intermittent reel error on Bally e2000 slot

[montulli]

I recently bought an E2000, I think it is an E2203 triple 7 machine.    Things are mostly good with it.   It will play correctly for about 20 plays and then starts to get reel errors on the 3rd reel.   Usually 43 but sometimes 73 or 93 error codes.    I swapped the 2 and 3 optical reader and it didn't change anything so I don't think the reader is at fault.   (they are the older 50v visible light readers)

I put a voltmeter to the PSU board and was getting some odd readings (They were too low to be believable), and while I was doing that I accidentally shorted two of the wire loops and blew the fuse.   The fuse is supposed to be 9.5 volts and 8 amps but the fuse that was in there was 32 V and 8 amps.    I bought what I think is the correct fuse (250V .5a) to replace it and it immediately blows.    So now I'm thinking I have a bad PSU.    

Does anyone have any ideas?    I could have the wrong fuse, but 9.5v x 8a is 76 watts so I figured a 250v .5a fuse with 125 watts should work, but I'm not entirely sure if it is comparable.

Test 6 shows the reader is working, but I was getting some odd codes for half of the 3rd reel.   The first half of the reel shows perfect alignment and then the latter half was showing codes that didn't align with the tape on the reel.    (would show 1 for a 3 bar etc.)

Here are pictures of the machine and PSU:
https://plus.google.com/photos/102635252019311981885/albums/5840589064728738177?authkey=CPOLvojRoK6Z8AE

[rjpohl]

make sure the reel or strips are not rubbing on anything when they spin.  I had one a few years back that had the decal loose and it would rub against the reel from time to time and cause the tilt.

Bob

[FOXSSLOTS1]

I assume you meant the 5 test not 6 - if you are getting incorrect codes during that the test - that is a 1 indicating single bar  and you are getting 3  triple bar - then you have a bad reader - could also be the reader control board.  switch two readers and see if the error persists.

[montulli]

make sure the reel or strips are not rubbing on anything when they spin.  I had one a few years back that had the decal loose and it would rub against the reel from time to time and cause the tilt.

Bob

I removed the reels a few days ago and lubricated the bearings and checked for alignment.   Everything spins very well with no rubbing.   I had thought that might be the problem originally, but it does not appear to be.

[montulli]

I assume you meant the 5 test not 6 - if you are getting incorrect codes during that the test - that is a 1 indicating single bar  and you are getting 3  triple bar - then you have a bad reader - could also be the reader control board.  switch two readers and see if the error persists.

Yes, 5 not 6.    I already switched reader 3 for 2 and the problem is the same.    I guess it could be a reader control board, but the reading was perfectly consistent, it just appeared to be thinking it was the wrong symbol.   I would guess that is some sort of look up table error and not a reader error.

My issue now is that the PSU needs to be re-powered and I am hesitant to put the wrong fuse into the machine.     It is possible that I am using the wrong fuse wattage in my replacement since I could not find a 9V fuse anywhere.      Where do most board members source their fuses?

[tkrozleski]

Have you lubricated all the linkage and solenoids? If they are gummed up and they will react slowly when energized, this will give you errors. The two black cross shafts need to spin freely when you turn them with your fingers. If they do not, this is an indication of gummed up linkage. The rollers on all the linkage must spin freely also.

[Amachanic]

One other thing I have found that can cause an error is a slow spinning reel. There is a small hole on the reels center hub for oiling the needle bearing. Put a few drops of a light weight machine oil in that hole and spin the reels. I had a nickel machine that would give an error on a start up spin till I oiled the hubs. After that it never did it again.  Give it a try, can't hurt.

Gary

[MarkInAz]

Hi Montulli,

You need to use the correct fuse amperage.  Yes it is heat (watts) that blows the fuse but to calculate it it would be I squared x R, not E x I.  The voltage is inconsequential, its the resistance of the fuse and the current through the fuse no matter what the circuit voltage is.  The voltage rating on a fuse has more to do with flash-over after it has been blown.  A higher fuse voltage is fine.  Get them at Radio Shack, Walmart, anywhere really.  So I'd suggest you wait on condemning your PSU until you get the correct fuses.  I can tell you from experience you can never have too many spare fuses around when it comes to playing with slot machines.

Hope this helps,

Cheers,

Mark

[tkrozleski]

pos.1= 8 amp          pos.2= 10 amp

pos.3= 10 amp        pos.4= 8 amp

pos.5= 5 amp          pos.6= 5 amp

I do not know how to post a page from PDF here so here is my diagram above.

Make sure the correct amp fuses are in the correct  positions.

[MarkInAz]

Yes, you have it correct.

[montulli]

Here is a summary of where I am at.   

1) I bought the correct 8 amp fuse.   Now the PSU has power.
2) I tested the PSU and the voltages are correct, so it probably isn't the PSU that is a problem.
3) I still get reel errors, but I have now seen a few on reel 1, but most on reel 3.   
4) twice when I went into test 5 I found that the reader was not showing the correct codes.    After a reset, it was fine again.    It is very sporadic and very odd.    I'm checking for loose wires and connections, but I have not found anything.
5) I'm going to go back and check all the mechanical parts and make sure everything is well lubricated and smooth.

[Amachanic]

Have you removed the read reader boards and checked them for damage or bad solder joints?

Gary

[MarkInAz]

Good Montulli , now you are back on track.  You'll get 'er working.

[montulli]

Good Montulli , now you are back on track.  You'll get 'er working.

Things were going pretty well until I broke one of the reader boards while swapping it.    I must have hit one of the solder joints with the reels.   I had to order another one from Ebay.    I'll be back at it in a week. 

[montulli]

Good Montulli , now you are back on track.  You'll get 'er working.

Things were going pretty well until I broke one of the reader boards while swapping it.    I must have hit one of the solder joints with the reels.   I had to order another one from Ebay.    I'll be back at it in a week. 

Foxsslots to the rescue.   I put a new reader board in and everything works now.   The board must have been partially bad, so I got lucky by having it fail completely.     Happy now.    My next project is to try and get a quieter fan.   The exiting fan is way loud and seems overkill for a single machine in a relatively cool room.     I'll search the message boards, but if anyone has any hints please let me know.

Thanks for all the advice, I'm really happy to be up and running.

[MarkInAz]

Glad to hear its up & running.  Congrats. 

As for the fan- I've wondered about that too, I mean if its really needed for home use.  I have a couple IGT/Barcrest machines that are loud too.  I suppose  you could replace it with a 12VDC computer fan & splice in a 12VDC wall transformer somewhere to power it.  ---------   Anyone else care to weigh in on this?

Cheers,

Mark