Need help locating a photocell for an old arcade game.

[Bart D. Hull]

I need to locate a replacement photocell for a 1974 Chopper game.
(Helicopter game where you put a "spotlight" on aliens to score points.)

I am in the Phoenix, Arizona area and cannot locate any electronic
component stores. (Radio shack does not count.)

In testing one of the good photocells it shows a resistance of 400 ohms
with bright light and 20K ohms dark. I bought a night light to "borrow"
the photocell from but it has 3000 ohms with bright light and 280K dark.

The photocell supplies 12v to a solenoid to trigger a counter. Kinda
old school, but hey this game was built in 1974.

Any suggestions, hints or technical data on various photocells that are
currently available would be helpful.

Thanks
--
Bart D. Hull
[email protected]
Tempe, Arizona

Check http://www.inficad.com/~bdhull/engine.html
for my Subaru Engine Conversion
Check http://www.inficad.com/~bdhull/fuselage.html
for Tango II I'm building.

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[mc]

Cadmium sulfide photocells are all very much alike. You might check the
surplus market. I seem to recall that some were available from
www.mouser.com - may still be. Does the current to the solenoid flow
entirely through the photocell? You might want to add a transistor to the
circuit.

 

[Michael]

I need to locate a replacement photocell for a 1974 Chopper game.
(Helicopter game where you put a "spotlight" on aliens to score points.)

I am in the Phoenix, Arizona area and cannot locate any electronic
component stores. (Radio shack does not count.)

In testing one of the good photocells it shows a resistance of 400 ohms
with bright light and 20K ohms dark. I bought a night light to "borrow"
the photocell from but it has 3000 ohms with bright light and 280K dark.

The photocell supplies 12v to a solenoid to trigger a counter. Kinda
old school, but hey this game was built in 1974.

Any suggestions, hints or technical data on various photocells that are
currently available would be helpful.

Thanks

Maybe <www.allelectronics.com>
1-800-826-5432
The last catalog I got lists a 20-ohm/5k, a 40-ohm/20k, and a
100-ohm/50k
All three are 75-cents each

 

[Watson A.Name - \Watt Sun, the Dark Remover\]

I need to locate a replacement photocell for a 1974 Chopper game.
(Helicopter game where you put a "spotlight" on aliens to score points.)

I am in the Phoenix, Arizona area and cannot locate any electronic
component stores. (Radio shack does not count.)

In testing one of the good photocells it shows a resistance of 400 ohms
with bright light and 20K ohms dark. I bought a night light to "borrow"
the photocell from but it has 3000 ohms with bright light and 280K dark.

The photocell supplies 12v to a solenoid to trigger a counter. Kinda
old school, but hey this game was built in 1974.

The photocell is directly connected to the solenoid? That's probably
the reason why it doesn't work any more. Put a transistor between the
photocell and the solenoid, like it should be. That will allow you to
use the 3000 ohm one that you have. Like this.
http://www.ozitronics.com/docs/k79a.pdf
But you don't need the switch, and one transistor should be enough. The
solenoid goes in place of the relay coil.