Virtual Pinball solenoid configuration 

Thanks- the other machine I'm working on now is quite a bit more advanced! I decided on solenoids as you could have them hit various objects (bells, wood blocks, plastic clips..etc) to get different sounds. Contactors, to me, all sounded like the same click no matter if it was a slingshot or pop bumper. Being able to customize the sounds they make was the main reason. Cost was another - those solenoids were around $4 a piece I believe.

Daryl Erwin You have to do this on the push-pull solenoid - the spring is much too weak to make an impressive sound if you had it hit the object from the other side. Also-- you would have a delay especially on flipper holds as you couldn't get a sound until you released the solenoid then. These solenoids have no way to reverse the rod (I did check on this) it is tapered on the end and the winding of the coil would also need to be different.

Daryl Erwin Sorry to clarify-- these specific solenoids are meant to "pull inwards" from that larger side so I see your reasoning on being the "wrong side" indeed it is but this solenoid is too weak to have it pull any object to produce a sound (ie-- a real flipper) as in how a large 50v solenoid would work on a real pinball machine. So basically your only option is to hit on the opposite end. I did try mounting a larger nut on that end and really made no difference in the sound. They produce a pretty loud sound as they are. A knocker coil would also be another option-- but the cost is 4x as much as requires a minimum of 24v to function and better to run them on AC voltage at around 50v

Mike Karina Oh I get it, the "lightbulb" just went off in my head. The unpowered solenoid has the main plunger rod already extended so applying power, pulls it in, not out.. duh. So like you said, no sound until you release or remove the power.

I do not specifically but whether you use this USB 8 channel relay or a LEDWiz + 16 channel relay board you need to install the DOF (Direct Output Framework) which is the part that controls the solenoids. Then go to www.vpuniverse.com/ledwiz Create an account - this tool creates the config files that Visual Pinball / DOF needs to work with the solenoids. The website allows you to then assign each relay (or LEDWiz output) to whichever solenoid/contactor you wired in. You also will need the DirectB2S backglass server running - then go into the script on each table and change the "Set Controller =" to look exactly like this Set Controller = CreateObject("B2S.Server") make sure to Compile then save your table. Next time you run it - your solenoids will automatically work with the tables.

Great, I will check this out. Thanks!

Dennis de Leest Yes I used 1N4007 diodes (Though you can use 1N4001 or higher) since the 1N4001 handles up to 50v and these are 12v. The stripe goes to the positive lead close to the solenoid-- the other end to the ground. If you do not use a diode-- the voltage collapse will cause your controller to lock up or fire random solenoids (then lock up) or cause damage to the controller.

I meant as in frying the solenoid