Treasure wheel coin optic fault not clearing

[Thephoneman]

TL;DR: cleaned and resoldered joints on optic eyes. Adjusted dipswitch setting for BV and battery.


Picked this up yesterday and must be having an "operator error" issue .  Machine starts up and goes thru self test,  then the message "optical coin sensors are wrong or dirty". I have removed,  cleaned, and adjusted the sensors.  I'm getting ~5vdc from + to -  and around 6.5 when I go from + to line.  When I break the beam it switches polarity. So I'm guessing they are reading right.  The reset key has been replaced by a push button and when I hit it and the red button on power supply it says i can reset ram. Cycle power and it says to turn reset key. Hit the button and nothing happens only to have it give an error alarm and bill acceptor cycles and then a very short sound like a horse running then the reels start spinning.  Not sure if I'm doing something out of sequence or if I have another issue that I'm not aware of.  I have the manual and what I'm looking for I don't see. This is a SG 150B plus machine

[Stayouttadabunker]

I'm assuming the reels are spinning when the door is open right?
At that point, turn the jackpot reset key once...in your case, hit the button once.
It must have been replaced by a momentary button switch.
The reels should stop, then close the door.
The reels may or may not spin again, and shortly thereafter, you'll see that it's ready to accept coins.
You should see a period somewhere on the display.

Although they're not around here at work anymore, I had worked with Sigma 150 B Treasure Tunnel's for years.
It was a very, reliable workhorse of a machine.
I had a manual for it but I'm not sure if it's around anymore.
I'll take a look for it asap.

I'm suspicious of the replaced key-switch with that momentary switch.
With your multimeter, could you check and verify if it is indeed a momentary switch or an OFF/ON type?

[Thephoneman]

The button is a momentary switch, verified with multimeter. I just can't figure out why the optic fault won't clear. I have tried hitting reset,  clearing ram,  disconnecting and reconnecting the battery,  pulling harness connections, and nothing seems to do the trick. I'll follow your instructions on the ram clear and see if that does anything. 

[Stayouttadabunker]

If you've already cleared the RAM, then you've already once erased any errors from the memory - but it came back as a 'new' error.
That means there's a problem with optics somewhere.
Now, we both know that there's coin-in optics , as well as reel optics.
They're all related...even coin hopper optics or door optics.
I don't remember if there were door optics on a Sigma or not....I think they closed with a cherry switch.

My instructions weren't really for a RAM clear, it was more for clearing a reel error.
When you turn the key with the door open, the reels should stop turning.
Anyways, maybe try blowing out the reel optics with some compressed air?

[Thephoneman]

I'm going to try to "block" the bottom sensor and see what happens. Most of the time the reels don't spin,  just when I come out of a ram clear and it says turn the key or if i have something unplugged. So the constant spinning really isn't a issue,  but I will give them a quick blast

[Stayouttadabunker]

I'd blow out the coin optics as well...after all, that's where the messages started from?

Nevermind....you said you cleaned them.....ugh... I don't know.
In the 17 years I've been on this new website (There used to be another one before this one.), I never ran into your error message.
Those machine are workhorses.
I've never had any problems with the ones that I maintained.

[Thephoneman]

Tell me about it.  I've dug thru the old site and nothing about this code or why it wont clear.

[Thephoneman]

I checked the battery and its dead.  It's a 3v 3 prong sanyo disc battery.  Trying to find a replacement.

[Thephoneman]

So I've replaced the battery and still no luck.  Now thru various searches on the interwebs, the common tread is that when the beam is blocked or should read near 0v. When I'm checking it right on the plug to the sensor it shows a negative voltage. When I drop a coin,  the voltage drops slightly, but nowhere near 0 or negative.  Both sensors do this. I found a set for sale,  but I want to exhaust all other options before getting the new set,  just in case that's not the issue. Like I said,  I've cleaned them multiple times,  verified that there is a signal and it does change when blocked. Switching plug throws the machine into tilt mode (audio alarm, fast reel spin). If I have wires disconnected and re connect in a certain way (can't recall right now) I can create a coin jam error. But after putting everything back where it belongs the dirty/ wing optic message comes back. I've also tried switching coin comparator with no change.

[Chris-socal]

Are you positive both sensors D and N are bad? I had a machine I thought they were bad in, I just had to take them apart and clean the lens. One of them also had a bad solder joint on one of the little boards inside. Thankfully they are designed to take apart.

Chris

[Thephoneman]

I've cleaned multiple times, replaced a couple of dead resistors. Still getting a dirty or wrong fault.

[Chris-socal]

You are sure they are in the correct positions? Hmmm, which one is failing? I think there is a system test for them.

[Thephoneman]

As luck happens im with the machine right now. The bottom optic is giving me trouble. I have them both apart and with my phone camera I can see the purple light on the top irs. Not getting any light on the bottom ones. Have voltage and resoldered the power wires just in case. Not sure if i have anything laying around that I can swap componet wise since the only things in that pay off the circuit is a resistor and the clear irs. Resistor is 100ohm and reads 98, diode tested both clear ir and they read 1.00 ~ forward and ol back. 

[Thephoneman]

So I'm tracing a ground that isn't reading to chassis ground right now.  The little board on the door is tracing good so if to chuck the ribbon cable and deeper if needed.

[Thephoneman]

I'm pretty sure the issue is in the bottom optic.  Going to recheck all the circuitry tomorrow

[Chris-socal]

Those IRLEDs are available if you find one is burned out.
On mine I think I found the problem was the diverter ramp solenoid was not moving smoothly and every coin was bypassing the counter. I thought it was the IR but it wasn’t. I had to take the solenoid controlled ramp apart and de-gunk and I think I had to straighten a post. It’s really important that the flapper is able to move smoothly and quickly because if it moves slowly the coin hits it and gets diverted.
It is entirely possible yours is bad but I do recommend you check that ramp.

[Thephoneman]

I'll add that to my list of things to check.  Thanks!

[Stayouttadabunker]

...The bottom optic is giving me trouble. I have them both apart and with my phone camera I can see the purple light on the top irs. Not getting any light on the bottom ones...

I know nothing about Sigmas...I maintained a Treasure Tunnel for a little while....that was it.
If the top optics are emitter optics, then it makes sense that you can see the infrared light emitted, with a digital camera.
May I suggest this way to check your reciever bottom optics?
Set the dial of a digital multimeter to continuity, and place the probes across two of the reciever optic wires.
When you shine a light into the reciever optics, whatever readings you're getting on the multimeter, should change.
If so, then you KNOW the reciever optics are working.

[Chris-socal]

Welllll, We are trying to get around buying an item that is unobtanium.
Has that word hit the dictionary yet?

If someone has one Im sure he will buy it.

[63mini]

 Something like this???  These were removed from a working machine.