Top This! A thread about slot machine toppers.

[knagl]

Questions/answers/pictures of Slot Machine toppers.

Originally posted 1/22/2008

If I had time to work on these non-stop neither of these projects would have taken more than a couple of days, but since my tinkering time is limited, these projects took closer to a couple of months.   

Needless to say, I'm very pleased with the results -- I just don't know what to do in my spare time now -- my long-term project is done!

Anyway, here are pictures (and a video of the ChamII+ meter) that I just added to my two slot machines.  I just got a hold of some window tint, so I'm going to be taking the meter out and adding a layer of tint in front of it -- other than that, though, they're done, and they look great!









Here's the video of the meter.  It's 1:15 in length, the first message starts at 0:20.  I re-did the programming to make the jackpot amount display longer between messages (after I took this video).
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/ag94RWzZF2k" target="_blank"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/ag94RWzZF2k" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/ag94RWzZF2k</a></a>

(The scrolling text may be hard to read in this video from my cell phone -- after, "Play Max Coins To Win...." it scrolls, "PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT!!!"  Then, "Use your CLUB KEVIN card to earn cash back and comps!!!")   

The "Hot Hot Super Jackpot" topper for my WMS game came from Jim at Blueridge, and the Drew Carey topper came from Renee in Las Vegas.  I got the ChamII+ from a friend (he had it installed in his slant top that he got for a song, and was going to sell the machine -- he let me put a different game kit in and take the kit out that had the ChamII+ before he sold it).  I had to mount the ChamII+ meter in the display window, as it was designed for a Spectrum display.

There you have it.  Please post pictures of your topper(s) in this thread -- I'd love to see what others have!   

[knagl]

Originally posted 9/1/2008

Do you have any problems with the amperage of those convertors exceeding the max amperage of the 110V outlet in the machine?

In my personal usage, no, I have not had any problems.  The LED's don't use anything -- the only possible area of concern would be the 24v for the fluorescent light, but I haven't experienced problems on either of my machines.  Edit: I just looked at the topper, and at least on mine, the fluorescent ballast only calls for 0.62 amps, so it shouldn't be a problem at all.

Are you using the 110V ac service outlet in the bottom of the machine?

One machine yes, the other no (I also have a ChamII+ display and power supply in that topper, so I have a separate plug running just for the topper lights and the progressive meter).

Did you pack the convertors into the Topper, or did you put them in the cabinet?

In the cabinet, in the top box.  Here, have a picture:



I also used little bullet connectors that are detachable.  If I ever want/need to remove the topper, I can do so without cutting any wires, and be able to hook it back up again later.  I was able to do all of my wire work outside of the machine, and then just fed those wires through the machine when I was ready to install it, and then plugged in the connectors.

Can you tell me which wires are positive and nuetral. The topper wires are 1 orange, 1 red, and 2 black wires that have red stripes on them.

idesign had it -- orange is +25vdc, black with orange stripe is the negative for that.  Red is +13vdc, black with red stripe is its negative.

Did you use your old candlestick off of the machine, or how did you hook up the Topper?

One of each.  It's easier to use the original candle -- just add a length of wire if needed, and you can use the original candle harness in the top of the machine to connect it (and to be able to disconnect it without cutting wires, if you ever wanted to remove the topper).  You also don't have to fudge with figuring out wires with the new candle and splicing in connections.

If you want to use the candle that came with the topper, you'll have to trace the wires to make sure that you're hooking up the correct wires from the machine to the candle, and then change the bulbs out -- the voltage on the bulbs is different enough that the S2000 bulbs will only glow dimly when powered by a S+.

The light bulb that comes in the S+ candle is a #55.  That's 7v, 0.41a, 2.87w, with a Miniature Bayonet Base.
The light bulb in a S2000 candle is a #193.  That's 14v, 0.357a, 5w, with a Wedge Base.

Since the bases are different, you can't just take your S+ bulbs and put them in the S2000 candle.  I had some #555 light bulbs for my pinball machine.  I cheated and used those on the topper where I kept the S2000 candle.  The #555 is 6.3v, 0.25a, 1.58w, Wedge Base.  They're not quite the perfect replacement for the #55, but close enough for my usage.  They probably won't last quite as long, but again, it works for me.

Here's a video of the final product (click the "play" button to see it in action) :

<a href="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=8677607974289015711&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=true" target="_blank"><a href="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=8677607974289015711&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=true" target="_blank">http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=8677607974289015711&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=true</a></a>

Edit: I should mention, too, I'm pretty sure I'm using a 9vdc plug-in transformer for the LEDs.  When you measure it on the multimeter, it puts out a lot more than 9v (closer to 12-13), and it drives the lights just fine.  Using a 12vdc supply may be too much, especially since the LEDs barely require any power to run.

[knagl]

Originally posted by r273 on 9/1/2008

And here is yet another way to light up a topper.  Two 12V adapters are wired together for the 25V light (24V works) and the other 12V is for the chase lights.

