Coin-Up Solution (CHEAP!)

FrizzleFried

Well-known member

Donor 2011
Joined
Mar 20, 2007
Messages
54,193
Reaction score
5,245
Location
NAMPA, Idaho
Someone in one of these threads casually pointed out these nifty little lock "switches" that Twisted Quarter has for sale a couple weeks back. I was intrigued... and since the price was right, I ordered 4 along with some standard locks and 20' of Blue T-Molding... my package arrived on Saturday.

This is what I am talking about:

c2c8_1.jpg


http://www.twistedquarter.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=464

Basically, it's a momentary switch attached to a barrel type lock mechanism. Turn the key and you get a momentary contact in the switch... the switch fits in a coin door lock hole (with SLIGHT modification possibly required...I found Atari doors are a HAIR too small on the flat side of the hole to fit these in to requiring about 30 seconds of Dremmel work... though Williams coin doors were a tight fit, but it fit.). Please note that these DO NOT provide a lock for the door... only a switch (a switch and lock would ROCK, but I guess I can't ask for everything, eh?).

These make EXCELLENT "credit" switches for games that do not have a free-play mode. I managed to use all 4 of my switches this weekend. Here is what I used them for:

(1) Arachnid Super Six Darts. This game does not have a free-play mode... the best you can get is 12 credits per "quarter". I installed one of these rather than have to open the door and flick the switch to coin up.

(2) Pole Position/Pole Position II. We all know the FREE PLAY mode on Pole Positions suck ass... they basically go in to a constant "loop" coining up, running out of time, coining up, etc. I installed one of these switches in the coin door and now to coin-up, I twist the key.

(3) Multi-Pac. Most of the games on the 96-in-1 Multi-Pac is set to FREE PLAY, however, some of the non-Pac games require a coin-up... Mr. TNT, EYES, etc, seem to not have a FREE PLAY mode... this little switch rectifies that situation. Need a coin-up? Turn the key.

(4) Capcom 18-in-1 Multigame. This multi-game is great... you can even set each game for FREE PLAY. The problem is that the menu system the multigame uses requires a coin-up to CHANGE the game. Once the game you want to play is selected, you can play that game in FREE PLAY mode all you want, but if you want to change games again, you need to coin-up. Adding the switch makes it very easy to change games.

Now the negatives... the first being the switch isn't also a LOCK. That means that your coin doors will be un-secure... obviously not the best scenario for non-home use... but not so bad for home use. To prevent the doors just from opening up I added a bit of industrial velcro at the end of the door...slide it in to place and it stays secure unless you "want" it to open. The second "issue" I have is that these switches only "hold" the key in place during the "twist" action of the mechanism. Since it's a momentary switch, it's spring loaded and "pushes" the key back to it's original "open" position where the key can be removed. While the key DOES hang in there while in this position, it's a bit precarious... it doesn't make a ton of contact and I can see the key being "bumped" out of the key hole. Finally, it would be nice if the switch was also a lock... but you can't have everything I guess.

For the price, this is a helluva an option to those games without FREE PLAY mode. $2.99 is hard to beat. I think I am going to order a couple of their double bitted versions of this switch. They're $6.99 though, quite a bit more than this version...but I assume it would rectify the whole "loose key" issue this one has the potential of causing.

15a0_1.jpg


http://www.twistedquarter.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=462
 
We use the exact same switches here at my work.We use the for turning alrarms on and off in our vending machines.I think I have had one bad one in 7 years they work great.Never thought to use these for credits.Good idea Frizz!
 
Someone in one of these threads casually pointed out these nifty little lock "switches" that Twisted Quarter has for sale a couple weeks back. I was intrigued... and since the price was right, I ordered 4 along with some standard locks and 20' of Blue T-Molding... my package arrived on Saturday.

This is what I am talking about:

c2c8_1.jpg

My Ms. Pac from CEC had that exact switch on it and it looked original. So, I am wondering if Midway had this switch it as an option for businesses like CEC.
 
Well, I picked up a few of the double bitted style posted above (bottom picture in my thread). They work awesome! I prefer them to the barrel style because the key stays in place. I now have a few extra barrel style versions that I figure I'll use somewhere else... some day.

I'd recommend the double bitted $6.99 style over the cheaper $2.99 barrel style for two reasons. One... the key stays in place... and two... they have quick connector compatible "pins" on the back rather than the style used in the barrel type version which required soldering.

If you'd prefer to hold on to your keys and credit up a machine without leaving the key in the lock, the barrel style works perfectly fine.
 
Finally, it all makes sense to me now.

For years everytime I see a keyed switch on the front of an old junk pc, I would strip the lock and keep the keys together .. Have 10+ of them, but have never, ever used one ... until tonight when I get home :D
 
Here's how mine looked, it appears that it was use to place the game in test mode and then then there was a smaller credit switch between the coin inserts as well:

4203738529_593b8cd3a1.jpg


So basically, they had to turn the key switch, then hit the credit button. Was that to bypass the counter so they didn't screw up coin accounting?
 
Quick question for you guys. If you used one of these to replace your main lock, how do you keep your door closed? Do they also lock too? That would be really nice to have both functions from the same hole (please no phet jokes).
 
You can't use one of these as your door lock, they don't lock. They're simply keyed momentary switches.



.
 
I use a strip of velcro...works like a charm...but obviously would only work for home units. When my kid gets old enough to be curious about the insides of machines, I may have to come up with a plan-B as well.
 
You can always re-wire the slam switch to the coin switch and pull a Fonz any time you want to play.

fonz2.jpg


I still want a cheap PIC based solution. It should be less than $5 in parts to build one. Just need to get it on top of my todo list.
 
I wired up a reed switch and mounted it on the inside of the cab. After testing alot of switches and different type magnets I found a switch that worked great and found you need to use a rare earth magnet for it to work reliably. So for a couple bucks this was the cheapest solution I could come up with.
I dont think I want to not have a lock on my coin door. Some of them tend to want to naturally open up when they are not locked.
 
Back
Top Bottom