Archived 2026-09-13 from
https://pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php/Stern_SPIKE™_System_Repair. Rendered-page summary,
not a byte-perfect copy. Cited from docs/stern-spike-trough-opto.md — confirms Stern hasn't
supplied schematics/part lists for these boards, and covers the genuine node-bus (RS-485 over
Cat5e) that docs/stern-spike-trough-opto.md's own writeup explicitly is not about (this
project's trough opto board is a plain 74HC165 shift register, not this SPIKE node-bus).
SPIKE is Stern's current board architecture (first full production: Wrestlemania, 2015) — a CPU
board paired with multiple "node boards" on a 48VDC bus, each node regulating voltage for its own
devices (lamps/coils/switches). Nodes connect via CAT 5e cabling — not standard Ethernet;
connecting SPIKE nodes to computer Ethernet damages boards.
SPIKE 1: 2012-2018. SPIKE 2: 2016-2024. SPIKE 3: 2025-2026.
Connector CN16 (CN2 on early versions). Pinout: 1=motor neg (blue), 5=motor pos (red). Warning:
third-party shaker motors (notably Pinball Life) contain capacitors that destroy node boards
(Service Bulletin 184) — symptom: start button/plumb-bob/coin-door GI lamps stop working. Some
owners removed the offending capacitor successfully, but Stern's official position mandates OEM
replacement motors.
MPU boot failure — check the SD card is seated. Game resets — check shaker motor, software bugs
in early revisions, failing SD cards.
NXP i.MX6 Wandboard-derived hardware, Linux, SD card with ext4 (root fs + /games). Unpopulated
serial console connector CN2 for debug access. Game executable has a text debug menu (coil,
credit, sound, node, display, score, mode commands).