New Life Games Tech Forums

For all you Alpha guys. How do you go about turning your Alpha on & off? I do the 3 switch thing but it is
a pain in the butt. I was curious if any of you do it another way.
Ford

I am also doing the three switch process, but what a PITA.  I use an X-10 system tied to all my power strips, so have been used to always booting up the whole room at one time.  But now there is the trip to the Alpha aisle every time I power up/down.  Sure would love to find a solution. 
BTW, my Alpha with the newer OS boots up find with just applying power, but my Alpha with the older OS will sometimes never completely boot if not using the three switch method.  I am about to update the OS in that one.  However, I am leery about just booting them with just applying power, as Jim at Bettorslots was telling me you can wreck your computer by not going through the 3 switch process.

I sure would like to learn more about this, and could it be made safe to just apply power to boot the machine, as like I mentioned, they boot no problem with a newer OS. 

I'm sure Coors will be here to help shortly after he gets back from the store with a case of Coorslight.  :-)

I use the 3 step wat but......what does the casino do in the event of power outage. They  don,t run around turning off all the alpha,s til the power comes back on. So how bad can it be??

They have generators

I was advised to use the three switch method as well.
It was also stated that turning off needs to be done in the order of right to left
Turning on is reverse from left to right.

Same here with mine. Maybe Jim with Bettor Slots might have some insight?

Ron (r273)

I can recall at least two machines that I accidentally plugged in without checking to see if the power switches were off from when the machine was in casino.  Results were two damaged main computer boards.  I can recall twice that many or more that I did they same thing to with no ill effects.   :81-  Play at your own risk gentlemen.  

Thanks guys. Guess I'll keep doing the 3 switch thing.

I answered this yesterday but it did not take. The reason for the three step process is this. The cabinet of the Alpha is full of USB boards that communicate with all the modules, IE: door led boards, sound amp, reel driver board, com board ect. these take time to boot and report back. The MPU boots very quickly and looks for these boards to report back that they are ready. If you turn all on at once, the mpu will boot before the USB boards have completed their boot up and error can occur. Also the voltage spikes and lows from all the stuff booting will/can cause noise or RF feedback on the power lines from stepper motors and such. The main switch can be left on all the time. But you must boot the cabinet first , then the MPU. Reverse shut down is for the same reason, a spinning fan when power is turned off can become a generator putting out voltage, not using voltage. And the cabinet has a lot of fans. So if you shut down the MPU the power lines are seperated from the machine and all spikes will be absorbed in the mpu power supply protection circuit.
I have my son the electrical engineer working on a very simple delay circuit to make this a simple on/off thing. It will be a outlet box that has two recepticals and a power cord. you will hook the machine main power cord to one outlet and the mpu power cord to the other. The one outlet will be an instant on and the second outlet will have a 15 second delay. On power down it will have a set of filter caps to absorb any spikes. That way you will be able to turn the machine on and off from a power strip switch. light switch or what ever you want. I will let you know when they are ready and tested.

Coors,
Please accept my order for as couple of these when you get it all done.  :-)

Ok, I have the prototype built and being tested in machines as we speak. The device is a very simple plug and play device. You simply trace the power plug from the mpu back to the power supply on the left rear of the machine just under the reels. Unplug the connector from the power supply and plug it into my device, then plug the connector from my device back into the power supply where you just remover the mpu connector. The small box has velcro to attach it to the tray above the mpu and below the reels next to the power supply. That is it. Now turn all three switches on and leave them on. Connect your alpha to a power strip or light switched outlet. When you turn on the switch the alpha cabinet will power up instantly and roughly 10 - 15 seconds later the mpu will power up. It will still supply the power down delay the mpu power supply has. This way you never need to open the door and do the three switch shuffel. It will simulate the same power up sequence as you do with the three switches.  Taking orders for the first production run. PM if interested. $29.00 each unit plus actual shipping to USA only at this time. One per alpha required. Again. ...PLUG AND PLAY....NO CONFIGURATION NEEDED. Will come with full installation instructions. If you can plug in a machine..you can install this kit.
Pictures and reviews from testers to follow.

 :244- :244- :244- :244-  :259- Coors for coming up with this. COUNT ME IN, I NEED SOME.
Ford

You already know where two are going.  :-)   

Thanks for all your efforts with this platform, you have taught us all a lot!  Cheers to Coors!  :-)

You have to give Coors an A for effort. When he gets something on his mind to do he sticks with it until he has it figured out.

