General questions from a new S+ slot owner

[jdkmunch]

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas!

I will soon be the proud owner of an S-Plus IGT slot.  I am so happy I could bust! OK here is my question... I have one Bally 5500 and have learned about the error codes and mpu and battery.. all that good stuff.   I would like to know what to expect with the IGT.  I have read that IGT machines are much harder to keep  as a home machines than the Bally.  For instance if my Bally gets an error code say..... 81 all I have to do is move a jumper and press two buttons and the machine is good to go again (after replacing the battery of course).   Can the same be done with the S+? or do I need to buy an arsnel of clear chips?  Any info on what I can expect would be great. Thanks again. 


Expecting Owner 

Jonathan

[Brianzz]

A clear chip would be good to have, you can pick up the clear and generic BV chip up for $20 or so on ebay. The generic BV chip will work on *most* games but some require a specific chip to re-enable the BV.

[StatFreak]

First, Brianzz is right. If I were you I'd get a set015 (most common) or a set026 (my personal choice because it supports 1c denomination if you ever want it), and an IVC103 clear chip. That will allow you to set your denomination and turn your dbv back on should it ever be necessary. The clear chip is rarely needed but good to have just in case. If you have, or decide to get, a newer game chip like the SP1271 AND want to set up a progressive, then get the set090 as well.

...
I would like to know what to expect with the IGT.  I have read that IGT machines are much harder to keep  as a home machines than the Bally.  For instance if my Bally gets an error code say..... 81 all I have to do is move a jumper and press two buttons and the machine is good to go again (after replacing the battery of course).   
...

I have several of both types of machines and I heard that argument from the seller when I bought them. My feeling is that the reason SafeRam clears are so easy is that you have to do them so often.   IGTs are true work horses that rarely break down or need resetting. Most of the time when people here use set chips it's because they are tinkering with their machine to change the game theme or denomination, to put in a newer SP chip or higher percentage SS chip, or to add a progressive setup, etcetera.

Did you notice that on the Bally Pro Slots there are physical adjustment thumb screws for the reels to get the symbols to line up properly on the payline? Have you noticed that just turning the machine off and on can cause the symbols to be out of alignment during play? IGT has no such adjustments and at first that might seem to be a plus for the Bally until you realize that the IGT symbols always line up and never vary if the strips are installed properly.

The IGT S+ might have been more difficult for the home user to administer if it weren't for the internet and this site. You will find more help here than you will ever need if you ever have issues with your S+ machines. I learned more about how my S pluses worked during my first few weeks as a new member here than I had learned from my seller in years.

[PWRSTROKE]

Excellent post stat.  I am truely impressed and you were rite-on with that one.  Thanks B. I would give you a k+ but you guys are like the GOV. and seem to be able to "print"/GET your own!!!

[Foster]

Statfreak
I agree, The s2000 is also a work horse.

[StatFreak]

Excellent post stat.  I am truely impressed and you were rite-on with that one.  Thanks B. I would give you a k+ but you guys are like the GOV. and seem to be able to "print"/GET your own!!!

Not I, Sir Stroke. Only three great superheroes share that power... those fighters of evil (spammers); those defenders of good (payouts); those meters out of (accounting) justice, those keepers of the holy slot cup; those... those... OH, you know!              

[brichter]

I have several of both types of machines and I heard that argument from the seller when I bought them. My feeling is that the reason SafeRam clears are so easy is that you have to do them so often.   IGTs are true work horses that rarely break down or need resetting.

+1

I thought I needed to do a clear chip reset on my S+ once, but I was wrong.

[a69mopar]

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas!

I will soon be the proud owner of an S-Plus IGT slot.  I am so happy I could bust! OK here is my question... I have one Bally 5500 and have learned about the error codes and mpu and battery.. all that good stuff.   I would like to know what to expect with the IGT.  I have read that IGT machines are much harder to keep  as a home machines than the Bally.  For instance if my Bally gets an error code say..... 81 all I have to do is move a jumper and press two buttons and the machine is good to go again (after replacing the battery of course).   Can the same be done with the S+? or do I need to buy an arsnel of clear chips?  Any info on what I can expect would be great. Thanks again. 


Expecting Owner 

Jonathan

I have to agree with stat here, IGT S-Plus machines are the best slots for home use and once shopped out correctly they are truly trouble free.  I really like my Bally machines also but the S-Plus has a slight lead.

Thanks,
Wayne

[jdkmunch]

Thanks everyone that's great to know!  -  Is it best to keep the machine plugged in all the time?

[dpalmi]

I agree, The s2000 is also a work horse.

