KL25Z Freescale ⚠️ DISCONTINUED

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KL25Z Freescale board

The FRDM-KL25Z is a hardware platform featuring the Freescale open standard embedded serial and debug adapter (OpenSDA). For virtual pinball, we use it in combination with the Pinscape software.

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Why Use This Board?

Cabinet buttons Toys/solenoids RGB flasher lights

🎮 Cabinet Buttons — Configure with Pinscape and Visual Pinball so pressing cabinet buttons triggers the correct in-game actions.

🔧 Toys — Connect solenoids, shaker motors, and other force feedback devices. When combined with Pinscape and DOF, toys activate during gameplay.

💡 RGB Flasher Lights — Connect RGB/flasher lights. With Pinscape and DOF, they react to gameplay events.

PRO

  • Costs about $30
  • Very common board
  • Used by Pinscape, Arnoz, Cleveland Software

CON

  • Availability can be limited
  • Requires power booster for toys
  • Limited number of ports

Getting Started

Before using this board, familiarise yourself with it. Below are the official KL25Z manuals and MJR guides. Michael J Roberts (MJR) is the creator of the Pinscape software.

📄 KL25Z User Manual 📌 KL25Z User Pinouts 📘 MJR Pinscape Controller Guide 🔗 MJR Pinscape KL25Z Standalone Guide
KL25Z pinout overview

Preparing the KL25Z

Depending on where you purchased your KL25Z, it may or may not have pin headers soldered. Some suppliers will solder them for you on request. If ordering headers separately, look for 2.54mm pitch (0.1") headers.

2.54mm pin headers from Mouser

2.54mm pin headers — order from Mouser

Pins setup for expansion board

Pin setup for expansion board use

Pins setup standalone

Pin setup for standalone use

You will need to solder the pins — get yourself a magnifying glass and a soldering iron.

Flashing the KL25Z with Pinscape

Head to the MJR site and download:

  • The Pinscape Config Tool (Windows)
  • The KL25Z firmware
Step 1 — Download Pinscape
Download Pinscape software
Step 2 — Connect via USB

Connect a Mini-B USB cable to the SDA USB port on the KL25Z and plug it into your computer.

USB connection to KL25Z SDA port KL25Z connected to computer
Step 3 — Launch PinscapeConfigTool
Pinscape Config Tool main screen Setup new KL25Z option

Launch PinscapeConfigTool.exe and choose Setup a New KL25Z.

Step 4 — Follow the Wizard
Pinscape wizard step Pinscape firmware flash Multiple KL25Z selection (rare)
💡 The multiple KL25Z selection only applies if you have more than one — which is rare.
Click continue

Click Continue. The software is well designed — it tells you exactly what to do and when.

Pinscape flashing progress

Configuring Pinscape

Select Standalone KL25Z
Select standalone KL25Z Pinscape config Pinscape config step Pinscape config step 2 Pinscape config step 3
Accelerometer / Nudge Setup
Accelerometer orientation setup

The KL25Z has a built-in accelerometer — this lets you physically push your cabinet to nudge the ball. Select the orientation of your KL25Z to match your setup. It can be mounted in any direction as long as it's level.

Accelerometer orientation
Plunger Setup
Plunger sensor selection

If you want to connect a plunger, select your sensor type from the dropdown. Most people use a potentiometer. Set to None for now if you don't have one — a full plunger tutorial will cover this.

Button Inputs
Button inputs configuration

This section maps the button inputs (PTC2, PTC3, etc.) on the KL25Z. Click the Test button to see which physical port corresponds to each input as you scroll through buttons 1–24.

Pinscape button test KL25Z button connection diagram

An arcade button has 2 pins — a signal and a ground. It doesn't matter which pin connects to ground as it simply completes the circuit:

  • One wire → GROUND
  • One wire → one of the white button ports on the diagram above
Button wiring example 1 Button wiring example 2 Button wiring example 3 Button wiring example 4
KL25Z button wiring full diagram

Scrolling through buttons 1–24 highlights the corresponding port on the KL25Z.

Scrolling through outputs 1-24

Scrolling through outputs 1–24 shows the corresponding port. Ports 1–9 have a slider bar — these support PWM (dimming).

Buttons, Inputs & Toy Outputs

There are 4 types of useful functions on this board for virtual pinball:

1
Button Inputs

Connect cabinet buttons (flipper, start, exit, etc.)

2
Toy Outputs

Knocker, solenoids, gear motor, strobe, beacon

3
PWM Outputs

Pulse Width Modulation — supports dimming for lights and shaker speed

4
Power Output

5V and 3.3V available for powering small devices

KL25Z Pinout Diagram

The diagram below labels all the ports. Download it and use it as a reference while wiring.

KL25Z pinout diagram for Virtual Pinball

Connecting Toys

⚠️ WARNING: The KL25Z is very sensitive to power variation. Do NOT connect any power supply voltage to it. Only connect the ground of your devices. The board gets its 3.3V from the computer USB.

A separate power booster is required for toys — the KL25Z provides a maximum of 4mA per port. Use a MOSFET booster board or LED power booster. Buttons do NOT need a booster.
⚠️ Some people report issues with the red MOSFET board (no isolation between input and output). See the white paper by Adam Sullivan. The green MOSFET board is a reliable alternative.
12V shaker motor connected via KL25Z and MOSFET

Example: 12V shaker motor connected using a KL25Z and a MOSFET board. Use signal Pin #1 of each MOSFET channel. There are 4 channels per board — add more boards for more devices. Use a separate board for each voltage (e.g. a dedicated board for 24V toys).

12V RGB light connected via KL25Z and MOSFET

Example: 12V RGB light connected using Arnoz 12V RGB + MOSFET board. For a 5-LED flash bar you need 15 ports (1 per colour × 3 per RGB LED), which requires 4 MOSFET boards.

Testing Toy Connections

Use the KL25Z Pinout diagram to find the toy output ports (purple and yellow). Test one toy at a time using the Pinscape software.

Pinscape output section Pinscape ports vs KL25Z ports

Pinscape software ports (left) mapped to KL25Z header pins (right). For example:

  • Toy on Pin #2, Header J1 → Pinscape Port No. 1
  • Toy on Pin #4, Header J1 → Pinscape Port No. 2
Port mapping diagram Test Output button in Pinscape Output test screen

The Output screen lets you click ON to test each toy on its matching port. The slider bar dims lights or controls shaker motor speed.

⚡ Once your toys are wired and tested, you need to set up DOF (Direct Output Framework) to make the tables communicate with the Pinscape and trigger force feedback during gameplay.

Alternative Controllers

Other devices can be used as a replacement or extension for the KL25Z:

  • Rigmaster — All-in-one board using the KL25Z with extra ports
  • KLShield — KL25Z extension board for more connections
  • LEDWIZ — Buttons and devices solution similar to KL25Z
  • Pinscape Oak Micros AIO — KL25Z expansion with many extra ports

See the Toys / Force Feedback page for a full comparison of all controller boards.

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Related: DOF Setup · SainSmart Tutorial · Toys / Force Feedback · Addressable LEDs