Stern SPIKE™ System Repair

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1 Stern SPIKE™ System Repair

1.1 Introduction

The SPIKE™ System is the current board system used by Stern Pinball. The first full production game to use the SPIKE Board Set was Wrestlemania in 2015. The SPIKE architecture is a large departure from prior board set architectures. Per Stern, "The SPIKE Pinball system is rugged, distributed, and embedded platform custom-designed for the rigors of the pinball machine environment".

The SPIKE system is comprised of "nodes" that are powered from a 48VDC power bus. Each SPIKE "node" will regulate this 48VDC down to the proper voltage required to operate the "devices" under control of that node (lamps, coils, etc). Nodes are connected with standard CAT 5e (or better) 8 conductor Ethernet wiring although the interface protocol is not Ethernet, and connecting a SPIKE node to computer Ethernet will damage the board (per Stern).

1.2 Games

1.2.1 SPIKE 1

• The Pin Transformers Home Edition
• The Pin The Avengers Home Edition
• Wrestlemania
• KISS
• Whoa Nellie! Big Juicy Melons™
• The Walking Dead
• Game of Thrones
• Ghostbusters
• Pabst Can Crusher
• Spider-Man Home Edition

1.2.2 SPIKE 2

• Batman 66
• Aerosmith
• Star Wars (Stern)
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Iron Maiden

1.3 Technical Info

1.3.1 The SPIKE Board Set

Stern has issued a technical video discussing the Spike system boards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvefdrNaAPg

Spike 1 board installed in a Ghostbusters.

Ghostbusters Spike 1 board

1.3.2 Recommended Documentation

As always, it is highly recommended to possess a game manual. Every game manual is full of detailed information regarding game specific switch, lamp, and coil assignments. Equally, details for maneuvering through test, audit, and bookkeeping screen menus, schematics for all boards used, and game specific mechanical assemblies are included.

1.4 Problems and Solutions

1.4.1 Power Problems

The main power supply is 48 volts and has a cooling fan. Some versions have the fan on the front of the power supply while others may have the fan mounted on the top.

Ghostbusters Pro 48 volt power supply

Ghostbusters wiring interconnection label.

Ghostbusters interconnection wiring label

1.4.7 Display problems

Starting with Pirates of the Caribbean (a S.A.M. board set game), Stern replaced the normal Plasma Dot Matrix Display on European models with an LED variant because of the RoHS law. They first used PinLED DMDs, and later, switched to a red DMD specifically made for them (520-5052-05). The debate which looks better will be going on for your remaining lifetime and continue right into your next few lives.

1.4.7.1 LED DMD bad vertical line

Stern bad LED DMD

If a game is always showing a semi-bright vertical line on the DMD, usually one of the LED segments is bad. Fortunately the bad segment can be found easily. As shown in the picture to the left, one pixel in the line is always dark. This 8x8 segment is the bad guy and needs to be replaced. The good thing is that this problem usually occurs with NIB games just after a few hours or days of game play so the DMD is still under warranty. If not, ask Stern for the availability of the LED segments. When replacing a block, be advised that the vias are small and are difficult to remove without the proper equipment.

1.4.9 Flipper problems

See Common Flipper Troubleshooting for general flipper information.

1.4.12 Shaker Motor Problems

1.4.12.1 Third Party Shaker Motors

All current SPIKE™ games allow for a shaker motor, but it should be a SPIKE shaker motor, not a SAM-system shaker motor (SAM is the previous system). After the initial launch of SPIKE™ games, it was discovered that motors from third-party manufacturers (in particular Pinball Life) had a capacitor that caused problems, and will blow out the node board. Service Bulletin 184 advises against using third-party shaker motors entirely. Installation will void the game's warranty.

The symptom of this problem is that the Start button, plumb bob, and coin door GI lamps won't work; that is, the game becomes unplayable.

Some owners have reported that removing the capacitor from the third-party motor will fix the problem. Stern's public position is that owners should spend the extra money and buy an OEM motor. Many vendors do not clearly differentiate between an OEM part and a third-party part.