Help! Twilight Zone with flasher and gumball issues!

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Help! Twilight Zone with flasher and gumball issues!

recently started to work on my TZ. And i have solved a lot of the errors with adding new switches. One of the errors was the Geneva error of the gumball. I was kinda dumb... and i replaced that switch. But that switch was good and did not solve the problem. It's my first "modern" pinball and i was unaware that when i switch is not used for some time it starts giving an error even when it's good.
The problem is that the gumball is loaded.. and then the ball cannot be found. So my guess is that the opto right before the gumball is bad. However it does not give me a opto error! Can the opto be bad and not give me an error? Is there a way to test an opto?

Now for my flashers... none of them work. I replaced the fuse for F111, secondary flashers. However LED 5 is out. I think that's the 20v circuit LED. Can this be due to bad bridge rectifiers next to it?

Any help is very much appreciated!
 
OK, first off you need to become familiar with the basics of WPC hardware, including how to use the diagnostics built into the system.

Start Here:
http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Williams_WPC
http://www.pinwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Williams_WPC#Switch_Problems

Open the coin door and use the 4 switches to get the game into test mode.

Use Switch Edge test - this will show you when a switch opens and closes

Push down on one of the inlane switches, it chimes and the switch shows up on the display

Go over to that questionable opto switch and break the beam with your finger or a ball or something. If it's working, it should show up in the test.

Remember, optos are Normally Closed (nothing is breaking the beam) and when a ball or other object breaks the beam, they go Open, capische?

RussM

recently started to work on my TZ. And i have solved a lot of the errors with adding new switches. One of the errors was the Geneva error of the gumball. I was kinda dumb... and i replaced that switch. But that switch was good and did not solve the problem. It's my first "modern" pinball and i was unaware that when i switch is not used for some time it starts giving an error even when it's good.
The problem is that the gumball is loaded.. and then the ball cannot be found. So my guess is that the opto right before the gumball is bad. However it does not give me a opto error! Can the opto be bad and not give me an error? Is there a way to test an opto?

Now for my flashers... none of them work. I replaced the fuse for F111, secondary flashers. However LED 5 is out. I think that's the 20v circuit LED. Can this be due to bad bridge rectifiers next to it?

Any help is very much appreciated!
 
Both problems are from a bad BR4 and capacitor. Check your test point voltage's on the driver board. Replace the Bridge Rectifier and its associated cap..

Since you already be doing some board work, I would recommend you just go ahead and replace all the BR's and caps on the driver board. It will likely save you some extra work and headaches down the road.
 
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@RussMeyers thank you for your response. I guessed the way to test he opto's was by disconnecting the beam, that was after my post. So thank you anyway!

Both problems are from a bad BR4 and capacitor. Check your test point voltage's on the driver board. Replace the Bridge Rectifier and its associated cap..

Since you already be doing some board work, I would recommend you just go ahead and replace all the BR's and caps on the driver board. It will likely save you some extra work and headaches down the road.

Yes, i guessed that the gumball motor was on the 20v circuit, so both problems might relate to a bad bridge rectifier. Thank you for your response, i do not know exactly were those testpoints are, but i am sure i'll find them in the manual :) Sorry for being a n00b.
 
Yes, i guessed that the gumball motor was on the 20v circuit, so both problems might relate to a bad bridge rectifier. Thank you for your response, i do not know exactly were those testpoints are, but i am sure i'll find them in the manual :) Sorry for being a n00b.




Heres the TP's:
 

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Thanks! How can i measure these testpoints.... i mean where do i put the other pin of the multimeter? yeah i know.... i am an idiot :)
 
Thanks! How can i measure these testpoints.... i mean where do i put the other pin of the multimeter? yeah i know.... i am an idiot :)



TP5 is a ground. Hook the - lead from your DMM to it, and use the + lead from your meter to test the other points.
 
There is nothing on TP7. I measured TP8 and that one varies from 4 to 18.... so it's not the measuring that is the problem on TP7 (the 20V circuit is on TP7 and the 18 was on TP8).
 
Yes well i am measuring pin 3 and 4 on the connector J102 en on both sides of the fuse i get a beep. So the fuse is good. Now i am trying to "beep" the rectifier bij holding one pen on the fuse and one on the rectifier... but no luck. It's really difficult to make contact with a pen of my multimeter on the rectifier.. i need a flashlight! Then i can measure the AC on the BR4 too... *sigh*
 
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