Alternating flashing between "Insert Coin" and "Coins Played" - help...

[BBH213]

I just installed new coin optics which has cleared the 21 error code.  Now I have alternating flashing between "insert coin" and "coins played" with a 0 showing in the coins played field. 

It only randomly allow coins into the hopper, but will not record as a coin in the coins played field.  I can press the little white button on the coin comparator to add coins played and will allow me to pull handle or press button to spin reels. 

When door closes the machine thinks for a few seconds than plays the flashing mentioned above. 

Any ideas of how to fix this?

Thanks!

[CVslots]

Try propping the rake on your coin comp open. If, while propped/shimmed open, all coins are accepted, them the problem lies in your coin comparitor.

If your little white button is working, that means everything from the optics to the MPU are working, which would leave the problem to be only ABOVE the optics.  

(The above knowledge...compliments of Jim (username Jim, Midwest Slots)!)

[BBH213]

Thanks, I will check out the coin comparitor.

[knagl]

What SP chip is in your machine?

[BBH213]

I just checked the above issue by propping open the rake and seeing if the coins would register.  The coins did NOT register as coins played when passed through the coin comparitor.

Also, I have SP1145 type 0/1/4/5 in my board.

Any ideas?
 Thanks

[knagl]

Do you have a 16mhz board?  Per the PSR (which you can download here), that SP chip can only be used on a 16mhz board.  A 16mhz board does not have the little blue volume knob on the edge of the board, and does not have the bank of DIP switches on it.  If you have a volume knob and DIP switches, you have a 10mhz board (and an incompatible SP chip).  Also, the data must be on an EPROM that is 120ms or faster (that is, a number that is 120 or less).  If it's not a factory EPROM, check the last part of the part number on the chip to determine its speed.  If the number is larger than 120, it won't work properly.

Maybe to back up a step further, was this machine ever working for you?

As far as the flashing Insert Coin light, per the PSR: "Power Reset Notification: When the power has been reset, the game flashes the Insert Coin lamp until the player plays one complete game."

As far as the flashing digit in the Coins Played window, per the PSR: "Service (Door-Just- Closed) Notification: The Coins Played digit flashes from the time the door is closed until the end of one complete game."

So, that said, it sounds like your machine is acting normally and is ready to accept a coin.  Based on what you said with the rake test, it also sounds like the coin-in optics still aren't working properly.  To make sure we're 100% on the same page, when you blocked the rake and inserted coins, they were accepted into the hopper of the machine (and not rejected back to the player), correct?

There are scenarios where the coin-in optics can be fried and not kick a 21 error code.  Are you positive that the new optics are good?  Do you have another machine to test them on, or a machine with known good optics that you can try swapping in to the problem machine?

You can also try the coin-in optics tests as shown on page 6 of the PSR.  Use a popsicle stick or a thin piece of cardboard or something similar to block the optics.  The Winner Paid window should change from 1 to 0 as the optic is blocked, and then back to 1 once you remove the popsicle stick.  Test all three optics (coin in A, B, and C) to ensure all three are functioning correctly.  If even one of them won't change its status when it is blocked, it's defective and the machine will not recognize coins being inserted.

[BBH213]

Wow Knagl, thanks for the detailed response!  I really appreciate your assistance. 

Ok, now let me try to answer some of your questions and give some more info if I can here....

1). The machine was not been working for me, I bought it as a Wild Cherry 2cm with a 65 error code on it for $75.
2). I cleared the errors codes, 65 to 61 to 21. 
3) new coin in optics cleared the 21 error code, I bought from a member/parts dealer as "Tested Working" optics, and they sent a free second optics set, which I will test.
4) See photo...looks like a 16mhz board
5) With the new coin optics in place, pressing the white button adds coins to the machine and will play, but not register actual coins.
6) when I close the door, the reels spin and then the flashing begins again. But regrets coins, maybe 1 in 10 get accepted but not registered.
7) with the rake propped open the coins were accepted into the hopper but not registered as coins in play.
8) I do not have another machine to test parts on, though maybe that's a good reason to buy one! Anyone have anything good for sale in PA!?


