Sigma PT-4B buttons work intermittently

[Caliwebman]

Hi all, On my Sigma Patriot Plus we have noticed that the block of buttons that include  the three buttons labeled pay out, one bet and start are working intermittently, and there seems to be no pattern to why they work and when they work. I happen to notice that at times if you are not press on the one bet button while the reels are cycling that the buttons may have a higher percentage of working after doing so. Can anyone help me understand why this is and/or how I might further troubleshoot to determine what might need to be replaced? Or perhaps there is a more simple fix?

Much appreciated!

Scott

[rokgpsman]

I don't know about your machine but a lot of times the buttons are wired in a sequence so that each one gets wired from the next one to it. When that is done each button that isn't being pressed passes the connection down to the next button, then the next button etc.

So if one button is bad the others down the line from it won't work. The button can be bad in either the pressed or the not-pressed position. Also, have you taken a careful look at the button wiring, made sure there isn't a flaky connection with the wiring? If the wires look ok then you might want to see if the button switch for the button on the "upstream" end of the row of buttons that are acting up is intermittent. When playing and a button doesn't work you can try pressing one of the nearby buttons to see if that has an effect. If so that can help to narrow down where the problem is. The problem could be elsewhere (like a bad wiring harness connector) but hopefully it is either a crummy button wire connection or button switch contacts.

[Jim]

Scott,  the switches form a series circuit,  each button has a switch on it, three posts, common (com)  nc Normally closed  and  no  normally open.  the circuit starts with the "START" button,  a ground is placed on the common terminal of the start switch, leaves that switch on the NC terminal over to the max bet common terminal, leaves that switch on the NC terminal over to the common terminal on the bet 1 switch, leaves that switch on the NC terminal to the payout switch common terminal and leaves that switch on the NC terminal to a connector.

you have to determine which switch or switches are intermittent, only way is with a meter, set on ohms scale, check common to NC ,zero ohms,  press switch button, measure from common to NO, zero ohms,  if you get any high resistance readings , then that switch is defective. 

Jim

[Caliwebman]

Thanks again guys! Was able to narrow it down to being an intermittent problem with the bet one button and in taking an even closer look at the workings found that that button switch was not fully pushed up into the actually button and so the contact point would not depress fully at times. I pushed it up into the button with minimal force and heard a little "click" and saw that the contact point was much tighter; and vwala! Thank you guys... I'd be lost without y'all!

My Best,

Scott