New Life Games Tech Forums

Great site and Great help I see on this site..I just got a good deal on a SG-300 2002 "Game of Life" but has issues. The Hooper motor has power but does not cycle when the cash out out is pressed...I ordered a new Hopper..hope that issue will be resolved but my big problem is gettinging into the menue. I tried (as the guide says) to turn the game on w/ the key turned to reste/menue  to access the menue to make game adjustments. Out of 100 trys I was able to get into the menue one time...it will not go into that mode, any thoughts? Other than that the game worked until I hit "cash out" which gave me the hopper malfunction. The motor pins have power but the hopper motor does not drive....The coin mech is good but the dollar mech is lit up but does not take bills. I only bought it for a toy so the bill changer is not Important but I wonder why the game wont get me into the menue...Thanks for any help ! Ray...

Welcome to the site, Ray.

 :238-

I've never worked on a Sigma game myself, but based on your description it's possible that the wiring to the keyswitch you've been using to access the menu isn't making a good connection.  You said that it worked once, but not other times, which leads me to think it could be a wiring issue.  Check on the inside of the machine where the keyswitch is to make sure the wires are connected firmly to the keyswitch.

Again, since I don't own a Sigma machine I don't know for sure, but it may also be waiting for the hopper error to be resolved before it will enter the menu.

As far as it not taking bills, for sure the current tilt (the hopper error) would have to be resolved before the machine will even attempt to take a bill -- modern day slot machines won't accept bills or coins when there's an active tilt.

Thanks Knag! That's does makes sense and I will check that out. I did get a remanufactured hopper and it is the same except for the pin positions so I will have to change then into their proper positions before I plug it in. I now am wondering if the old hopper only has a burned out motor which is why it does not turn. I have the schematic  and checked the pins on the game side of the plug and it is supplying the proper voltage to those pins. Thanks again for the help and I'll keep you posted. It is irritating but and the same time kinda of fun trying to fix the puzzle. I'm use to recapping old am/shortwave radios and this is my first time playing w/ slots. It was a bargin for $50. At the Chicagoland antique acade show so I can't complain....thanks again. Ray

 :211- Sigma "Game of Life" that I know are uv1700 video slot machines and not reel machines that used the SG-300 board.  Could be wrong. That is were photo's help...
Jimmy

Jimmy your right about about pictures but I'm new on this site and can't seem to figure how to upload . However this is not a video "life game" and is a SG-300....reel game, I know the difference. They have to be limited since this is a 2002 game and Sigma sold out in 2003. When I figure out why I can't get  to attach pics  on this site the pics will show this is a reel machine and the data plate that shows SG-300.....thanks.

Ok...If it is a SG-300 you should have a display...What is the display showing?

When you hit "Reply" it brings up a "Attach" dialog box and to the right of it is a "Browse" button where you go into your own computer folders and files. Go find the picture file you want and click "OPEN" to attach the photo file you want to show.
If you want to add another picture, just click on "(more attachments)" ad you will go back into your own computer again.
Find and pick another file photo and click "OPEN" - it will add the other photo to the post.
 
When you're done attaching photos ( up to two photos per post) ,
Click on the "Post" button below and the post will be entered onto the thread.

There ARE limitations on photo sizes but I think the NLG website software down-sizes them to fit,  I may be wrong on this.
I've heard of some people using a website called "TinyPic" but I never used it and know nothing more about it .
Personally I use a free program called "getpaint.net" to photoshop and size my pictures and photos.

I'm did that and the "choose file " is not illuminated....it is dark...and will not proceed when selected... GRRRRRRRRR.....Thank you I will go back to the FAQ's because I'm not hoping to correct the problem but find out why this "Game of Life "Reel slot is so unknown...the guy at the show was a slot guy but evn he feeled unsure about this game....Thanks...I'll be back...

That's strange...all I have to do is put my mouse cursor into the grayed out box
and click enter and a dialog box pops up showing my own computers' folders.

I wonder if it because I'm on my I Pad I will go to my Pc and try it....thanks for your input I'm gonna get it on here cause the group is great and LOL many people don't believe there is a sg-300. Life game 10 feet from me....kinda wish I didn't buy it now...lol"

If I can send it to your email add. Maybe if your charitable you can post them for me....LOL! It does exist I promise LoL!

