Add lighted flipper buttons to old SS pinball

You can add lighted flipper buttons (for a really cool look) to any old solid state - even electromechanical game.

What you'll need to do is reference the manual, or if you're really good find a 6.3VAC source on the playfield. This should be an 'always on' light socket, also known as GI or General Illumination.

I pick a GI socket as close to the bottom of the playfield as I can, with the playfield raised all the way up, so I can reduce wire strain and zip tie the two wires in line with the existing wire harness. Ideally, power can be sourced from the coin door insert GI, which would be much closer to the flipper buttons.

I want to make sure that the wires I'm using have plenty of slack as I route and staple them strategically away from areas you will likely be working.

I'll share some pictures of an installation, but this is generally what I do:

1. Get yourself some translucent or completely clear buttons for that cabinet. 2. Get sockets, typically #44 style aka BA9s, that have on their base a tab with hole for mounting. Almost all #44 sockets have some variant, it does not need to be any specific type, but you can follow what I show in pictures. I typically use #44 sockets that you would find in early SS Bally games. 3. Get #44 LED bulbs with the flexible neck so you can move the light where you need it. 4. Get plenty of 22 or 24 gauge stranded wire, two different colors. 5. Stapler used for electrical or telecom. 6. Wire nuts for 22/24 gauge. 7. Soldering iron, solder, ventilated work space.

https://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=File:SS_Bally_GI_lighting_tap_1.jpg

https://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=File:SS_Bally_GI_lighting_tap_2.jpg

https://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=File:SS_Bally_GI_lighting_tap_3.jpg