I would 2nd Foster's comment.  After upgrading/replacing my S+ machines with S2000 machines - they are just as realiable as the S+ machines and a little easier to configure with the VFD if you ask me.  And all my old kits from the S+ work with the S2000 - although I did need to get a few new erpoms because they have to be at least 120ns or faster.

Dan #2

[Foster]

Yes it is
Just use a surge protector since it uses a linear power supply.

[jay]

I have 3 S+'s

I took the MPUs out and put them in storage for 6 months. When I went to set them up, I didn't even get an error. It was just like they were never off.
I have power bars (surge protected) controlled with X10 modules. One button and 10 Neons, 4 slots and a pinball all come on with a loud crack.

You won't be sorry for having bought a S+

[knagl]

I have read that IGT machines are much harder to keep  as a home machines than the Bally.

I've never owned a Bally slot, but I'm very happy with my S+ -- it's very easy to maintain, not a lot of parts for stuff to go wrong, and easy to diagnose and fix when something does.  As an owner of another slot machine already, I'm sure you'll have no trouble with the S+.

I do not leave my machine on all the time, and have never had trouble with turning it on and off to use it.

[knagl]

One button and 10 Neons, 4 slots and a pinball all come on with a loud crack.

Yowza -- that can't be good for them, or for your outlet.  I'm glad it works for you, but... I'd have a fire extinguisher handy.   

[jdkmunch]

When I first got my Bally 5500 I used to turn it on and off frequently.  I would wake up - ON play OFF.  Come home from work and same thing ON play OFF.  I only had it for two weeks turning it on and off until it died.  I had to replace the power supply and the MPU and went 2 months without it.  Since then I leave it on all the time mainly because I am so afraid it will break again.   

Now both ConEd and I are happy 


With a new slot on the way I am debating if I should leave them on or not.   It seems like most on this thread seem very happy with the S+ and its durability.

[blueridgeslots]

You can turn a S+ on and off no problem, best to use a surge protector then use it to control, the Bally you can do but the Power Supply is a weak point, but after you put a new one in you probably won't have trouble for years, we put a new Power Supply in our Refurbished Ballys and in 8 years I think 2 games have had failures but both were during a storm where the power flickered and caused the failure, a good surge protector would have prevented this probably, but leaving the game on doesn't take that much power, the rated amps on a game is when the hopper is on, the MPU on the Bally I doubt failed due to power issues unless a spike, but as far as the S+ it has the most durable power system made for a home slot (Not a Switching type Power Supply)

[jay]

In clarification to Kagnl's concerns (LOL) there are several circuits involved. Ie 3 slots are on 1 circuit by themsevles, the neons are split across 3 circuits and the Pinball is the only thing on another.
I use multiple X10 1500w appliance modules to do all this. They are just set to the same house code so one button turns the lot on.

[OhioGaming]

Install a new OEM battery in your S+ machine and it will go forever.

[Jake777]

Congrats on your soon to be new machine

I too started with Bally's (E series) and then added acouple of S+'s. All my machines have had their moments (mostly caused by me) and everyone on this site jumped right in and walked me through the problems. You will be very happy with your S+ and very happy with all the help from the folks on this site. I unplug my machines when not in uses and use surged protection when they are on. I haven't had any problems but living in the country we have too many power bumps to risk leaving them on all the time. Happy spinning.

[knagl]

I use multiple X10 1500w appliance modules to do all this. They are just set to the same house code so one button turns the lot on.

My original vision was all of that plugged into one outlet strip controlled by an X10 module.     Glad to hear that your setup is better than that! 

[jdkmunch]

I just got a great tip -  If you keep your machine on all the time, you should spin the reels a couple of times a day.   If they sit for a while in the same spot they could fade from the light.   Nothing worse then having faded reels. 

I think I read about an attract feature that makes the reels move.  I will go back and reed the manual.

[blueridgeslots]

That is not an issue on Factory IGT S+ reel strips, nor the Old bally ones, the Ballys will yellow over time, now it is true on the first S-2000 backlit strips and aftermarket strips, but the paper backed IGT strips are like Twinkies, good for many years, and to combat that problem with the Fluorescent tube you could always use a cold cathode kit

[rickhunter]

Here's a thought for a nice "MOD"

Why not come up with a "sleep" timer for the lights on the machine.  When not used for more than X minutes, cut power off to the lights.  You could wire a trigger mechanism to the spin reels or betmax button?

[stayouttadabunker]

 
I dont know why, could be just my frame of mind, but when I read this topic....that gizmo that used to be on tv commercials comes to my mind...


"Clap ON/Clap Off".

[Brianzz]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/-XUOhjW2AXM&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/-XUOhjW2AXM&rel=0</a>