FIXED, DISREGARD S-Plus blows 6 amp 24 volt AC fuse Help, pretty please

[mvco]

Hello,

Have always been able to repair an S-Plus easily, getting my butt hammered on this one.

Here is a fun one.  Have an S-plus, newer style with embedded B/A.  It blows the 6 amp 24 volt fuse immediately on power up.  So, I go to try and locate the short.  1st observation, the fuse only blows when the main power connector is connected to J6 at the motherboard.  Removed Motherboard, looking for coins underneath or anything elso I could see.  All looks good.  So, I disconnected every connector to the motherboard, EXCEPT the power to J6.  Now, no fuse blowing.  One by one, I connected each connector to the Motherboard, turn on power, check fuse, on down the line.  
Found the connector where the short is is, J10.  All connectors can be disconnected, and if you plug in only J10 the fuse immediatly blows.  A look at the schematic shows a good portion of the wiring from J10 run to the hopper.  So, I tried disconneting the molex connector that supplies everything to the hopper.  No more fuse blow, and now the machine powers up and runs fine after hooking all the connectors back up to the Motherboard.  (game would not boot with the blown 24 volt fuse, reels would make noise, sometimes run slowly backwards, no dsiplays or full boot)

I figure I have found my short, must be in that relay or wiring around the hopper.  All looks fine, so I pull all terminals off the relay for the hopper, and even the wires to the hopper connector, even though I cannot imagine how a short could exist in the connector without  a hopper even being installed.  No dice!  Fuse still blows anytime the hopper Molex plug is connected, does not blow, with it disconnected, allowing the machine to operate, at least until a pay comes up, and of course the machine goes to a 3200 cose which is expected.

Has anyone had this problem?  Any idea where else in the machine power is going to that would be running through the hopper connector, but obviously having nothing to do with the hopper?  

Hope this all makes sense.

thanks much

[Simon Barsinister]

Just for the sake of elimination, try opening the top cover on the power supply and see if there happens to be a coin laying across the terminals of the transformer.  Seen this before, especially on games that were recently moved or if it is a Field Service Call with no background on the machine's disposition.

[mvco]

Will check that now, thanks

[harp]

While you are back there, look up and see if the terminals for the Handle Release Solenoid are not touching the cabinet

[mvco]

Just got on here to give the good news that the short has been located.  Harp, you were dead on, that is where the problem was. 

Why power to that was routed through the hopper connector is beyond me, but hey, it';s up and running and that's all that matters.

Thanks to all

[CVslots]

Heh, we've had 2 members with that same short in the last month or so. Other one was on an S2000 and i believe it blew the door I/O, cant remember exactly. What are the odds on that, given its such an odd place to short. That will need to go in the vault for future reference...


Great news you were able to get it going Bill! Harp really knows his stuff!