could also be designed to advance a frame counter with an additional ac pulse from the switch on the deck shaft.
Since most scoring systems today turn on the machines in the back, eliminating the length of wire to the desk, a single output transformer would simplify the secondary wiring of all Brunswick machines.

[Steve Stafford (JBEES)]

To answer your question...yes. Would it make things easier? Not necessarily. You would need voltage to power the low voltage side of the machine...24VAC. If you still use your desk switches to turn on the pinsetters, you will also need about 26 volts to do it properly. You also need to look at the high voltage side of the machine. You need 115 volts to power your magnetic clutch circuit, deck light circuit and possibly your motor contactor coil.

All of these issues are resolved using the transformer that Brunswick supplies. Some mechanics have issues with wiring these into the machine as there are up to 9 wires to look at and decide where they go. One option is to make a Molex connector to plug them into the electrical system. This idea comes from Masternut some years back and works wonders in making things easy. But it requires getting into the box before an issue arises to prepare for such a situation...and most mechanics are reluctant to do this as it usually means working with a rats nest from the start. Not an interesting prospect.

[MASTERMIKE]

I love the molex idea,

my transformers have all one color wires on them, So id rather wait till i ever replaced to just hook up moles

Mike

[Steve Stafford (JBEES)]

Another one of William's great ideas.

[jim_long]

The transformer is a multifunctional device, replacing it with one NOT made for the job at hand is what causes bowling centers to burn down. Why, you may ask? Because it is usually replaced with devices that are not up to the job at hand, and sometimes replaced by someone that doesn't understand the electrical system protection scheme.

The pinsetter transformer is a specialty item, it is used as a voltage divider for 110-120 volts since the power line has no neutral line to the machine, only a ground. It supplies low voltage (24,26,28 volts) for different purposes, and if these purposes are not supplied the proper voltages, they will suffer from low voltage brown outs.

[Ted]

The transformer is a multifunctional device, replacing it with one NOT made for the job at hand is what causes bowling centers to burn down. Why, you may ask? Because it is usually replaced with devices that are not up to the job at hand, and sometimes replaced by someone that doesn't understand the electrical system protection scheme.

Agree - any wiring not properly protected by fusing is asking for a disaster....

The Brunswick transformer primary is protected with a 1 amp fuse. The secondary has additional protection at 3.2 amps. If you measure the secondary current, it's well below 3. I've seen less than 2 amps on many a machine.
If you rewire the Brunswick box to a single secondary, you would, of course, select a transformer with the proper input voltage, a secondary of 24 volts and a current rating 50% over the regular load so it will run well within it's volt/amp limits.
I too like peanut's quick change connectors, as long as the pins and sockets are rated well above the load.
AMF guys know all too well what it's like with pins and sockets that are load rated not to much above the actual current. (read C1A)

[mustangjeff]

Right after I posted about replacing the transformer, I had a slight fire in #3 electrical box. The transformer burnt up, and now needs replaced. This is the machine that would blink after about 1 hour of running after the ball hit. I guess I found my problem.