Pinball S+ Display Issues

[CBRed]

Hello all,

I’m attaching a link to a video of a problem I’m having with my Pinball S . This has been resolved by spinning the reels in the past, but I’m now having this happen more frequently. Today, it began happening and was initially resolved with doing a max bet, but came back. Opened and closed the door which did not work, turned the machine off and on and it spun for a bit but is now throwing an error code 49. Any help with this would be much appreciated!


https://www.youtube.com/embed/GXLV-p_mcSU

[CBRed]

Just turned machine back on without doing anything to it yet, no issues with the display. It booted up, let me max bet and spin twice, then threw the error 49.

[CBRed]

Here’s another video I just took. I wiggled the reel wire connections and haven’t thrown the error code 49 but I am having this happen now as opposed to the flickering of the display lights.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Asa0x0o-6hE?si=1ai3ImE2NpAGnpKH

[CBRed]

Another update, opened it and wiped off the door optics this morning (not sure if this would have been part of the issue or not but wanted to try it). And double checked the connections to the reels and everything felt like it was in well, no wires looked bad or disconnected. Powered on and everything has been functioning as it should so far. Would still like any input on what could cause the issue in the videos so I can address something if needed.

[Stayouttadabunker]

The reason why your reel glass display is turning off is because the main power harness between the PSU and the floor motherboard/backplane has oxidized  ground pins.
On the motherboard is a large 6-wired Molex connector.
If you pull it off of the motherboard pins and turn it around, the Molex housing connector plug may be heavily brown-stained/burned on one of the ground pins that has a green covered wire.
You can temporarily get the reel glass display to power up its' LEDs correctly by gently lifting slightly upwards on the power Molex.
That will allow the female pins to grasp a cleaner area of the header male pins.
But that is not as good as removing that pin entirely and replacing it with a new trifurcon female pin.

This power supply harness problem is common with 30+ year old machines like yours.
You have to replace that pin or the harness.
Read about it in the S+ area of NLG...I believe member Trisail made some brand-new replacement power harnesses.
Get a hold of him or place a WTB ad in the Classifies section of NLG for one.
Maybe a vendor/member will have one to sell to you.

[CBRed]

Thanks for the help, I will definitely look into that and replacing the power harness. This would also be the case if it’s intermittently working correct?

[Stayouttadabunker]

Yes, because as the female pin heats up, the pin spreads wider, getting less and less electrical contact...then the electricity starts jumping between the pins inside like miniature lightning bolts , severely overheating the surrounding housing & browning it.

[CBRed]

Hello again, thanks for the info previously. I replaced the power supply harness and it worked but I began having the same issue yesterday with the display. Can anyone provide guidance on how to replace the pin? Attaching a picture of the part as well.

[Stayouttadabunker]

I was talking about the female pins.
You took out the male header pins from the motherboard?
I've never done that. lol
If I were you, I'd solder that header back onto the motherboard and cut the harness female Molex off since you're not changing out the female pins with trifurcon pins (which is what you should have done.
Just solder the power harness wires directly onto each male pin.
Buzz did that years ago instead of trying to change out female pins...lol
Tell you what, it works.  Never have to worry about ever getting a burned out Molex power connector again?!!
Below is what a trifurcon pin looks like.
Click on photo to enlarge if needed...>>>

[CBRed]

Oh god no, I didn’t do that lol. That’s the other part that was sent with the harness and I thought that’s what you meant by the pin. All I did was replace the actual power supply harness with a new one from the suggested member. I’m still learning nomenclature for each of the parts as well so I may not be explaining correctly.

The new harness molecule hasn’t browned or anything but I’m getting similar display issues now even after replacing it.

[Stayouttadabunker]

It looks like you're still getting a bad connection on the motherboard pins.
Replacing the harness with another old one doesn't really solve anything unless the female pins inside the white Molex housing are new.
You could take an SOS Brillo pad or some sandpaper and rub the male pins on the motherboard header, to try to promote better electrical contact.

[CBRed]

Sorry, to clarify I replaced the power supply harness with a new on from Trisail as suggested,

[Jim]

the machine is operating as it should, other than the display. so, I doubt that the power harness is the problem. I think it is either the display is bad or something on the board is bad. your display board has two plugs on it, one is for the denom lamp, insert coin, and coin accepted bulbs, the other is for the digital display, that plug has all the digital information, power and strobe and data. check that connection for possible cold solder joint or dirty pins.

I have known good, tested displays available.  but the only way to tract down your issue is to start eliminating potential defective parts. if you have another display, swap it out and see if it still has a problem. same with the board.

Hope this helps.

Jim

 

[CBRed]

Could you tell me which plug is which?

[Jim]

only two plugs, one is for the denom lamp, insert coin and coin accepted lamp, as you look at the insode of door this plug is on the right toward the door hinge.

the other one is the digital display plug, it is located next to the cc-16, almost right in the middle of the display board.

Jim