# Stern Tech School: Installing Your Topper

**Source:** Stern Pinball  
**Type:** video  
**Published:** 2024-07-27  
**Duration:** 4m 31s  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdr3zsTuIu4

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## Analysis

Stern Pinball's instructional video walks through the complete process of installing a topper on a pinball machine, covering unboxing, backbox access, cable routing, power connections, and post-installation verification. The video emphasizes common installation mistakes (loose SD cards, incorrect data port connections, disconnected service switches) and addresses software compatibility requirements for topper functionality.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Topper installation requires a Phillips #2 screwdriver, game powered off, and access to backbox via coin door key — _Kyle (Stern Pinball) provides step-by-step procedural instructions_
- [HIGH] Toppers use data cables routed to CPU node bottom port and power connectors to CN7 on power distribution board — _Technical specifications during cable installation segment_
- [HIGH] Common customer support issues include accidentally dislodged SD cards, mislabeled data port connections, and loose service switch connectors — _Kyle explicitly references past customer support cases_
- [HIGH] Older software versions may not support topper functionality and require code updates via sternpinball.com or Insider Connected — _Kyle provides troubleshooting guidance for non-functional toppers post-installation_

### Notable Quotes

> "things that we've had to help customer with in the past would be simple such as accidentally bumping the SD card and having it click out of its socket during the topper installation process"
> — **Kyle (Stern Pinball)**, ~2:35
> _Identifies real-world customer support friction points during topper installation_

> "if you turn the game on and the topper doesn't work check the version of the software your game is running older versions of the software might not have the code to support the topper"
> — **Kyle (Stern Pinball)**, ~3:40
> _Critical troubleshooting guidance indicating software compatibility requirements for topper function_

> "make sure that the data cable from the topper is plugged into the data port on the bottom of the CPU node not the ethernet port at the top"
> — **Kyle (Stern Pinball)**, ~2:50
> _Addresses common installation error that customers make when connecting topper data_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Kyle | person | Stern Pinball technical support/education team member presenting Tech School instructional content |
| Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer providing topper products and educational installation content |
| sternpinball.com | company | Official Stern platform for downloading game code updates |
| Insider Connected | product | Stern's digital platform for automatic game software updates and account management |
| Stern Tech School | product | Stern Pinball's educational video series for operator and owner technical support |
| Topper | product | Decorative/functional accessory installed on top of pinball backbox with integrated electronics and lighting |
| CPU node | product | Central processing board in Stern Spike architecture that manages game logic and topper communication |
| Node board | product | Referenced as component within topper that runs topper features (implied separate board from CPU node) |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Topper Installation & Hardware Setup, Stern Tech School Educational Content
- **Secondary:** Software Compatibility & Code Updates, Customer Support & Common Errors
- **Mentioned:** Spike Architecture Technical Details

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — Professional, instructional tone with emphasis on customer support. Kyle presents information accessibly while acknowledging real-world customer friction points. No negativity toward products or customers; framing is educational and helpful.

### Signals

- **[community_signal]** Stern Pinball producing educational tech school content demonstrates ongoing commitment to operator and owner education/support (confidence: high) — Entire video is part of 'Stern Tech School' series providing free instructional content for topper installation and troubleshooting
- **[product_concern]** Common customer support issues identified during topper installation (SD card dislodging, port misidentification, loose connectors) suggest potential design usability friction (confidence: medium) — Kyle explicitly references past customer support cases: 'things that we've had to help customer with in the past would be simple such as accidentally bumping the SD card'
- **[technology_signal]** Topper integration with Spike architecture (node boards, data cables, power distribution) demonstrates ongoing hardware ecosystem evolution for accessory support (confidence: high) — Technical specifications for topper connectivity to CPU node bottom port and CN7 power distribution board; implicit in the systematic architecture design

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## Transcript

hi I'm Kyle with Stern Pinball and in this video we are going to go over installing a Topper on your pinball game let's do this after unboxing and unpackaging your topper do make sure to read the instructions just in case there are any topper Specific Instructions needed for installation other than the topper we will just need a number 2 Philips screwdriver and the game to be powered off the first step is to open up the backbox so we'll need our key located inside the coin door unlock and fold the LCD panel down and then remove the trans light and stow it somewhere safe next step is to remove the plug in the head so find the plug here in the back and the center uh depress the two prongs and push it out the top till you get the plug out the next step is to unscrew the four screws that we will use to affix the topper to the top of your pinball game the four screws are the four outmost corners on the top of the head using your number two Phillips screwdriver remove all four screws and set them aside the next step is to take the topper and put it in place the first thing we'll need to do is to thread the cables through the hole in the top of the head and then we can maneuver the topper into place make sure that the cables are all the way inside the head and then gently rest the topper in place using the screws you set aside in your number two Phillips screwdriver we can attach the topper to the pinball game now that the topper is secured to the pinball game we'll take the cables and install them in their positions first we'll start with the data cable looks like an internet plug this will be routed to the bottom node bus Port here at the bottom of the CPU node once the cable's plugged in take the cable and Route it using the P straps in the back of the head now we'll take the power connector and connect it to cn7 on our power distribution board in the bottom right of the head once you hear it click in we'll take this wire and Route it through the P straps like you did for the data cable before we close the game back up and enjoy our new topper we'll want to check a few connections to make sure things haven't been bumped out of place things that we've had to help customer with in the past would be simple such as accidentally bumping the SD card and having it click out of its socket during the topper installation process make sure that it is firmly secured and seated in its slot another thing to check is make sure that the data cable from the topper is plugged into the data port on the bottom of the CPU node not the ethernet port at the top along those lines make sure that the other two data cables having come loose during the installation of the topper cable and lastly make sure that the service switch connector hasn't jiggled loose now that everything's connected and the connections are all verified and secure we'll want to repackage the game can start by taking our trans light and sliding it back into place fold up our LCD panel lock it up and now we can power on the game all right looks good when you first Power your game up you might see a message on the LCD talking about updating node board something or other that's normal that's the game communicating with the board that is inside the topper that runs all of the features of the topper another thing is if you turn the game on and the topper doesn't work check the version of the software your game is running older versions of the software might not have the code to support the topper so in that case you would want to make sure you update the game either going to stern pinball.com and downloading the newest version of the code or going through Insider connected have the game update itself if your game's connected to the internet thanks for watching this video from Stern tech school now me and the fooot we've got to go chase down the overlord fot assembled

_(Acquisition: youtube_auto_sub, Enrichment: v3)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 04cf9c23-b1eb-48a8-a755-68e4ecb30927*