[Flexpipe]

Yes, they DO look great. I put a sugggestion in the box to have a space on NLG especially for the Slot Toppers. I like them alot, and love to see all the old and new styles.  I hope Joey puts a area on the board dedicated to these devices! Think it adds much to a ordinary game. Your Drew Carey with the Progressive is awsome, nice score. Thanks for sharing!

[westec1]

Just a note

As mentioned earlier, the LED rings do not require very much voltage,

if you are going to use a small power adapter they are not very well regulated so stick to a 9 volt supply
and pay attention to the polarity of the power adapter in relation to the topper wiring
they are very easy to blow, been their done that

Wes

[CaptainHappy]

Yes, they DO look great. I put a sugggestion in the box to have a space on NLG especially for the Slot Toppers. I like them alot, and love to see all the old and new styles.  I hope Joey puts a area on the board dedicated to these devices! Think it adds much to a ordinary game. Your Drew Carey with the Progressive is awsome, nice score. Thanks for sharing!

Flexpipe,

I just saw this post and made a seperate area for it with all of the progressive stuff. I thought this may be a good location for it since it has a close relation to progressives as many toppers have meters a well. Let me know if you all think this is a good spot or not. K+ for the suggestion. Hopefully the TOPper Experts will show off things with good PICs and instructions and details. Also obviously show off pics only are welcome and encouraged!

I dare everyone to TOP THIS!!!!

CaptainHappy
NLG ADMIN

[Flexpipe]

Thanks so much, CaptainHappy for allowing the space on the board for the Slot Toppers. I am sure lots of people have unique and rare toppers they would like to share with the board.  Alos tips on mounting, electrical hookup, and other tips will be posted as well. Thanks again!

[westec1]

hears one of mine you don't see every day

[Thor777]

hears one of mine you don't see every day

Sweet...  I would love to have Toppers for my slots 

  How do you guys come across these items    (how do you afford them?) 

   surely not on E-Bay 

[westec1]

I have 5 toppers most I got on flebay

The Monopoly Free Parking, a good buddy of mine gave it to me

Wes

[Thor777]

OK...Made my own...

   Question..Is this classified as a topper or just a homemade progressive sign?     

[westec1]

I would say it's both

Looks great!!

Wes

[tacman]

This is the ultimate cool topper!!!!    Some are saying this is for the pinball, but checking the back looks like it has a spot for a candle.

 Dan (tacman)

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/_JNou1r9fVU&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/_JNou1r9fVU&rel=0</a>

[westec1]

I've seen those on the twilight slots in Vegas, their are actually two versions of this topper,

Wes

[Flexpipe]

It is not for the Bally Pinball machine, it is specifically for the Twilight Zone Video Slot machine manufactured by IGT. I have this topper,  and is indeed, a really nice unit.  Has several animation programs, including individual letter illumination, wipes, led sequences, etc. Great topper, kind of rare to find one these days. Wish I could get the whole game with the top box, probably mortgage the house for a working version, lol.

[knagl]

Indeed, I just saw that on a TZ slot machine at the Four Queens in Downtown Las Vegas.

That said, some of the pin heads have been putting them on the top of their TZ pins.  A guy who owns a local arcade mounted (and powered) one on his machine -- it's a cool addition to the pinball machine.

[Bettor Slots]

Hello All !!

Just wanted to share my custom topper I just finished for my WMS Big Bang Piggy Bankin machine.  Total cost was $35 for after market topper on Ebay.  And around $75 for graphic artist time and film printing.  If any one is interested I can refer you to the company that can do a reprint for you.

[westec1]

Looks very nice, thanks for the pic's

Wes

[knagl]

That's awesome!  Is that film on top of plexiglas, or is it thick enough on its own.  That really looks great!

[Bettor Slots]

Thanks for the compliments guys. 

Pictures do not really do it justice as it's hard to see the Royal Purple color that really ties it all together matching the belly glass.  This particular topper uses a film insert behind a 1/8" thick piece of clear Plexiglass.  But this could be reprinted onto any size or shape you wanted from the company I used.  They have several "standard" sizes already on their computer and can print onto film or Plexiglass for you.  For example if you had a more commonly found IGT topper you wanted to use they could mod the graphic to fit and print onto a spec sized piece of oval Plexiglass. Worse case you could ship your old topper insert to them and they would build match if you have something unusual like I do.  Email me privately and I will give you the contact information.

Jim

[stayouttadabunker]

I found some real cool toppers...couldn't afford them though
at slotstuff.com

[Foster]

Nice find there.
I doubt I could afford them as well. guessing about $1000 to $5000 each.

[stayouttadabunker]

i sent an inquiry to them...lets see what they say

[brichter]

i sent an inquiry to them...lets see what they say

Hah! You ain't getting out of it that easy, SOB!

 How much were they???

[StatFreak]

I don't think that he bought any. He would have had pictures posted all over the home game room thread months ago if he had.