I don't know why I can't post my "Game of Life Reel Slot" on this site but I will send my pics...im Rhlufa@frontier.com.  I'm on my PC now to see if I can upload my pics on there....Thanks Folks!

Ok , I got a pic of the "Reel" "Game of Life" to post thanks too my better half. It is a SG-300 so will keep you all posted as I try all the suggestions you posted...and after looking at the scamatic think the hopper is the first issue...but again has any one seen one of these Sigma Reel games? Weird...but i do have the users guide for a 1999 SG-300 which does not list the "Life "game...Thank You all again...!

 :172-

Ron(r273)

Thanks Ron!

Hey folks. Someone sent me a name of a book in regards to slot machine realities from a mechanics prospective. I can't find the message. If someone knows it could you please send the info back to me ? Thanks, Ray

Ok, I got to work on the SG 300 "life game" the motor on the hopper was shot and I replaced it. The hooper ran when benched check with power applied to both the motor than the pins to the motor.  The voltage from the CPU PCB also shows 120v to the hopper pins...after I changed the mother and plugged it back in the game it I heard the machine reset then the game was back to normal and the button litghts were one and the game played until I felt all was well and pushed the cash out button and all went back to where I was before....same malfunction "hopper empty" push buttons off and it does not play...and it have 30.00 in nickels in the hopper.
 
Thanks to Ron I have the Manual and went threw the logic tree and have checked all but the  the game CPU unit to see if there is some short...but I find it strage that the malfunction occurs when pushing the cash out button which of course will energize the counter knife along with the hopper motor and it screws up....

I'm gonna get into the game CPU and look for a wire shortage ....if that don't work ....I guess I will start parting out the game...too bad but you can only do some much....Thanks again Folks!

Also check the optic on the hopper...If not adjusted correctly it might not be counting the coins which would give you a hopper error or the sensor might be bad...Also you never answered if you have any kind of display with any errors or not...Before you part it out (if that is what you decide to do) PM me...Thanks,
Jimmy

I'm sorryit's was going from "on the display " from  hopper empty to hopper jam.....

Like in my last post.....I changed  out the hopper.....Thanks again!

Page 2-10 explains how to do a RAM CLEAR...If you have other than a GAL-2 denom. chip, it should clear...If you have a GAL-2 chip, you will need ram clear chips...
Jimmy

No, I have not pulled the board yet ! How do I know if I have Gal-2 chips or not and can you advise where these are located? I have not attempted a Ram Clear ck and will do so when I get home from work tonite. I have checked the optics on the two hoppers I have ( one that came with the game and a recon. One I got from a site called "Ralph's  slot machine parts) all seems well and no nickels are stuck behind the knife as someone suggested.  The malfunctions on the screen go from hopper empty to hopper jam depending how it feels but I mostly get the hopper empty reading. I can not get into the diag. Menu and checked and cleaned the connections on the key switch. The guy I got this from also told me the bill acceptor does not work which it does not. I get a bill acceptor malfunction reading on the display sometimes but that gets cleared when I do a reset by turning the key then it goes to the hopper empty or jam reading. Thanks as always! I'll post later when I attempt the ram clear...

It is a little 16-pin chip (IC59) located just above the 6 mains on the MPU board...There should be a sticker on it with the GAL number (ex. GAL-1)...It is all explained on page 2-10 of the manual...If the machine is in "TILT" mode you will not be able to get to the menus...A Hopper jam will be considered a "TILT"...Also SW1-10 enables or disables the bill acceptor...
Jimmy

Jimmy, when I do the Ram reset I assume this is with the hopper installed correct?  I'm sure that will clear it because the guy I got it from at the convention had someone hit it for over 1000 coins and he cleared it then  the game played until he hit the cash out button. I tried weeks back to call him but he never returned my phone calls. No biggie cause it was cheap and I'm getting great help from you guys on this site. I don't  know why I didn't read other sections of the manual, I got centered on the trouble shooting logic trees...also I don't know if I mentioned it but the mother board is labeled SG-88 and not  SG-300. It has all the same things as in the SG-300 schematic just in different places.

