Bally Vector questions

Lindsey

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I received these questions via PM from user Zack5959. I figured if I'm going to answer them it might as well benefit everyone. I'm going to start doing this from now with most questions I get by PM.

Zack5959 said:
On my Bally Vector, the right flipper coil became stuck on and the game was shut right off.

That indicates a mechanical problem with the flipper (you probably already knew that). The flipper plunger probably became mushroomed on the end causing it to stick in the coil sleeve. Either that or the coil stuck on causing the sleeve to melt and stick to the plunger. The coil stop can also become magnetized causing this problem but that seems like the least likely cause in this case.

I would disassemble the flipper and see what needs to be replaced. You can post pictures here if you're unsure.

Zack5959 said:
In an attempt to ghetto fix it before a party, I freed everything up then powered the game on. Started a game then hit the flipper button twice.... all flippers are now dead, no attract mode, no displays on and only 6 flashes from the MPU LED.
No blown fuses and no 43v on T4 Fuse on the Power Supply.

No 7th flash is an indication that there is no solenoid voltage. More specifically it indicates that the solenoid voltage is not making it to the zero cross detector circuit on the MPU or there is something wrong with that circuit. In this case we can cut right to the chase and assume there is no solenoid voltage. The first thing to do is pull the solenoid fuse and check it with a meter (F4 on the rectifier board. 5A). Sounds to me like it's blown. If not you'll need to check for positive voltage thought the fuse, the header on the rectifier board and out to the coils. I would start by checking for voltage at the flipper coils. There should also be a fuse under the playfield. Check that one too though I can't really see that one causing only 6 flashes on the MPU.

Zack5959 said:
I put a new coil in it and then tested it. 2 of the 3 readings well above 2.5 ohms.
3rd reading 1.4

A new coil may or may not have been necessary depending on the condition of the old one but if it was shorted it definitely could have caused the fuse to blow. I wouldn't say a shorted coil would cause your original problem but it could cause your current problem.

In any case... the first thing to do is figure out why there's no solenoid voltage.
 
Thanks Lindsey, you are a huge wealth of info.
Before I PM'ed you, I checked all that stuff and it all tested out good.
Im pretty sure the flipper siezed because I adjusted the switch too aggressively trying to make the upper flipper work properly. (the sleeve was melted in the coil and the old coil was dead shorted)

I left some info out of my PM that may be beneficial. (I got so mad at the game I poured a huge Everclear and Diet Squirt...yummy btw) So I may not have been thinking clearly :D

The game will start, a brief moment of sound, then all it does is illuminate the lower lights on the playfield. The upper playfield is completely dark, and the displays do not light up at all. The Credit dislay has a small amount of light coming from the lower portion of it.

The test switch in the coin door does not do anything either.
 
The game will start, a brief moment of sound, then all it does is illuminate the lower lights on the playfield. The upper playfield is completely dark, and the displays do not light up at all. The Credit dislay has a small amount of light coming from the lower portion of it.

So... is the MPU consistently only showing 6 flashes? If so then nothing will work because the MPU stopped booting and said "something is busted". In this case it's saying "I don't see any action from my zero cross detector" which happens to be driven by the solenoid voltage (FYI: The zero cross is driven by the switched illumination voltage on -133 MPUs like Baby Pac but then there's supposed to be only 6 flashes).

Check for approx 20VDC at TP3 on the MPU. Since this started as a flipper problem I'm going to guess it won't be there but if the solenoid voltage is making it through R113 to that test point you know you've got a problem with the zero cross circuit on the MPU. I the voltage is not there check for voltage at pin 15 of connector J4. If there's nothing there the solenoid voltage isn't getting to the MPU. If there is voltage there but not at TP3 then R113 has gone open (I've seen this happen).

So that's your MPU problem in a nutshell but you might still have a flipper related problem.
 
So... is the MPU consistently only showing 6 flashes? If so then nothing will work because the MPU stopped booting and said "something is busted". In this case it's saying "I don't see any action from my zero cross detector" which happens to be driven by the solenoid voltage (FYI: The zero cross is driven by the switched illumination voltage on -133 MPUs like Baby Pac but then there's supposed to be only 6 flashes).

Check for approx 20VDC at TP3 on the MPU. Since this started as a flipper problem I'm going to guess it won't be there but if the solenoid voltage is making it through R113 to that test point you know you've got a problem with the zero cross circuit on the MPU. I the voltage is not there check for voltage at pin 15 of connector J4. If there's nothing there the solenoid voltage isn't getting to the MPU. If there is voltage there but not at TP3 then R113 has gone open (I've seen this happen).

So that's your MPU problem in a nutshell but you might still have a flipper related problem.

Will do tonight, thanks again
 
Fuck my life. F4. Was blown despite me ohming it out as good. Everything ia A-ok now.
 
Fuck my life. F4. Was blown despite me ohming it out as good. Everything ia A-ok now.

You didn't check the fuse in circuit did you?

I thought you "checked all that stuff". As in checked the fuse out of circuit and put a meter across the solenoid voltage :p
 
You didn't check the fuse in circuit did you?

I thought you "checked all that stuff". As in checked the fuse out of circuit and put a meter across the solenoid voltage :p

I have no problem admitting my epic failure. Thanks again
 
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