If you watch Phil’s videos… he’s custom engineered those solenoids to not over heat. That circuit board delivers max voltage for 15-20ms to get the solenoid to fire and then voltage is backed off to the min required to hold the solenoid open. This means you could hold the flipper button in and never overheat the solenoid. Try that with other installs without those “life extender boards” and you’ll burn up your solenoid. You can buy just that board if you want to add them to your existing build! Phil absolutely know his stuff. Heck…. He’s built his own replacement board for the KL25Z, based on open source Arduino tech, to address the KL25Z supply shortage and price hike. Check out his other products! His products are “marginally” more expensive than you buying parts all together and hacking at it DIY. He takes a lot of the difficulty in wiring out of all of this stuff. It should also be noted that all of his products work on a 12v system. Keep your power supply to a single 12v supply for your entire cab!!!!!
An absolute game changer for the ALP. I’ve had mine Cleveland Solenoids in for about a year, and they just feel great! Combine that with Buy Stuff Arcades Haptics Kit, it’s a match made in heaven 🤤
Highly recommend a contactor for flippers, as holding a starter solenoid (shown in this video) do get hot and can fail as a result over time. The maker of the kit you have has a 'solenoid saver' board that drops the power after initial actuation (but still has enough power to hold the solenoid in position) to avoid solenoid burnout
You won't regret it - adding solenoids makes it "real". If you haven't set up 7.1 sound, I'd try to do that too. Maybe the biggest impact is using an OLED monitor - it's truly wild how big of an impact that has.
@evilgeniusentertainment I appreciate the recommendations! I've already ordered the solenoids and the 7.1 SSF system which should be here in a few days.
Hey, that's awesome! Hopefully your sound card works right (took me a couple of tries to get one that would play nice). If you're running Window 10, it has a tendency to revert to 2.0 sound after you restart the computer (meaning, at least for me, I have to go into the sound control panel and reset it to 7.1 every time).
@@evilgeniusentertainment *eye roll* The joys of Windows. I am using Windows 10, so I'll keep my fingers crossed that mine is a little less finicky than yours has been.
For your sake, I hope so too! I mean now it's just a part of the workflow, but for a while I couldn't figure out what was happening which drove me half way mad....
Planning my 1st build out now. Going to do it in phases using CSD. Doing the SSF builders kit with that same 2 solenoid setup. Phase 2, add in various toys. Later on for phase 3, remaining 8 solenoids. Maybe a phase 4 with more RGB lighting. Trying the phase approach so I don't shell a bunch of money up front. Good job on the videos. 👍
it would really be nice to know, what solenoids exactely are best for vpin, since there are hundreds of different ones available. Prices vary from 1 to 40 $. sure, i could just buy the kit... but well i like diy...
Mike - I got my solenoid kit from Cleveland Software Design, who I highly recommend. I may try different ones down the line, but the ones I got from CSD work very well and have not burned out (which apparently they will do without something like CSD's setup).
Gotcha. I’m really struggling between Stranger things Aerosmith and VPin. I know you built yours from scratch but any recommendations for best fully built and configured VPin companies?
The 2 vpin companies I've heard of in the USA are virtuapin.net/ (a company here in Michigan), and thepinballking.com/ (down in Florida). I haven't done business w/either, but I believe have good reputations. Extreme Pinball in Australia also has a good rep.
If you watch Phil’s videos… he’s custom engineered those solenoids to not over heat. That circuit board delivers max voltage for 15-20ms to get the solenoid to fire and then voltage is backed off to the min required to hold the solenoid open.
This means you could hold the flipper button in and never overheat the solenoid.
Try that with other installs without those “life extender boards” and you’ll burn up your solenoid.
You can buy just that board if you want to add them to your existing build!
Phil absolutely know his stuff.
Heck…. He’s built his own replacement board for the KL25Z, based on open source Arduino tech, to address the KL25Z supply shortage and price hike.
Check out his other products!
His products are “marginally” more expensive than you buying parts all together and hacking at it DIY.
He takes a lot of the difficulty in wiring out of all of this stuff.
