The Hidden Enemy Of Pinball Flippers.

Ever notice your flippers feel strong at the beginning of a game, but after a long session they suddenly seem weaker? That's called flipper fade or coil fade since any coil can be a victim. A flipper works because electricity flows through a coil of copper wire, creating a magnetic field that pulls the plunger and flips the bat. As that coil gets hotter from repeated use, the electrical resistance of the copper increases. Higher resistance means less current can flow through the coil. Less current creates a weaker magnetic field, so the flipper doesn't have the same strength it had when it was cool. That's flipper fade. The harder and longer you're flipping, the more heat builds up in the coil. Long multiballs, repeated shots, or tournament play can all raise the temperature enough to noticeably reduce flipper power. Once the coil cools back down, the resistance drops and the flipper returns to normal strength. How long does that actually take? Pinmonk and I did the research and this is the result. Learn More 🧲 How heat affects electrical resistance 🔩 PinMonk — higher-end metal flipper cooling brackets 🧊 DIY / lower-cost 3D printed fan options 🛠️ Community DIY fan discussion 📡 Twitch 📺 YouTube 📷 Instagram 📘 Facebook 👕 Apparel