Am I nuts??? Yes, a bell...

[shortrackskater]

I don't know what compelled me to do this but I bought some S plus bells a few years ago. I was going through my garage and "discovered" them. It took me forever to figure out the settings - finally found them on my own computer in a simple S plus manual. Got it plugged in and changed my settings.
It actually sounded okay... until I mounted it on the back, where it's supposed to be.
GOOD GOD - that damn thing is LOUD LOUD LOUD. 
Yes I know there's a zillion posts on that. I'm going to stuff something in the bell tomorrow and see if I can shut it up a little.
Still it was fun to put in and it does remind me of the old days playing at the Pioneer, where a lot of their slots rang.

[rokgpsman]

That looks like the Fire Alarm bell we had at night school !! 

[knagl]

Heh, I recently discovered an S+ bell in my parts.  I've been tempted to install it, but I don't want to wake the neighborhood on a jackpot. 

[shortrackskater]

Heh, I recently discovered an S+ bell in my parts.  I've been tempted to install it, but I don't want to wake the neighborhood on a jackpot. 

I should connect mine to the new Earthquake Alert system (well when it's available) through an iphone app. I could create a "forwarding" app that sends a signal to sound the alarm in my slot, and that WOULD wake up the neighborhood! 

[rickhunter]

Yes, they are loud.  Both my S+ have bells installed, but I disconnected them, wakes up the whole house when it rings.

[shortrackskater]

Well I tried to pad it right where the striker hits, with a small piece of cork-board... it just buzzed! So I removed that and wrapped two layers of styro-wrap (for shipping) and it did nothing... loud as hell. 
I think I'll just change that setting to ring on jackpot only! But it was fun to relive my old Pioneer Casino memories, for a minute! 
It was better in a noisy casino of course. 

[jay]

You could change out the bell and put in a 12v relay. Then have that connected to any kind of sound box you want.
Or you could buy a different bell ......

[rokgpsman]

You could change out the bell and put in a 12v relay. Then have that connected to any kind of sound box you want.
Or you could buy a different bell ......

I think it would need to be a 24v relay, that's the operating voltage written on the bell label. I've heard of people spraying foam sealant (one brand is called "Great Stuff") inside or on the outside of a bell to deaden the noise. You can smear it around if you work fast. Just need to keep it away from the striker. There is a similar product sprayed on the bottom of kitchen stainless steel sinks to deaden their sound. Or you could try putting the bell inside a plastic bowl with the lid on, the lid would be behind the backside of the bell, the bowl would fit over the front of the bell. Or might be able to attach the plastic bowl over the bell by using the bolt at the center of the bell.

Also, if the bell is mounted to the back metal wall that probably adds to the sound, could try putting a thin piece of solid wood between the bell and the metal wall. Wood is a good sound reducer, is often used for things like motors and electrical generators to sit on. If you try this the screws holding the wood to the wall should not be the same screws that are attached to the bell, as that would allow sound to be conducted from the bell thru the screws to the metal wall. You want to have all of the bell isolated by wood from the metal wall.

[shortrackskater]

Hmmmm ... 
I like these ideas...

[knagl]

Can you try filling the bell with stuffing like from a pillow to dampen the sound?

[shortrackskater]

I tried taping the inside with gorilla tape and it did nothing.
Then I used that piece of thin corkboard, which made it sound like a "buzz" instead of a bell. I think I'll try the wood backing that rokgpsman suggested since it's easy to remove the bell. I think the case of the slot acts a a resonator, like a little amphitheater! Maybe that was their idea???