I did just buy a Chaos 2cm glass/game kit for my machine, as I try to complete my conversion from the Wild Cherry 9inch top to a RT Chaos.  The Chaos kit is is coming with new a chip, will that make a difference with this problem, could it potential solve the issue?

Thanks again, everyone on here is always so helpful! 
Ben

[knagl]

Happy to help.  Thank you for the thorough reply -- it really helps with troubleshooting.

Yes, you do have a 16mhz board (you can see the 16 on the silver crystal in the picture), so your chips are correct.  While your SP chip doesn't look like a factory label, it seems to be functioning correctly, so we'll assume it's good for the moment.

Unless your Chaos kit comes with a SP chip that's compatible with a 16mhz board, it likely won't help to swap out the SS chip to get past this issue.  Again, I'm okay with assuming that your SP chip is good for now.

The flashing of the Insert Coin light and Coins Played digit are normal, so I'm pretty sure your machine is patiently waiting for you to insert a coin, and that's where we're currently at.

So, we're down to two issues:

1. Coins are rejected more frequently than they should be.

2. The machine isn't registering coins inserted when they are accepted.


For the first issue, let's have you tweak a couple of things with the comparator.  First, please make sure you're using a nice clean coin as the sample coin, and that it's inserted and seated properly in the comparator.  Second, please adjust the sensitivity pot back and forth a few times (to clean out any junk in there), followed by adjusting to make it less likely to reject coins.  See this post for a little more detail on that.


For the second issue, go ahead and test the optics using the self test explained on the PSR sheet, and let us know your results.  Let us know if you need help figuring out how to get to that test in the setup.


Finally, does your machine have a bill validator, and if so, do you know if it's enabled?  As I mentioned earlier, I think your machine is waiting for credits to be inserted, and it should be ready to accept a bill if the validator is enabled and working properly.

[BBH213]

Thanks, I will check and let you know what I find out.

I do have a bill validator, and I noticed that there are switches on the right side of the validator and on/off one and 1 through 9 I think.  The machine is not where I am right now so I can't check.  Any how. They are all to the off position, is there any certain ones that need to be on? 

Thanks

[knagl]

It depends on the validator.  If it's a DBV-200, here's the manual:

http://jcmglobal.com/Libraries/Product_Manuals/DBV-200.sflb.ashx

DIP switch settings are on pages 7 and 8 (pages 11 and 12 of the .pdf).  I would assume for now that the validator is probably okay with its DIP settings and wouldn't be in a hurry to change them.  It'd be more important to see if it's enabled in the machine, by checking to see if option 9 is set to 1 (see the PSR for your SP chip for details).

[BBH213]

I just changed the chips to the Chaos game.  Sorry, I don't know exactly what chips, but can find out tomorrow. 

With the chips changed, the machine displayed some errors which I believe are normal for game changes - 65  and then 61. Both cleared easily.

Now it is back to doing the same old, flashing pattern I mentions above.

I noticed that the bill acceptor is NOT accepting bills.  I forgot to check to see if option 9 is set to 1, as was recommended but I will tomorrow as well. 

Do you think it is worth replacing the coin comparitor?

Thanks!

[CVslots]

Sounds like the cash can is not in all the way....

[BBH213]

It cycles quite a bit, which I can hear.  I also noticed that the cash door has been bypassed. 

Not sure how to fix tp or check this.  How do I know if the can is in properly?

[BBH213]

UPDATE.

I switched the coin in optics  and I am up and running!  Thanks for everyone's advice and assistance.

The bill acceptor is NOT working though. It cycles and will not accept bills. Not sure what to do.

[knagl]

Check to make sure that the head and transport assembly are seated correctly, and that the cash can is properly inserted (take it halfway out, then really slam it into place).  The gears in the upper corner of the can need to mesh with the gears at the back of the transport.  If they don't, it'll just cycle over and over for about fifteen seconds, then give up.

Also, make sure that option 9 is set to 1.

[BBH213]

Hmm. That's what it did....cycle about 15 seconds and the quit. 

I tried searching for option 9 like you mentioned but could seem to find it.    Here is my new chip....not sure if that helps with identifying how to go about the options...  Just figured I'd offer.

Thanks