CRACK, SNAP, POP & SMOKE! What's left of my Game King??? FIXED (again)!!!

[4 Deuces]

 

This has got to be the worst piece of luck I ever bought.
I paid $550 for it.  It came directly from a local casino.
It blew up once and I've been consistently replacing a chip on the MPU (there was still a problem somewhere).
This morning, it blew up again ... lots of smoke this time.
So, I'm going to put it out of its misery and part it out.

The question is ... what is safe to keep as parts?
In other words, how do I know if one of the parts was causing the short and won't do it to another machine?
I'm hoping I can rescue basically everything except the motherboard, MPU and IO cards.

What do you think?

[4 Deuces]

Phew!!  My whole house smells like burnt plastic!

[Ron (r273)]

Sorry I don't know what parts are still good. But I can relate to the smell too.
It happen to the only S+ I have left. Wire came off a button while I was changing
bulbs to LEDs and when I turned it on shorted out the CPU. Now the 25 cent sticker
will not lite with a  different CPU.

The smell is still inside the machine, phew.

Ron (r273)

[4 Deuces]

Thanks anyway Ron!

Okay, stripped all the parts out and inspected all of the wiring.

Could it be buttons?
I did find two ground wires not connected to the BET MAX and DEAL buttons, but those shouldn't matter, right?  Nevertheless, I re-connected them.

Could it be an open molex?
I also found a 3-wire molex coming out the back of the DBV connected to nothing, nor was there a corresponding harness nearby.  It was a male molex, so perhaps the 3 wires touched something?  Nevertheless, I taped that up so no longer exposed.

Could it be boards that show no signs of damage or odor?
IO boards and motherboard look really clean.

Could it be SENET?
MPU though ... smells awful.  I think it's the SENET.  The last fry was at U71 on one-side only.  I think that saved the SENET chip.  I have swapped that out about 6 times now (keeps blowing), but I think this time the fire reached the SENET.  Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of chip remover to see what's underneath.  I'll have to go and buy one.

Thoughts Game King gurus?

[4 Deuces]

I took this opportunity for spring cleaning

After closer inspection, I could detect the odor on the motherboard on J8, where the power plugs in. 
On the back side, it appears clean, but please take a look and let me know what you think.

[4 Deuces]

I may have found the culprit!

Since the motherboard power plug J8 smelled, I checked out the power plug and discovered that it had been crimped at one time and had a nick in the wire exposing the wire.  This was most likely caused by the flat ribbon cable getting caught between the hopper and cabinet?

Anyway, I'm going to order a new cable as I don't trust a tape-up job.

If that's true though, wouldn't the fuses have blown???

 

[knagl]

Sorry to hear about this, Dave.

[4 Deuces]

OMG!  Now I burned my popcorn!  

I think this is a sign! It's time to step away from anything electronic and make a drink!  

Hopefully, I don't blow up the TV next.  I'm watching Rory McIlroy win.

[4 Deuces]

Got a new power cord and new MPU (3902 this time with MM Lite) and it works PERFECTLY!  So, IO's are still good and no other damage.  Was just the MPU and the unnoticed power cord.  Hard lesson to learn.  I thought I checked everything ... never thought to inspect the ribbon cable.
 

I am so happy ... my GK is back!
 

I think I'll celebrate with some popcorn ... err ... uh ... maybe not!
 

:Dave

[4 Deuces]

P.S.  I HIGHLY recommend CVSlots.  The 3902 board I received from Roslyn was the cleanest, nicest board I've ever ordered.  Looked brand new!

 

[Buzz]

P.S.  I HIGHLY recommend CVSlots.  The 3902 board I received from Roslyn was the cleanest, nicest board I've ever ordered.  Looked brand new!

 

A dish washer isn't just for dishes !!!!!!!!!!!   

[uniman]

Glad to hear you got it going Dave, again!
Nothing worse than a phantom problem damaging expensive equipment.