Coin Meter

super56k

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So I have done wiring and repair before on my Arcade machines, but I have never hooked up a coin meter before. I have a cab that I am installing a Naomi system in and for some reason, most games want a coin meter. The cab has an odometer-style coin meter in it now. Do I just hook the wire that I traced from the SEGA I/O labeled "COIN METER" to the positive side of this coin counter and then the negative side of the coin counter goes to any ground? That is what I would think.
 
Thanks!

No, the other wire will need to be connected to either +5V or +12V, depending on whether you're using a six volt or twelve volt meter...

Thank you! So the wire from the harness goes to ground on the meeter, and the other wire goes to the power supply on whatever voltage the meeter requires? If I understand that correctly, I should be able to find the input voltage printed on the meeter, I hope.
 
Make sure you put a diode in series with the counter, the back EMF from the coil in the counter can cause damage to your game board.
 
Make sure you put a diode in series with the counter, the back EMF from the coil in the counter can cause damage to your game board.

That makes me wonder if any of my games have their coin meters hooked up properly, I don't remember seeing a diode hanging in around freely in a series. Is this a common practice? Do they heat shrink it?
 
Some meters have a built-in diode for protection. Generally, the meter will say, "with diode" on the meter case if it has one inside. Some meters will simply have red & black wires or + and - symbols on the case which denote a built-in diode.

The + side of your meter will go to the correct voltage terminal on the power supply depending on the meter's voltage printed on it's case. The minus side of the meter goes to the gameboard's edge connector marked "coin 1" or "coin 2" (usually coin 1 if you only have one meter, coin 2 is for an additional meter if desired to meter coin switch 2).

If the meter has no diode built in, you add one by connecting a 1N4004 diode across the meter leads. Cathode (banded) end of the diode to the power supply positive voltage of whatever voltage the meter is. Negative side (non-banded) of the diode to the gameboard edge connector coin 1 terminal (or coin 2 if this is an additional meter).

Randy Fromm did a nice write-up on connecting meters years ago in Replay magazine.
 
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Some meters have a built-in diode for protection. Generally, the meter will say, "with diode" on the meter case if it has one inside. Some meters will simply have red & black wires or + and - symbols on the case which denote a built-in diode.

The + side of your meter will go to the correct voltage terminal on the power supply depending on the meter's voltage printed on it's case. The minus side of the meter goes to the gameboard's edge connector marked "coin 1" or "coin 2" (usually coin 1 if you only have one meter, coin 2 is for an additional meter if desired to meter coin switch 2).

If the meter has no diode built in, you add one by connecting a 1N4004 diode across the meter leads. Cathode (banded) end of the diode to the power supply positive voltage of whatever voltage the meter is. Negative side (non-banded) of the diode to the gameboard edge connector coin 1 terminal (or coin 2 if this is an additional meter).

Randy Fromm did a nice write-up on connecting meters years ago in Replay magazine.

Thank you Ken. Your posts are always so informative. Mine has red and black wires so that makes things easier. I just need to find what voltage it requires (hope it's 5) and then hook it up. I'll let you know what happens.
 
Some meters have a built-in diode for protection. Generally, the meter will say, "with diode" on the meter case if it has one inside. Some meters will simply have red & black wires or + and - symbols on the case which denote a built-in diode.

The + side of your meter will go to the correct voltage terminal on the power supply depending on the meter's voltage printed on it's case. The minus side of the meter goes to the gameboard's edge connector marked "coin 1" or "coin 2" (usually coin 1 if you only have one meter, coin 2 is for an additional meter if desired to meter coin switch 2).

If the meter has no diode built in, you add one by connecting a 1N4004 diode across the meter leads. Cathode (banded) end of the diode to the power supply positive voltage of whatever voltage the meter is. Negative side (non-banded) of the diode to the gameboard edge connector coin 1 terminal (or coin 2 if this is an additional meter).

Randy Fromm did a nice write-up on connecting meters years ago in Replay magazine.

It WORKED! Thank you!
 
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