Item perfected..

 http://youtu.be/UMVQyb56oLI

 


I have tested this for over a week and it works perfectly. I turn all my machines on by a light switch that controls the wall outlets. The three switch routine was a pain in the butt. I have (4) alphas and that got to be a real pain when I wanted to get the game room up and running. Also I have grand children that like to play the Alpha's and they can not unless I am home to turn them on for them. This cures the issue. I have sent free units to two other independant users to test and we will get their results shortly. But in the mean time if you are interested, I am taking orders that I expect to fill within 5 days of order. The units are $29.95 and free shipping to US NLG members and Plus shipping to non members. Very simple plug and play interface. No programming or setup required. Two minute install. Biggest dummy in the world could not mess this up!!!

 :244- :244- :244-  :259- for a job well done. Put me on list. I know I will want one for each machine. YOU DID A GOOD JOB & THEY ARE COOL.
Ford

I am in for one also!  Thank you so much for this!  :259-

PM sent.

Ron (r273)

Nice job!  Mine are already ordered.  Having all my gameroom on an X10 power up system was great, until the Alpha's showed up. Good to be able to just power up the room once again without fiddling with the Alphas.  :-)   

Great job!

I have to look around, I had some old x-10 stuff i should send you. I never used it much, someone gave it to me years ago. basic startup kit.

thanks Coors, but I have everything setup and running, and still have a half dozen switchers and two master control units left.  We used them at iork years ago, and were going to get tossed, so I hauled a whole big box of X 10 goodies home.  Sure makes it nice turning everything on this way, especially now with your new Alpha unit.  :-)

Can't wait to try this out. Coors, you better start putting in overtime to get these ready for delivery.

My normal day is 5:30am till midnight..not much room for overtime.....or anything else. Would be nice to sit and work on my own games and play them...Not much timefor that either. Have to invite you down and put you to work.... Hahaha

Not fair, Ford, you live closer, and will get yours first, damnit!  Haha, all in fun.

I know none of you want that 5 reel Alpha kit I just put the opening bid on Ebay, raght?   Is this game any good?  Have not heard of that title but willing to take a chance if it goes cheap.   :-)

Go for it...as much as I hate to admit it...the seller does deliver nice product. Idesign that is. I bought Flying Carpet off him and it was perfect.

Surprised you are not going for the american original and figuring out how to make your alpha cinna reel....

I have cinna reel but only 3 reels

I'll let you know how it works.

Hate to admit it, not sure what a cinna reel is?

If I'm not mistaken it's a sit down

here's one

Coors

Neat Idea - K+
Can You give some more technical detail - Does the unit do any kind of filtering or just delayed power up ?
Does it do zero cross switching?
Would it work on 220V 50 Hz?

It is not a zero cross switch. Reason is that it does not need to be. When power is switched off the filtering of the main power supply in the cabinet absorbs anything bad. There is never a ime that this is switched off while cabinet is on. The power supply on the mpu has shut down delay built into it to protect the mpu. So simply put it is just a delay circuit. As far as 240volts go, I will check to make sure, but the circuit gets it power from the mpu power output on the cabinet power distribution box. And as far as I know it still puts out the same 120 volts to the mpu power supply as the US versions do. All the conversion is done it the cabinet distribution power supply.

Thanks for showing me what a cinna reel was.  i had suspected it was a different cabinet version.  thanks again.  :-)

For those who did not see video. LOOK . It's cool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMVQyb56oLI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMVQyb56oLI)

GOT MINE TODAY. Works GREAT. Took 1 minute or less to install. Wish I would have ordered more. I need one of these for all Alpha machines.
GREAT JOB COORS.

I turned it on & off 6 times with coors on/off & worked perfect every time.

Tried several times tonight & all is working with no problem. My advice is if you have an Alpha get one of these.
Did anyone else get one of these? Waiting to hear how you like it.
Ford

I've been using the on/off for several day's now & it works perfect. Did anyone else order one? If you have an Alpha you should.

I filled all the other orders and shipped out this weekend. So everyone that ordered one, should have by mid week.

Thanks!

Ford likes rubbing it in, and I knew he would get them first!  No, still waiting on mine, and fiddling to turn on and off.  My two should be here any day.  :-) 
Thanks again for offering us such a useful device!

Yay!  My two kits arrived yeseterday, and were both installed in about two minutes.  They work flawless, thanks Coors!  It was getting frustrating having to power these up until now.  :-)

mvco, Now that you used it for a few days, do you still like it?

Installed mine Yesterday.  Works perfectly! Thanks Coors!  :3- :3- :3-

At Ford, hell yes, I love it!

Off topic, but I got that "Winning Times" kit off Epay, have yet to install it.  Hope it's a cool game. Maybe I will try it out today time allowing.
Thanks guys fou letting snag that kit.  Thought you guys would have stolen it from me, LOL's

If I know someone on here is after something I'll stay away. Glad you got it.

