Author Topic: Bad Denomination Call Attendant (Read 2120 times)

cliffeby · « **on:** February 03, 2026, 07:28:02 pm »

I have a salvaged PE+ Draw Poker with a coin comparator. On power on, I get a Bad Denomination Call Attendant message. The reset button does not clear it after holding for 10+ seconds and no audible ding. The Jackpot switch does nothing. Both are confirmed good at the jumper. On occasion, the coin-comparator led lights up but goes dark quickly - $0.25 in coin comparator. The game counters all advance on startup. It appears to be setup to take quarters and pay tokens.

I've disconnected the on-board battery to try to clear without success. When the 24V from the coin comparator is disconnected, I get a yellow or green screen with no message.

Board image below. Any ideas?

Chris-socal · « **Reply #1 on:** February 04, 2026, 10:35:06 am »

Did you go through the manual to see if that error code was listed?
Im thinking the coin mech might be switched off but I have never heard of a yellow screen.
I don’t understand why the counters advance on startup, that insinuates to me the coin trigger switch is stuck on. Check it with a digital VM.

Chris

jay · « **Reply #2 on:** February 04, 2026, 11:02:15 am »

With a PE+ when the door is open you should be able to step through the various screens by pressing the white button.

Typically the PE+ is like a S+ in terms of coin handling.
You drop in a coin, and it adds a credit to the machine. When you cash out it counts coins.
It doesn't matter if that coin is 25c or 5c its the number of units not the value of the units.
Subsequently forget about the coin comparator and coin optics for now.

Where the PE+ it differs from a S+ is that on one of the setup screens is that you are expected to set denomination - this is so the on-screen pay table can correctly be displayed.
If the battery has been deceased for a while and recently replaced - I could see that the CMOS may have corrupted and the machine has a bad value.
See if you can use the white test button to get to the denomination screen, change the value to like 10c advance the screen, close the door and see if the message goes away.
If it does change then go back in and change it back to the correct denomination.

I have never seen a "bad denomination" message before but that is the likely cause.
You can also run a clear chip through the machine and set things back to factory.

cliffeby · « **Reply #3 on:** February 04, 2026, 05:32:15 pm »

Chris, I can't find "Bad Denomination" error/tilt in any of the documentation. The coin-comparator appears to be stand-alone. It only has power wires to it. Not sure why it produced green and yellow screens when disconnected.

Jay, the white button tests ok at the jumper, but I haven't been able to make it change anything - always a "Bad Denomination" screen. Can never get to the Input Test Screen. KLAR advertises a denomination chip. I assume this is different than a clear chip.

jay · « **Reply #4 on:** February 04, 2026, 06:03:33 pm »

Again the machine is dumb as far as denominations go.
The set chip tells the BV how many credits to give for a buck.
You SET the DBV for .025 and when you insert a 20 you get 80 credits.
It doesn’t change the machines knowledge of its denomination. . .

The coin comparator compares the sample coin with what is dropped in again it gives you a credit.

If your white test button is not taking you from screen to screen the set is not going to help you.

I would start with your program and data chips, remove them and make sure there are no pins bent and reseat them.

If it’s. Still doing the same thing I would go with the clear chip.

Chris-socal · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2026, 11:07:55 am »

I was just trying to look at it from the standpoint that the error might be from a faulty physical signal coming from a device completing continuity during startup.
Any chance someone replaced game eproms with PE+ and its a complete mismatch?
Technically a PE will boot with only the reset and key switches attached. The best way to test this would be to drop the board into a working machine. If its the board you can send it to
KLar and have Alan take a look.
Chris

shortrackskater · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2026, 06:01:13 pm »

Quote from: cliffeby on February 03, 2026, 07:28:02 pm

It appears to be setup to take quarters and pay tokens.

How can this take quarters yet pay out tokens? Do the quarters divert to a cash box? Just curious.

cliffeby · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2026, 07:06:25 pm »

Shortrack, the diverter and coin comparator rake were locked with toothpicks! Always amazed by what you find dumpster diving. Sounds like lots of hand pays to me.

I’ll resocket the chips early next week. It has a zif socket for the game chip. Will let everyone know.

jay · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2026, 07:13:12 pm »

You could take quarters based upon n standard coin comparator - divert to a drop box and have tokens loaded in the hopper - regardless this won’t generate such a message.

knagl · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2026, 09:34:57 pm »

In close to two decades at this point of working on PE+ machines, I have never heard of that error message.

Are you able to install a set of known good GAME and DATA chips and see if that resolves the issue?

cliffeby · « **Reply #10 on:** February 07, 2026, 03:52:58 pm »

Knack, see pic. Too bad it took you 20 years to see this. I got it on my first try!

I resocketed the game+ chips and rechecked voltage levels. I don’t have a second unit for swaps. Will try the clear chip next.

sixcardmark · « **Reply #11 on:** February 07, 2026, 04:02:18 pm »

I had a PE+ for 15 years and never saw that error.

jay · « **Reply #12 on:** February 07, 2026, 04:03:49 pm »

Get the clear chip….

BrianT · « **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2026, 11:40:18 pm »

Is it because there's no coin hopper plugged in? Was there a coin hopper with it? I don't know, I've never started one of mine without the coin hopper in.

BrianT

cliffeby · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2026, 07:30:35 am »

I tried with a good hopper. No change. Also, my good Players Edge (not +) does everything but dispense coins without the hopper.

jay · « **Reply #15 on:** February 19, 2026, 08:09:25 am »

If you have multiple machines then I suggest swapping your MPU between the units.
It will be interesting to see if the white diagnostic button does something on the other machine with the suspect MPU and vice versa.

cliffeby · « **Reply #16 on:** February 19, 2026, 08:19:13 am »

Unfortunately the working machine is a Player Edge. Not a +.

jay · « **Reply #17 on:** February 19, 2026, 08:22:17 am »

If you don't have one on order I suggest moving forward with the Clear chip.
BrianT who responded earlier is a good source.

Chris-socal · « **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2026, 01:11:25 pm »

One of our fellow members just placed a WTS for PE+ boards. I can say from experience Dan has well maintained equipment. Trustworthy.

cliffeby · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2026, 10:58:35 am »

Tried the reset chip several times with no luck. With the reset chip in, I get a gray screen. Neither the accounting key nor white reset button provides a change in state. When the game chip is returned, I get either a light blue or light green screen with nothing else. Occasionally, I will get the original dark blue screen with BAD DENOMINATION. Neither accounting nor white reset held for 10 seconds changes state. No sound from a known good speaker. Suggestions?

News:

NLG Site Navigation Menu

Author Topic: Bad Denomination Call Attendant (Read 2120 times)