Twilight zone clock problem

pinman123

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I just got done installing a new clock board that i had purchased from mad amusements awhile back.I was installing the new board trying to prevent future problems like failure,heat,etc.Now the problem is i am getting the message Clock is broken in the test mode and when i power up the machine the clock works but does not work during gameplay.I checked all connections and still no go if anyone can offer some help or advice i would really appreciate it.Thanks,MIKE
 
One thing that made a world of difference is I put a piece of heat shrink tubing on the hour and minute hand (the projection that passes through the opto's). I was getting errors constantly without the tubing.

You can substitute a small piece of tape to test it if you don't have the tubing.
 
One thing that made a world of difference is I put a piece of heat shrink tubing on the hour and minute hand (the projection that passes through the opto's). I was getting errors constantly without the tubing.

You can substitute a small piece of tape to test it if you don't have the tubing.
Not a bad idea thanks CAL
 
I just got done installing a new clock board that i had purchased from mad amusements awhile back.I was installing the new board trying to prevent future problems like failure,heat,etc.Now the problem is i am getting the message Clock is broken in the test mode and when i power up the machine the clock works but does not work during gameplay.I checked all connections and still no go if anyone can offer some help or advice i would really appreciate it.Thanks,MIKE

Did you "activate" the clock in the test set-up?
 
In the test mode, everytime the hour and minute hands pass through an opto it should recognize it and "pop up" on the DMD. Note any optos that aren't registering. If they all register than it is another issue.
 
It's probably the way you installed it and not a board/opto problem. I'll bet if you adjust the hands of the clock to trigger the optos correctly (bend them slightly or put the heat shrink tubing on as cal50 suggested) everything will be fine. You will be able to tell easily in the test mode if an opto isn't working.
 
In the test mode, everytime the hour and minute hands pass through an opto it should recognize it and "pop up" on the DMD. Note any optos that aren't registering. If they all register than it is another issue.

one opto did not register
 
I would guess the connectors on your wiring harness (that attach to the clock board) might be flakey.
 
I would guess the connectors on your wiring harness (that attach to the clock board) might be flakey.

The small pin interconnect on the clock boards are notorious for bad connection. I would re-flow the solder on the pin headers. Also if your opto is not registering in switch test and you have a camera with the night shot feature turn the room lights off with the machine powered on and look at the clock optos through your night shot camera. You should see the opto emitters shining like small flash lights.
 
One thing that made a world of difference is I put a piece of heat shrink tubing on the hour and minute hand (the projection that passes through the opto's). I was getting errors constantly without the tubing.

You can substitute a small piece of tape to test it if you don't have the tubing.

Hi Cal, i put a small piece of tape on the hour hand and minute hand and it worked!! Thank you for the info and Thanks to all the members who provided info on the clock subject.Thanks, MIKE
 
Hi Cal, i put a small piece of tape on the hour hand and minute hand and it worked!! Thank you for the info and Thanks to all the members who provided info on the clock subject.Thanks, MIKE



Cool!
Its a common problem and one of the easiest to fix. Get a Q-tip and a dab of Windex and clean the opto's while you're there.
 
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