Installed Spectrum display in my S2000

[dpalmi]

Hello all!

I finally got my 1st Spectrum display mounted and running in one of my S2000 machines.  I thought I would share some of the things I learned in doing this and some pictures.

First, you DO NOT need a Netplex Distribution board (the picture below is just for reference - I do not have one of these).  It seems there was some confusion on this.  The only reason you need this board is if you have more than one Netplex device in your topbox, such as a Spectrum AND a Vision Display.  The board is basically just a splitter and has no logic on it.



Now if you don’t have this board, you will need a semi-specialized cable.   Idesign (a NLG member) made mine and I have them pictured below.  What he did was make a cable that connects to the standard IGT cable, so if I ever need to add a Distribution board I won’t have to get a new cable – so it’s actually two cables connected together.  The standard one from IGT and the one idesign made for me.  If you're looking for your own cable, send idesign a PM - he did a great job and I highly recommend him







This cable allows me to plug directly into the connectors in the back left corner of the top box.



I was able to mount my display where the player tracking bar is located.  I took the display itself apart to make the screen part of the display as small as possible.  I was then able to fit this part into the existing metal bracket in my machine that holds up the glass.  I did have to make the pre-cut hole in this bracket taller – but I wanted to keep this piece in if I could.  I used a hot glue gun to hold the progressive display in this bracket.  As you can see, I also used black electrical tape to cover up the gaps to minimize the light that comes from the box.



After the display was installed, I just set the rest of the pieces into the top box.



Then it was just a matter of cutting the players tracking cover to the correct size.  Boy, this was tougher than I thought it would be!  And I was trying to be as careful as I could to make it look nice.  It was tough for me to cut a straight edge.



And here's how it looks all together....











Now I have one more machine I'm going to do the same thing to....should be easier the 2nd time around

Dan #2

[tacman]

Looks good, Dan.

Just as a side note, has anyone figured out the dipswitch settings in the back of the Spectrum II? What setting for what color, and isn't there a color changing setting? All red, then all green then all orange?

 Dan (tacman)

[dpalmi]

Just as a side note, has anyone figured out the dipswitch settings in the back of the Spectrum II? What setting for what color, and isn't there a color changing setting? All red, then all green then all orange?

 Dan (tacman)

Hello Tacman.

Thanks!  The dips on the back control the color of the display.  There was a post on this on the old NLG - but I did a search and couldn't find it - so it must not have been moved.  I will try to figure it out on mine and post my results.  You can select from green, red or orange.  Now realize - the display won't change colors on it's own, or scroll through the colors - from what I understand.  You set the color and that's the only color it displays....

Dan #2

[tacman]

Yeah, I remember that it was discussed, but I do not recall anyone ever posting a listing of Spectrum dipswitch configurations to what color/feature etc.

 Dan (tacman)

It would be nice if a manual or tech bullettin was available on these to see what settings or features are available.

[westec1]

Great job,  looks very nice , thanks for all the great info and pic's 


Wes

[CaptainHappy]

dpalmi,

K+ for the sharing in such detail! 

Thanks Again,

CaptainHappy
  ADMIN

[knagl]

Great job, and great pictures to show it all!

You may wish to consider putting a sheet of light to medium window tint in front of the display -- it'll help make the "white" of the non-lit characters vanish.  Something to think about, anyway.

I know it was discussed that there's no way to make the displays change color on their own, but at the local casino they have a bank of "Ancient Chinese Secret" iGame slots with Spectrum displays, and they DO change color on their own -- they (very slowly) cycle between red, green, and yellow.

[tacman]

I thought that was also discussed on the old site as well as one of the features but no one ever mentioned finding the dip coniguration for that. Any casino techs have the answer about color rotaion on the Spectrum II?  How about posting the configurations we do know about? 

 Dan (tacman)

Hey Kev, maybe the color rotation is an Ancient Chinese Secret!     

[dpalmi]

Hello all!

Great news!

I'm SO glad you guys made me curious...I've played with the dips on my Spectrum and found the secret to scrolling colors!

Ok - 2 sets of dips - 4 switches each.  On mine - all 8 switches were all off.  Here's what I found...

S1
1 - didn't do anything
2 - causes colors to scroll from red to green to yellow (see video) - off is 1 color - on is scroll - SECRET SETTING!!
3 - changes single color - off is green - on is red
4 - on - does a moving line test to see if all leds are working

S2
1 - on - makes all red leds come on to see if all leds are working
2 - on - makes all orange leds come on to see if all leds are working
3 - on - makes all green leds come on to see if all leds are working
4 - didn't do anything

So I hope that helps - I know it made me happy 

Dan #2

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/WD-86R_Aq8c&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/WD-86R_Aq8c&rel=0</a>

[CaptainHappy]

Guinea Pig, (Tester, stud experimenter, dpalmi, whatever you choose to be!  )

Congrats on solving the "Ancient Chinese Secret!!!!!" 

Thanks for the Vid as well!