It should also be noted that all of his products work on a 12v system. Keep your power supply to a single 12v supply for your entire cab!!!!!
Yeah, I've had no indication that the solenoids will burn out. Still as clickity-clackity as ever!
Yep Phils stuff is good.
An absolute game changer for the ALP. I’ve had mine Cleveland Solenoids in for about a year, and they just feel great! Combine that with Buy Stuff Arcades Haptics Kit, it’s a match made in heaven 🤤
It's some pretty dang good icing that's for sure! Hope the gen2 ALP has haptics/solenoids at least as good as CSD's.
Highly recommend a contactor for flippers, as holding a starter solenoid (shown in this video) do get hot and can fail as a result over time. The maker of the kit you have has a 'solenoid saver' board that drops the power after initial actuation (but still has enough power to hold the solenoid in position) to avoid solenoid burnout
I worry about that a bit, but I don't think the solenoids themselves are that expensive.
These have a failsafe built in to prevent overheating no matter how long you hold your flipper button down
Thanks for making this video...i was unaware such a thing existed! Just bought the parts..thanks again!
Hey, glad you got something out of it! Def worth the effort, at least for the simple 2 solenoid setup.
Really appreciate the video! I've been thinking of taking my vpin to the next level for a while. I think I may take the plunge.
You won't regret it - adding solenoids makes it "real". If you haven't set up 7.1 sound, I'd try to do that too. Maybe the biggest impact is using an OLED monitor - it's truly wild how big of an impact that has.
@evilgeniusentertainment I appreciate the recommendations! I've already ordered the solenoids and the 7.1 SSF system which should be here in a few days.
Hey, that's awesome! Hopefully your sound card works right (took me a couple of tries to get one that would play nice). If you're running Window 10, it has a tendency to revert to 2.0 sound after you restart the computer (meaning, at least for me, I have to go into the sound control panel and reset it to 7.1 every time).
@@evilgeniusentertainment *eye roll* The joys of Windows. I am using Windows 10, so I'll keep my fingers crossed that mine is a little less finicky than yours has been.
For your sake, I hope so too! I mean now it's just a part of the workflow, but for a while I couldn't figure out what was happening which drove me half way mad....
Planning my 1st build out now. Going to do it in phases using CSD. Doing the SSF builders kit with that same 2 solenoid setup. Phase 2, add in various toys. Later on for phase 3, remaining 8 solenoids. Maybe a phase 4 with more RGB lighting. Trying the phase approach so I don't shell a bunch of money up front. Good job on the videos. 👍
Thanks mightymo - kinda my approach too. Eventually putting in a 7.1 amp, oled monitor for the backglass, and a few more bells.
Thanks for the vid bro, placed order for the two flipper build.
It makes a huge difference; I think you'll love 'em!
Solenoids mixed with SSF is the best.
Yup - makes for a true arcade experience
Do you have any interest in installing solenoids into you ALP or A1up vpin game?
it would really be nice to know, what solenoids exactely are best for vpin, since there are hundreds of different ones available.
Prices vary from 1 to 40 $. sure, i could just buy the kit... but well i like diy...
Mike - I got my solenoid kit from Cleveland Software Design, who I highly recommend. I may try different ones down the line, but the ones I got from CSD work very well and have not burned out (which apparently they will do without something like CSD's setup).
Can you provide the link to the solenoids you’re using? I want to install in my A1UP.
Cleveland Software Design. Just noticed the author has a link in his info for the video.
I don’t have ALP or arcade 1up pins but don’t they have solenoids in them already? I’m pretty sure the 1up does at least..
ALP no, A1up yes, but very weak (essentially nothing). ALP gen 2 will have them, but of course no idea how effective they are yet.....
Gotcha. I’m really struggling between Stranger things Aerosmith and VPin. I know you built yours from scratch but any recommendations for best fully built and configured VPin companies?
The 2 vpin companies I've heard of in the USA are virtuapin.net/ (a company here in Michigan), and thepinballking.com/ (down in Florida). I haven't done business w/either, but I believe have good reputations. Extreme Pinball in Australia also has a good rep.
@@evilgeniusentertainmentmany thanks! Subscribed!
Thanks brother!