SG-300 is the model of the machine...The SG88m is the MPU board used in varies models...It should not matter if you have the hopper in or not when doing the RAM clear...Let me know if the RAM clear works or not.

No, I did the Ram clearing with the hopper in and there was no difference  or changes to what it has been doing previously. When I get back home I will try it with the hopper out. I'm wondering if the issue may be with the hopper PCB? Thanks on the bill validate info. It was right  there too on page 2-11. I've done some reading in other chapters and know when we talked about the optic sensors in the hopper. The sensor was an option for the hopper and neither of the two I have got that option, they both have micro switches.

I did not see which Gal chip it has (didnt have time) but will check tonite also, thanks....

As far as I know the SG150 & SG300 models have optic sensors and not micro-switches...Also the hopper for the SG300 has a smaller bowl (FYI)...Let me know what the number on the GAL chip is...Did the machine say it was doing a RAM clear or did you just go thru the motions?

LOL! Well yes you called that right. I was by myself and was unable to read the screen while I was holding the button and rest key. So i was "going through the motions." So I got home and had the wife read the display and it went just as you advised and was able to reset the Ram. So it does play now...thanks!  I did try the "cash out"  and it did not cash out and caused the malfunction again but we just went back through the Ram reset and it was playable again. Well at least it plays, better than being a 250 paper weight.  I would assume I can now get in the regular menu and try a hopper test but will that tell me if it is the hopper or some other  issue?       

As I was saying at the convention the seller did get the hopper to dispense some coins before the malfunction then no more dispense. He said he had changed out the hopper prior to the show and that's why he felt it was just a bad hopper. I did some looking for a hooper and found one on "Rudy,s Deals" that was suppose to be for a SG-300. It is a big hopper but did fit and I did find the hopper that was in there when I got it had a seized up motor. So I don't know if I should try another hopper...any thoughts or suggestions where I should buy parts? Thank You As Always! Ray

You know that makes scence. I love my  toys and want them as close to 100% as possible but this is our first slot and yes unless  you are using tokens you don't want your buddies robbing your piggie bank! LOL!  I like as aggravating as it is learning  about the inter-workings of toys....I appriaciate  you and all the help I got on this site.... :131-   I see folks have karma on here...how do I give karma? Thanks Dude..Ray

I have done a lot of business with "Rudys"...Take to Nicole and see if they have a hopper for a SG300...If you have a sigma hopper already and it has the right bowl, then you can get a hopper with a large bowl and swap them out...I am glad things seem to be working out for you...Glad to help...I love Sigma's and have worked on many...
Jimmy

 :3- Thanks Again Jimmy! I'm sure I will be bugging you again!!!

Just click on the green arrow under their Karma. Or better yet if you want to donate a little to the site for our help, we would appreciate it. Just be sure to put your forum name with it.

Ron (r273)

Guess who? Ok now after a 165 credit win the white candle and alarm went  off  and the display now says "wires to meters disconnected" I was able to get the credits counted by turning the reset key twice several times until the credits were listed. Bells and candle went out played a few more time and it duplicated several more times....I assume it ment wire to the counters on the right side. Checked them and all looks good anybody have any thoughts ? Thanks!

My internet went out...YOU bet me to the response...Jim is correct...Try turning off the dip switch and that should take care of that issue...Also I turn off the battery dip switch...I don't have the manual in front of me at the moment, but it should be in yours...If not, let me know...
Jimmy

Yes, The battery low check is on sw 2  #7 .
I had to do that on one of my machines today.....  :96-

Ok guys just got back from vacation and reset the dip switches and did the other recomendations and the wife played for an hour with some 100 or so wins and no malfunctions or alarms....it says "insert coins" and not "bills" anymore also...I thank you guys again and have only one more question...Jimmy you said you disconnected your "cash out" button...how did you do that? I see the two wires running to it along with a piggie back wire from another switch...where i assume is for power....any hints? Ray

Yes it does and thanks again to you guys! With my luck....you will hear from me soon....LOL!

Once again Jim has chimed in before me...His last (and all posts) are correct...Good luck with the game...
Jimmy