Big Choice Crane help

Digger

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I just picked up a Big Choice Crane with a Elaut PCB in it. If I place the crane unit in the corner so that the micro switches are pushed the crane plays music and counts down from thirty on the display. If I move the joystick I get a different tone for each direction, but the trolly never moves. If the botton on the top of the joystick is pressed while the game is counting down it closes and the game is over...but the claw never drops. It looks like a part on the main PCB is broken or missing a part. It is right next to the main fuse by the on/off switch and looks like it might be some kind of pot or control that is missing the shaft and knob. The PCB has this on it:ELAUT 94 0221.120 EURO-GRIJPER ELAUT PCB 0220 Rev 01 10/93

It just seems that the motors are not getting power. Is there someplace to get a manual for the game?

Any help would be great...
Thanks,
Scott
 
no manual there, I checked. I picked up some triple cranes a few weeks ago. :)

the original hardware consisted of what I guess you could call the "driver board" (the one with the pot you speak of -- this is what controls the strength of the claw) and then a "coinage board", which is for determining the pricing settings.

if I'm gathering this right, I think your coinage board is the one that was replaced with an Elaut one. that means you should probably check your connections, is the carriage/claw the original equipment do you know? that has a 40+-ish pin harness that plugs into the one with the adjustment pot. make sure there's no loose connections up top.

there's a "home switch" on the carriage assembly, it has like a plastic plunger on it, make sure that switch isn't obstructed or that the plunger is in fact pushing inward on the switch to tell the machine that the carriage is in home position. I went over 12 of these machines in a row, and I wanna say one of them had a problem like you're mentioning.

however, make sure that you're in fact getting power to the boards. just behind the coin box area is where the 120VAC wiring goes to a jumper block. check those first.

I'd check my own machines, but I'm on vacation until next thurs. :/

that Elaut board throws a monkey wrench into this, verify that I'm right by following the coin door wiring... it'll go straight to that, not the driver board. :)

I don't know if you should call Smart or Betson about this, was the Elaut board a common replacement?
 
I checked all the connections with no luck. I do have power to the board because the LED is flashing. There are two boards in a metal box that slides up under the place that holds the things you are trying to grab. The 110v comes into the board on the side of the metal box with the round transformer (looks like a PS). A ribbon cable goes from the joystick and coin door to the other board in the box (looks like a MPU). There is also a ribbon cable coming out of the "MPU" board to the LED display and one going to the crane unit its self. When the game is counting down and you move the joystick you get a different tone for each direction, so I am thinking the board is getting the signal from the joystick but the crane is not getting the power from the "MPU" to move it. I tested the voltages coming off of the transformer and one is 24v. Would this be the voltage to power the motors in the crane?
There are a couple of micro switches on the crane that are connected to the "MPU" board with the same ribbon cable that I am thinking connects the "MPU" and crane motors. All of these switches register when pushed, so I would think this cable is ok. It just seems funny that the game would send the voltage for those motors through a ribbon cable. I would have thought they would have needed larger wires.

Thanks for all the help,
Scott
 
You have an Elaut crane not a Big Choice (although elaut made the Big Choice for Betson). Most were branded as Mega Crane & Candy Man.

The metal control box has fuses inside. The are in black rectangle housings on the board.(5x25mm). There should be a 1/4" Phono Jack in the front that a 2 button remote plugs into for programming. There may also should be a toggle switch on the front of the box to slect between Jumbo / Watch / Candy.

The main problem with these carnes are the ribbon cable. They cannot handle the constant flexing and break internally. Replace the cable that connects the bridge to the back of the game and also the one that connects the bridge to the trolley. I should point out that the claw coil cable is crap as well.
 
Thank you. The part that I thought was broken turns out to be the jack to program it. You described the game to a "T" . I will try replacing the cable and post back as to what happens.
 
I pulled the cables and have continuity from pin to pin on all. I now believe that there is a problem with the power that supplies the motors. It just seems funny that none of them work. Is there anyone out there with a schematic so I could hunt down the problem? Are the motors powered by the 24 volts?
Thanks again for all the help,
Scott
 
Scott,

You should go ahead and replace those 2 ribbon cables. These are high falure parts and 99% of the time, the issue resides within one of them. Every one of these I operated failed due to these cables and two cranes failed within the first month on loction (Brand spankin new from Betson).

A continuity check will not provide the best test method for these cables as the break if present may not show unless the cable is flexed in a certian way to find the position. Another problem with a continuity check for this cable type is that the gauge is so fine that if only one strand still remains attached it would trigger a continuity check but that one strand would not handle the current needed to drive the motors.

Also, if the fuses on the main board are white ceramic, check them with a meter as well. The ceramic do not always show a visual indication of a blown circuit. On some versions of the control box there were I believe 3 led's that indicated power status and they should be on if the fuses are good. Any off indicate a blown fuse or power problem.

The power supply is more than likely good and the motors do indeed run on 24v and I never had one go bad. Not saying it could not happen, but I have never seen them go.

One other troubleshooting thing to try:
There is a small round shaft that extends from the top of the trolley. Turn this shaft until the claw unwinds all the way to the bottom of the playfield. Connect everything back together and push the bridge to the rear of the game and push the trolley to the far right.

Reboot the crane and see if any of the motors try to run and then stop.

PS: Ignore any typos. I'm trying to type with a net book and these things suck!
 
All three of the LEDs are on. I let the claw all the way down and moved the whole unit out to the center of the machine and there was no chnage. I just get a 5 flashing on the display. I hooked my 14.4 drill battery to the motors and they all worked, so that is a good thing. I just keep thinking it is one small thing keeping this unit from working! I have never needed ribbon cables before...where do you get something like that?
Could I just solder wires to the IDC pins on each of the plugs and do away with the ribbon cables for good? Just a thought.
 
Scott,

You can buy a replacement from Betson (Verify the length before you buy!):
http://www.betson.com/products/amusement/VER-70-0471

I purchased ribbon cable in 100' spools and bought replacement ends (Philmore Brand) from a company in Boston when I lived there and made my own spares. Here is the link to them:
http://www.youdoitelectronics.com/

You could probably find them at Mouser or similar as well.

Soldering that type of existing connector probably would not work to well.

Since you received no movement from the test I definately believe the main harness needs to be replaced. The 05 code on the display was the machine erroring out from no movement on the limit switches.
 
I will replace the cables and post back with the results. It might be a couple of days. Thanks for all the help. Sure makes things a lot easier when you have someone walk you through this stuff.
 
Would you or anyone out there have a manual for this crane? It did say "Candy" when my hand went between the sensors today. It is now flashing "4" on the display. It would just be nice to have a manual with the codes or better yet a schematic to go off of. I will give it another try tomorrow when I get up...I work third.
Thanks again,
Scott
 
I GIVE UP on this thing. I had to buy it with the game I wanted (package deal) and don't want to put any more money into it. I would like to trade it for a working 19 inch monitor for my Wizard of Wor project. Thanks for all the help...but without a schematic I am SOL.
Scott
 
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