Smart Industries Toy Chest Crane Machine - Not Working (FIXED)

john2654

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Been going around and around trying to get this Toy Chest crane machine working. Came to me dead. The top lights turn on, but that is it.
Pretty sure I tried swapping power supplies and didn't fix it.
Then I thought it was the PCB so swapped with another one just now, didn't fix it.
There definitely has to be something wrong with the power supply as unplugged from the PCB, it rarely turns on. Unplugged from the PCB, sometimes the power supply turns on and the fan spins, most times not. But it never turns on when connected to crane's PCB.

Questions:
Is this the right replacement? https://twistedquarter.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=521_337&products_id=3910
Or would this one work? Looks like it would plug right into the PCB. https://www.ebay.com/itm/231136707349?hash=item35d0d24315:g:cJAAAOSwWQBiBBws

What is the purpose of the hacked in resistor installed on top of the power supply? Is it needed?
 

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resistor is probably to provide a load. many power supplies will go into shutdown if there is no load. That electrical tape does not look factory, it does seem hacky.

I wouldn't get the two power supplies you linked. the first one is for Coastal Amusements and Coast to Coast Cranes. The second one I believe is for Rainbow but I could be wrong. Ultimately you need a power supply that has all of the same rails as the original, which looks like 5v, 12v, 24v, and 48v. The Amps on the new power supply should match or exceed the original on all of the rails.

Have you tried contacting smart's support? They're not bad and usually can help you get the parts you need.

Are any of the fuses on the main board open?
 
I hate to say caps, but honestly I would probably try new filter caps in the psu, but don't expect anything.

Those supplies do go bad. Been a long time since I have dealt with one, but it should be able to power up without an outside load no problem. I think that supply is used in several claw games, like our most recent Find a Key and Buzz n Win claw games. It is also used in Coast to Coast cranes. Pretty sure half the companies now are using the same parts. We had an S&B crane that developed problems and we were able to swap in a Smart board. In any case, it looks like $70-80 is about the best price on that power supply.
 
I just put in a brand new power supply from Twisted Quarter. Machine powered on now.
Trolley went all the way to the right and would not stop. Crane went all the way up and then snapped off the string as it would not stop.

 
check your limit switches and the wiring harness. if you're lucky it's bad switches or misaligned sensors. if you're unlucky it's a problem deeper inside the motherboard...
 
Support from Smart Industries was a big help. Ended up tracing issue down to the wiring harness for the trolley.

Unplugged the harness and tested the switches on the trolley. 2 switches were closed when supposed to be normally open. Upon testing, I had it all hooked up and touched the wire harness near the trolley. The metal protection coil was hot to the touch. Turned it off and looked at the wires, some were melted and touching each other.

Now to find a new wiring harness.
Ugh this thing was a huge headache.
 

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Smart Industries still sells the wiring harness. Bought the top wiring harness and soldered to the gantry switches.
Crane machine now works fine now.
Tested with some bills and the bill acceptor chomped them in half. Replaced that and now that is working.

This crane machine was suppose to be working when received. In the end, I had to replace Top wiring harness, bill acceptor, power supply (probably because of the gantry wiring harness shorting it out??).
 
glad you were able to get it fixed. do you plan on operating or selling it now? In CA the smart toy chest cranes are pretty desirable? I personally try to run mostly ICE cranes, but I do have a few smart.

One thing to do is try to focus on one or two brands of cranes... Then learn all the common things that go wrong with them and keep spare parts. It's a lot easier to keep parts and prepare for 1 model/company. Smart and ICE are still around and have support and parts shops.
 
It's on location.
For cranes, I have a Treasure Chest, Toy Chest, Double Play and a Plush Bus turned into a Let's Play.
 
resistor is probably to provide a load. many power supplies will go into shutdown if there is no load. That electrical tape does not look factory, it does seem hacky.

I wouldn't get the two power supplies you linked. the first one is for Coastal Amusements and Coast to Coast Cranes. The second one I believe is for Rainbow but I could be wrong. Ultimately you need a power supply that has all of the same rails as the original, which looks like 5v, 12v, 24v, and 48v. The Amps on the new power supply should match or exceed the original on all of the rails.

Have you tried contacting smart's support? They're not bad and usually can help you get the parts you need.

Are any of the fuses on the main board open?
Yep, I had a claw machine that had an added cap to provide a load and keep the ps on.
 
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