CaptainHappy 
  ADMIN

[brichter]

More pics of the bracket and the display mounting, please! 

[CaptainHappy]

More pics of the bracket and the display mounting, please! 

Really makes us want to finally get around to doing ours! I agree that it is nice to not have to reinvent the wheel! 

We should also ask him what method he used to create the time to work on the project! 

CH 

[Foster]

I need those cables, I dont have Power/Netplex Dist. Board. either

I need the cables he shows.
The one I got off ebay has a blown fuse.

I want to know denomination of machine, configuration details, Is it a percentage based programming or actual value programming like the Mikohn handles.

[knagl]

Congrats on solving the "Ancient Chinese Secret!!!!!" 

Hahaha, I had to laugh at both of your posts, CH.

Whenever I walk past those slots I say, "Here's a secret: these slots suck!" (I've never won anything on them.)

Very nice job and K+, Dan, for finding the "secret". 

[tacman]

Absolutely GREAT work Dan!!  And many K+'s should be coming your way for this one! 

 Dan (tacman)

[dpalmi]

We should also ask him what method he used to create the time to work on the project! 

Hello!

Hahaha - yes, time is/was an issue.  I just looked and I got these displays in June - so it only took me 4 months to do the first one....

Dan #2

[dpalmi]

More pics of the bracket and the display mounting, please! 

Hello!

I will take some more pics of the bracket/mounting tonight when I get home and post.

Dan #2

[dpalmi]

I need those cables, I dont have Power/Netplex Dist. Board. either

I need the cables he shows.

Hello!

Note:  this is a custom cable.  Just contact idesign here at NLG http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?action=profile;u=6 and I'm sure he would be glad to make you one.

I want to know denomination of machine, configuration details, Is it a percentage based programming or actual value programming like the Mikohn handles.

Denomiation is set to a quarter (25 cents).  Setup was in the Key Chip menu 7.1.4 - so I did need to use a Key Chip.  The increment is based on a percentage - I didn't see any options for an actual value.  The menu choice are very similar to the options you get on the Photon display for a S+ - you have a starting/reset value, current value, and percentage.  I will look at my machine tonight and get the exact menu names/etc.  Was there another setting you were looking for?

Dan #2

[brichter]

We should also ask him what method he used to create the time to work on the project! 

CH 

I've found that it only took me 3 months to swap out the switches on my S2000, and the time required for my Spectrum (which I've had for at least 4 months) install will be created by that lovely invention called "Vacation" at the end of the year! 

[CaptainHappy]

We should also ask him what method he used to create the time to work on the project! 

Hello!

Hahaha - yes, time is/was an issue.  I just looked and I got these displays in June - so it only took me 4 months to do the first one....

Dan #2

YOU ARE FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got my Spectrum II meters a couple years ago! You guys are better hosts for your machines, mine feel neglected and pay me back for the lack of Love, TLC, and attention by not working when I try to play them!

 

CH 

[brichter]

You guys are better hosts for your machines, mine feel neglected and pay me back for the lack of Love, TLC, and attention by not working when I try to play them!

 

CH 

I also think your machines might be offended because you keep bringing new ones home.

That always used to tick my ex-wife off! 

[Foster]

CaptainHappy,

Work and other commitments in your life has kept you away from your machines.
It happens to all of us at times. Your machines will forgive you eventually.

I am trying to disassemble mine, to get at the fuses and double check somethings.
Mine has a full cover on it. I was able to get the 4 nuts and 6 of the 10 screws removed that hold the cover on. 4 of them will not come out.
I am thinking of using my soldering iron to heat them up a bit to see if that will release them.
or the fact that the screws and the holes are different metals and that caused them to seize up.

[CaptainHappy]

You guys are better hosts for your machines, mine feel neglected and pay me back for the lack of Love, TLC, and attention by not working when I try to play them!

 

CH 

I also think your machines might be offended because you keep bringing new ones home.

That always used to tick my ex-wife off! 

  It sounds to me like you should have capitalized "ex" as "EX" 

Thanks for the laugh! 

CH

[dpalmi]

More pics of the bracket and the display mounting, please! 

Hello!

Sorry for the delay in this - busy busy busy

Bracket exisiting in machine...


Bracket removed from machine...


I had to remove/cut the area in red


Once again, I removed the display portion of the Spectrum from the rest of the bracket to make it as thin as possible...here is the display out of the Spectrum bracket...




Here's the display in the bracket - I used some black electrical tap just to cover up the gaps to stop light coming through...


I used a hot glue gun to hold the spectrum display in the bracket...


I also had to bend the tabs below in red flater on the player tracking cover to make them align properly into the bracket...


Make sense?  Any other pictures?

Dan #2

[StatFreak]

Okay Dan, you have garlic on your "7"'s, and Pizza Hut boxes next to your spectrum. I guess it was Italian for dinner last night.

(Sorry, too much of a coincidence to pass up. We now return you to your serious installation..)