A piece de resistor?
January 23, 2009 6:59 PM Subscribe
Where can I pick up a couple of 39K Ohm 1W (or 2W) flameproof resistors in the Bay Area this weekend for a pinball machine repair?
It doesn't look like Radio Shack stocks them. I expect Fry's might have them, but I'm looking to avoid a long drive -- bonus points for not having to leave San Francisco.
It doesn't look like Radio Shack stocks them. I expect Fry's might have them, but I'm looking to avoid a long drive -- bonus points for not having to leave San Francisco.
Evidently there's a place called HD Electronics in SF that often sells refurbished pinball machines, at 545 20th St. Maybe you could give them a call, they might know where to buy the part you need locally if they don't have it themselves.
I've never been there, but I thought I'd spend a little time with googlemaps to try to save you from Fry's. (I went looking for a specific resistor there once; they showed me a bunch of capacitors and couldn't understand why I was Not Happy.)
posted by nat at 7:45 PM on January 23, 2009
I've never been there, but I thought I'd spend a little time with googlemaps to try to save you from Fry's. (I went looking for a specific resistor there once; they showed me a bunch of capacitors and couldn't understand why I was Not Happy.)
posted by nat at 7:45 PM on January 23, 2009
To what temperatures or flame are these resistors in the pinball machine exposed?
If you don't need the things NOW THIS WEEKEND, the easiest thing to do is to just order whatever you need from Digikey or Mouser or some other online distributor. You'll pay a few bucks in shipping and maybe even a "Don't Waste Our Time" fee for such a small order, but it's probably less hassle than driving around to five obscure electronics store until you find the right dusty package in the back.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 8:45 PM on January 23, 2009
If you don't need the things NOW THIS WEEKEND, the easiest thing to do is to just order whatever you need from Digikey or Mouser or some other online distributor. You'll pay a few bucks in shipping and maybe even a "Don't Waste Our Time" fee for such a small order, but it's probably less hassle than driving around to five obscure electronics store until you find the right dusty package in the back.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 8:45 PM on January 23, 2009
To what temperatures or flame are these resistors in the pinball machine exposed?
If these are what I think they are (tan, big-ass bricklike ceramic resistors), they're in the flipper coil line, which has 60V driving them and you don't want to have your face or body part close to them when they fail.
I saw one go once in a big pooof -- quite impressive.
ah, googling, I see these are on the 100V DC display line. That's why they're flameproof.
posted by troy at 9:04 PM on January 23, 2009
If these are what I think they are (tan, big-ass bricklike ceramic resistors), they're in the flipper coil line, which has 60V driving them and you don't want to have your face or body part close to them when they fail.
I saw one go once in a big pooof -- quite impressive.
ah, googling, I see these are on the 100V DC display line. That's why they're flameproof.
posted by troy at 9:04 PM on January 23, 2009
Al Lasher's Electronics in Berkeley says they stock NTE Electronics products, and they make 39 Ohm 2W resistors... but Al's is closed on Sundays.
posted by Zed at 10:45 PM on January 24, 2009
posted by Zed at 10:45 PM on January 24, 2009
Best answer: So, while I didn't find resistors in San Francisco, I did find a great place up in San Rafael -- Electronics Plus -- which not only had my resistors but just about anything else you'd want as a weekend electronics hobbyist, and was open all Saturday. The bad resistor's been replaced, the 100VDC display circuit (you were correct, Troy) is working again, and all is well in the world.
I drove by their storefront, and HD Electronics looks just like the kind of place I'd like to visit. I'm going to have to check them out during the week.
Thanks, all.
posted by eschatfische at 9:26 AM on January 25, 2009
I drove by their storefront, and HD Electronics looks just like the kind of place I'd like to visit. I'm going to have to check them out during the week.
Thanks, all.
posted by eschatfische at 9:26 AM on January 25, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
Or at least they were back in the 80s when I was in the biz. Don't know about now, LOL.
Not open on weekends I don't think.
posted by troy at 7:18 PM on January 23, 2009