6 replies to this topic

[JRWR]

Hi all

I recently bought a faulty QPS Captain Cash fruit machine - MUX ROW ERR 31. I have the manual and the circuit diagrams of the Scorpion 4 board but was't able to fault find to component level so another £15 (on top of the £15 for the machine) for a new MPU meant I was able to clear that fault.

My problem now is that I can't get the machine to accept any coins - everything I put in comes straight out. I am a complete newbie with fruit machine so do I need to do something with the refill key? The hopper key? Reset something 'cos I've put a new MPU in? Tinker with wires?

I've no idea if this machine took coins before I bought it and some of the connections to the coin input mechanism did seem dodgy but even after checking them the machine isn't for playing. There is a sort of plug with purple wires one side and yellow the other - does anyone know what that does? (Picture attached.)

Thanks in advance for any help people might be able to give.

Cheers,
JRWR

Attached Files

•  DSC_8796.JPG   2.49MB   32 downloads

[Taylor525]

The yellow and purple plugs are the route plugs, they determine where the coins go next..

is there a green lit light on the side(of the coin mech) when the machine is on??

Edited by Taylor525, 13 June 2011 - 09:16 PM.

[stanmarsh14]

Guess you have a MEI Cashflow126 mech there.

If so, got the same setup in my qps pacman, so i'll get some pic's done, so you can see what goes where etc.

The two routing plugs mentioned, one plugs in to the mech, but the other is used on a coin controls C435 mech (Plugs should be different sizes), so QPS supply both, so that either mech can be used.

Also this may sound daft, but have you checked the plugs on the mainboard, to make sure you are not missing any pins?

[JRWR]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, it is a cashflow 126 and it does have a green light on the side when it's powered up. When I put a coin in the green light flashes four times which, according to the user guide I found on-line, means there's "... either a software or hardware inhibit being applied." (Whatever that means - is my MPU telling the coin mech not to accept coins?)

I've not yet buzzed through the cables between the MPU and the coin validator but I'll do that this evening if I get chance. Just wondered if there might be some simple reason that 'inhibit' would be being applied.

Thanks again
JRWR

[JRWR]

Hi again

Does anyone know if the four 'off' flashes of the Cashflow 126's green diagnostic LED occur:

1) only when the coin inhibit inputs on the 17 way connector are enabled (looking at the circuit diagram it seems the MPU would have to sink current from these by pulling them to 0v).

2) only when the coin has been programmed to be inhibited by someone using the rotary data switch and configuration DIL switches.

3) either of the above?

4) would any inputs to the route inhibit connector ever cause this?

Cheers
JRWR

[JRWR]

Thanks to those who replied - I believe I've now resolved this problem.

I managed to find a PDF of the "CF126 designers' guide" on line which shows that the inhibit lines from the MPU are to be high when inhibited (the CF input expects the MPU to sink current when not inhibited so any broken connections would also be interpreted as inhibit). However, when I put a meter on the inhibit lines from the MPU they were all low (500mV).

So, using the DIL and rotary switches on the CF126 I reprogrammed it to 'not inhibit' £1 coins (not sure why there are 2 £1 coin channels) and cleaned the coin path (where 10p coins were sticking) and it now works!

I also found that someone had wired the lamp strobe lines 8, 9 and 11 together (well, they're all yellow so why not?!) so undoing that restored a little more sanity. I now need to replace the blown lamps (at least 30 I'd guess) and fit a replacement refill key and it looks like this machine might be restored to health.

Cheers all
JRWR

P.S. Does anyone know if this machine is rare or desirable? I estimate it's cost me £15 (machine) + £15 (new Scorpion 4 MPU) + £4 (refill switch) + £7.50 (100 bulbs) to repair. Am I likely to be able to sell it for £41.50 or more?

[stanmarsh14]

Pretty much run of a mill machine this, but probs expect between £60 / £80, so not a bad profit that.

Most scorp4 based machines tend to go for that.

Thanks to those who replied - I believe I've now resolved this problem.

I managed to find a PDF of the "CF126 designers' guide" on line which shows that the inhibit lines from the MPU are to be high when inhibited (the CF input expects the MPU to sink current when not inhibited so any broken connections would also be interpreted as inhibit). However, when I put a meter on the inhibit lines from the MPU they were all low (500mV).

So, using the DIL and rotary switches on the CF126 I reprogrammed it to 'not inhibit' £1 coins (not sure why there are 2 £1 coin channels) and cleaned the coin path (where 10p coins were sticking) and it now works!

I also found that someone had wired the lamp strobe lines 8, 9 and 11 together (well, they're all yellow so why not?!) so undoing that restored a little more sanity. I now need to replace the blown lamps (at least 30 I'd guess) and fit a replacement refill key and it looks like this machine might be restored to health.

Cheers all
JRWR

P.S. Does anyone know if this machine is rare or desirable? I estimate it's cost me £15 (machine) + £15 (new Scorpion 4 MPU) + £4 (refill switch) + £7.50 (100 bulbs) to repair. Am I likely to be able to sell it for £41.50 or more?

Edited by stanmarsh14, 15 June 2011 - 11:44 AM.