# Episode 257 - High Tap **Source:** For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast **Type:** podcast_episode **Published:** 2015-11-23 **Duration:** 6m 16s **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://foramusementonly.libsyn.com/episode-257-high-tap --- ## Analysis Nick Baldridge explains high tap, a transformer adjustment on EM and electromechanical pinball machines that provides 5-10 extra volts of power. He argues it should only be used to compensate for genuinely low line voltage conditions (such as multiple machines on one outlet or rural areas with unstable power), not as a Band-Aid for worn parts. He recommends repairing mechanical components instead of relying on overpowered operation. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] High tap provides 5-10 extra volts or more of power to compensate for weak electrical conditions — _Nick Baldridge, host of For Amusement Only podcast, discussing technical specifications of high tap_ - [HIGH] Using high tap when line voltage is normal will cause the game to operate out of tolerance and break components unintentionally — _Nick Baldridge explaining risks of high tap misuse_ - [HIGH] High tap is typically accessed by moving a wire from normal to high tap position on the transformer, sometimes via a Jones plug on newer machines — _Nick Baldridge describing the mechanical implementation of high tap_ - [HIGH] Running multiple machines off a single outlet via power strip can drop line voltage enough to necessitate high tap on those games — _Nick Baldridge explaining legitimate use case for high tap in venue/operator settings_ - [HIGH] For most US operators with standard electrical infrastructure, high tap is not necessary — _Nick Baldridge's opinion on prevalence of high tap need in typical installations_ ### Notable Quotes > "High tap is a way of providing 5 to 10 extra volts of power or more on any given game the idea being if the electricity was kind of finicky or flaky that you could increase the power to try to overcome some of those low conditions" > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~1:00-1:20 > _Core definition and purpose of high tap technology_ > "Because you have increased power if you don't have low line conditions then you're essentially operating the game out of tolerance and things are going to break or get clobbered in ways that the game doesn't intend for them to be" > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~1:30-1:50 > _Key warning about misuse of high tap_ > "While yes, it can make up for weak or worn parts, it's much better to repair those parts—refurbishing flippers or pop bumpers or what have you—than it is to just set the game on high tap and hope everything will be okay" > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~1:50-2:10 > _Core philosophical stance on maintenance vs. electrical compensation_ > "The high tap is just basically extra windings, which provide a stronger magnetic field" > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~2:40-2:50 > _Technical explanation of how high tap works at the transformer level_ > "I do know is that I tend to prefer rebuilt assemblies and properly functioning mechanisms to overpowered shotgun coil firing" > — **Nick Baldridge**, ~5:20-5:35 > _Personal philosophy on machine operation and maintenance_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Nick Baldridge | person | Host of For Amusement Only EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast, technical expert on electromechanical pinball machines | | For Amusement Only | organization | EM and Bingo pinball podcast focused on electromechanical and bingo pinball restoration and operation | | Rod McLarch | person | Credit.Pinball, suggested the high tap topic for this episode | | Pinside | organization | Online pinball community platform where Nick Baldridge is active under the handle bingopodcast | ### Topics - **Primary:** High tap electrical adjustment in EM machines, Transformer design and function, Electrical troubleshooting and line voltage problems - **Secondary:** EM pinball maintenance and repair philosophy, Venue/operator electrical infrastructure ### Sentiment **Neutral** (0) — Nick delivers technical information in a measured, educational tone. Mild caution expressed about misuse of high tap, but no strong negativity. He remains open-minded ('not to say that I know everything') while advocating for proper maintenance over electrical band-aids. ### Signals - **[technology_signal]** Educational focus on high tap transformer adjustment and its proper use cases in EM pinball machines (confidence: high) — Entire episode dedicated to explaining high tap, including technical mechanisms and when it should/should not be used - **[operational_signal]** Discussion of power distribution challenges in multi-machine venue setups where multiple games on single outlets can require high tap (confidence: high) — Nick explains scenario of running multiple games off a single power strip outlet causing voltage drop - **[content_signal]** For Amusement Only podcast continues building educational library on EM pinball technical topics, references prior Transformer episode (confidence: high) — Episode explicitly references prior Transformer episode and builds on previous technical discussions - **[restoration_signal]** Nick advocates for proper component repair and rebuilding over electrical compensation as best practice (confidence: high) — Strong emphasis on repairing flippers, pop bumpers, and worn parts rather than using high tap as workaround --- ## Transcript What's that sound? It's For Amusement Only, the EM and Bingo Pinball Podcast. Welcome back to For Amusement Only, this is Nick Baldrige. Tonight I just wanted to focus in directly on high tap. Now, I've talked before in my Transformer episode about what exactly this is, but I just thought I would give direct focus on what it is, why you might need to use it, and why you shouldn't use it if you don't need to. HITAP is a way of providing 5 to 10 extra volts of power or more, perhaps, on any given game the idea being if the electricity was kind of finicky or flaky that you could increase the power to try to overcome some of those low conditions Now the only issue with doing high tap is that because there increased power if you don have low line conditions then you essentially operating the game out of tolerance and things are going to break or get clobbered in ways that the game doesn intend for them to be While yes, it can make up for weak or worn parts, it's much better to repair those parts refurbishing flippers or pop bumpers or what have you, than it is to just set the game on high tap and hope everything will be okay. Now, the way that you do this is typically specified in either the schematic or the manual, and sometimes on the transformer itself. There's normally a lug that is labeled. It's high tap. and you move the wire from normal to high tap. Now, if you think about how a transformer works, and again, I've been over this before, but it's essentially wire wrapped around a core. So the high tap is just basically extra windings, which provide a stronger magnetic field, and there you have it. Now some games actually have a Jones plug adjustable high tap Now there an exception to my don put your game on high tap and that is if you do have low line conditions So say you're operating multiple games off of a single outlet via use of a power strip, and you're essentially dropping the line voltage with each game that you plug into that power strip. So at some point there's a turning point, hopefully before the breaker's trip, where you'll need to set the games on high tap to get normal performance out of them. also if you live in a rural area that has questionable electric power this can be necessary but for the vast majority of folks in the United States at least this is probably not necessary of course you can do with your game whatever you choose it's just not something that I would do and that's not to say that I know everything or that I know anything at all, but what I do know is that I tend to prefer rebuilt assemblies and properly functioning mechanisms to overpowered shotgun coil firing but that me So, that's all for tonight. Thank you to Credit.Pinball, Rod McLarch, for suggesting this topic. My name again is Nicholas Baldridge. If you'd like to recommend a topic, you can reach me at 4amusementonlypodcast at gmail.com or you can call me on the bingos line. That's 724-BINGOS-1. 724-246-4671. You can listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, via RSS, on Facebook, on Twitter, at bingopodcast. And if you've been following me on Instagram or have listened to any of the previous 250-odd episodes, you'll know that my prior Instagram name was nbaldridge but I just changed it to bingopodcast so now my Twitter and Instagram handles match and if you happen to see me on Pinside my handle there is also bingopodcast you can reach me any of those ways I'm happy to converse with whomever, however you choose So take your pick. You can also listen to us on our website, of course, which is for amusement only dot libsyn dot com. Thank you very much for listening and I'll talk to you next time. _(Acquisition: groq_whisper, Enrichment: v3)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 1296ba52-3d09-4350-91d3-4245e5bfc883*