New Life Games Tech Forums

New to the board and probably one of the cheapest people in the industry!

I like to repair all our boards in house and have made a lot of progress, however I have not been able to find any information on repairing the VFD and 7 segment display boards. I have boards out that give 2 different errors, No Display and Meter Disconnect. It does not sound like it should be the boards but every other part has been changed and replacing the display was the only thing that fixed the problem and this displays do not work in other machines.

Does anyone know what capacitors/resistors would cause these to go bad or where I could find the information.

So I guess a small Contribution to the site is out of the question?  :72- Only kidding of course, but if you do find some of the information that is helpful, contributions are always welcome!

 :238- We have lots of members that do board level repairs, so I'm sure you will feel right at home!

Contributions are never out of the question, just need to get to know a little more about the site. Over the next few days I will learn more about the site as I have time to search it over. I must say that what I have had time to look at it looks as if it will be a great tool.

I was just messing with you! We have some VERY knowledgable members. Literally HUNDREDS of years of knowledge/experience combined, with platforms spanning from Bally EMs to AVPs and BBs. The Search function is a great tool. You should try searching "VFD repair" and see what you get. Someone may have already done it and have the info.  :89-

There was a discussion about those errors popping up due to netplex issues with some of the parts you mentioned.  I would suspect that the faulty parts have had some sort of short or surge in the netplex circuitry resulting in those errors. 

I read all the post on the errors and have always changed all the parts until we have found the culprit. Those problems can cause the display itself to go bad. The display gives all the same symptoms and still shows the messages so you would think that it is still good, however this is not always true and changing the display itself is the only fix for the machine. I have about 50 of the entire display and I am trying to figure out what on the bourd goes bad.

All other options have been checked. I have gone as far as completely rebuilding a machine with new power supplies, IOs, BA, printer, meters, harnesses and MPU. These displays will continue to give either the meter disconnect or the no display error. Put a new display in and it works just fine. I know there is something on these that is causing the problem, i just can not find the culprit. I have had my bench tech change capacitors on the 7 segment and that is not the problem. I am assuming it might be one of the chips but where to start.

First of all, you need specific schematic drawing of the display in order to do bench top component troubleshooting.
What is the display PN No. and Date etched onto the circuit board ?

Date is 1996 Assy # 7511790. If you can find schematics that would be great. I have always been able to get them from the manuf, with exception of IGT. They just will not give me anything. Not to mention most repairs that I have found are just capacitors and the problem is fixed. Not in this case though.

ok...I may be able to help if you can tell me if your display board uses a 12-pin connector using only 8 wires
and it has also a 2-pin power connecter?
Reason why I'm asking is because my drawings are from 1997.
Are there any REV. labels attached?

Thanks

The connector is 12 pin and all 12 are used. If you can help I would be greatful.

No REV numbers on this board.

Try this sheet and compare it to your circuit board.
Link below...>>>

At quick glance that seems to be the one. I will start working on these boards next week and update if I find anything. Thanks for the schematic.

You're welcome.
I never had any problems with my displays so I never really got into what makes them tick.
Should you succeed in repairing your displays, please don't hesitate to pay back by posting up a few repair notes!  :89-
Might come handy someday for a fellow member tryna fix one of theirs?

We have about 800 of them in service and they are older than I am. We have gotten really good at board repair for them. Good thing with the end of life of these. Over the next year or 2 it will get harder for us to buy parts for them, since I cant just buy parts from anyone unfortunately. The display boards are the last boards to repair.

I cant thank you enough for the schematic.

Time to make a contribution to this site........

Took me longer to figure out than I had hoped. To many other responsibilities I gues.

The C6 capacitor has 2 problems that can cause the no display error (when not caused by the norm).

Both problems are simple, cap is bad or the solder has cracked. I have fixed about 20 of the dispalys now and its been about half and half.