Yes, you told us you were going after it, so we left it alone, that way I can buy it off you later for less money?

Thanks guys, it's funny, but when I thought of "who else would want this" you both were the only ones that came to mind.

Idea for the future someday, we could always start a kit trading excahange.  Nice with these Alphas, no glass to ship, very simple to share games.  Maybe an idea for a year down the road when we are all ready for something fresh.  :-)

Long live club Alpha!

You got it for a lot less than price I was given.

I was really surprised I nabbed it, especially with a mx bid of only 62.00.  I was not going to put in a big fight for it.  Saving that for a set of American Original reel strips.  (already have software and graphics)

I have two bally alphas a game makerHD and Ms Clara T and I was told to just leave them on.
 SHOULD I BE TURNING THEM OFF WHEN NOT IN USE

I don't play mine every day so I turn mine off. That is why coors setup works great.

thank you for the information. how do I find out what his setup is. because I have 7 slot machines are on
24/7. could you briefly explain it to me?

send coorslight a PM. It takes only about 2 minutes to install. Pull one plug & daisy chain & done.

Turn them off. Save on energy and wear and tear. Older machines you could leave on, newer ones draw a lot of power and produce a bunch of heat.  I have four alphas that when on for a few hours will raise the temp in the room to comfortable without the heat on. If I turn all 12 machines and close the door to the room, it actually gets hot in there.  two video poker, four bally 6000, four alphas, two s2000. And that is in the winter...

Many will debate this, but unless you play them for more than twelve hours a day everyday, turn them off.

thank you very much. I think our emails  probably crossed paths. do you know a lot about the alpha games.
 games? I am trying to learn how to reset my game maker HD because I would like to activate some of the other games that are on the flash card deactivate some of the poker games.

I know a bunch about the alpha spinning reel games, not up on the game maker hd. Maybe someone else will chime in on the game change proceedure.

We had 3 in the shop, going all day...we we're roasting....70 outside, but at least 80-85 inside the shop...

I know what you mean about the heat. I use to have a couple pinball machines and a Golden Tee golf and 1 old game maker and it wasn't bad but now with the alphas it gets really hot even in the winter.

Yeah.... :159- :159- :159-

If the wife turns the heat down due to hot flashes, I just go hide in the man cave..nice and toasty.. :96-

Then she comes in the room and accuses me of having the wall heater on... :279- :279-

YEP - YEP -YEP. Know what you mean

Hahaha, ditto here too!  The wifes hot flashes have been going on a couple years ago.  I like the slot room nice and warm in the evenings.  Oh boy, what fun, get's real warm with all the machines on, and she is not a happy camper. 

Glad we don't have to put up with that menopause crap.  Oh, wait, wrong on that, we do put up with it in a roundabout way, haha.  :-)

 This threads been read 900 times and here you guys are talking about hot flashes and menopause.....:97- :97- :97-

I went through this with an ex girlfriend. I think they should call it "pause from men" instead.
 maybe that's why she's an ex girlfriend

Would not have been an ex if you had more slots.  You just hide in the slot den when needed, LOL's

Coors had these on/off devices on market for a few weeks now. I wonder how many people got some. If you
didn't you should. I really like mine. I only got for one machine but I know I want to get another for my other  alpha.

I guess people like turning them on the hard way, still have some left if anybody is interested. I will get another to you soon Ford.

Could you tell me how they work and how much they cost. I would need 5 of them

They only work on alpha, and if you read the top of the post there is a youtube video of how they install and work along with pricing. If you still have questions after viewing, let me knkw.

I want one, are you accepting Paypal?

I know he accepts paypal. send him a pm

Yes, I will send you a pm with paypal info

Did you get one?

Not yet, but it's on my to do list.

That is a must on my machines.

Like to have one sent to me

Let me know method of payment

Thanks
James

I was just wondering what this X-10 system was everyone was talking about using to power up their game rooms all at once.  I'm adding my 3rd machine in a few days and will be starting on my game room soon.  I'd love to power up all the machines at once but I was told to not just throw a switch as they always need power to keep the battery charged.  By the time the game room is completed I plan on having 4 slots, 1 video poker, 1 pinball, 1 dartboard, and 1 megatouch so it would be really cool to have them all come to life at once.

I have several old Radio Shack systems called "Plug n power".  They work great to fire up the entire room with a touch of a button.  Used X-10 plug n power units may be available on Ebay from time to time.  I go there to buy more power units as I keep adding more machines, LOL's

Pm sent