New Life Games LLC

**Reel Slots** Gaming Machines => Other Reel Games => Topic started by: Op-Bell on March 26, 2014, 12:15:48 AM

Title: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Op-Bell on March 26, 2014, 12:15:48 AM
A few years ago I made a replacement board for these machines, after a buddy and I tried and failed for months to get the ancient logic board working properly. I had a batch made, maybe 20, I forget how many. Over the years various people sought me out on the old NLG site and bought them, and now they're sold out. It would be a pity if this was the end of the line, because there are still a lot of people having problems with these machines and the logic boards only get more crappy with age. But I'm not as wealthy as I used to be so I'm not about to lay out a grand for another batch on speculation that they just might come in handy for someone in five years time.

I will make more if they are wanted, but I can't just make one. Getting one PCB made would cost $125. Ten PCBs would cost $350. So I'll only make more if people want enough of them, "enough" being at least seven or eight. The price would be in the region of $100.

So ... if this looks like the kind of thing you might want, drop me a PM, and when I get enough I'll have some boards made.

Some info: This is a processor controlled board. The "personality" for the particular game (reel symbols, payoffs, number of coins/lines etc) is programmed into it, and so far I've got 13 different versions, so I almost certainly have yours and if not, I can create it. There is no battery to leak because the game state is saved in an EEPROM, and it will recover correctly from a power-out at any stage from partly coined to partly paid out.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: ramegoom on March 26, 2014, 03:50:27 PM
Subscribed.

Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: DavidLee on February 15, 2015, 04:53:11 PM
Nice looking board! I'm looking for a logic board for a 1975 Jennings 3-line. If you could give me any information where to locate one,
I would greatly appreciate it. Also I'm not real familiar with Jennings series 400, would it replace the 3-line logic board?

Thank You   
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Op-Bell on February 15, 2015, 06:17:30 PM
In all probability, your "1975 Jennings 3-Line" is a series 400. The logic board will be about 12 inches by 10 with a battery on one side that's almost certainly rotted and leaked everywhere, and the back will have those two multi-finger edge connectors. There is a later Jennings board that's almost identical, except that it has plug and socket connectors instead of edge connectors.

I'm sorry, I'm all out of these replacement boards.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: ramegoom on February 15, 2015, 06:46:51 PM
OpBell, if you decide to do another run, I'm in for 3 or 4.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: DavidLee on February 16, 2015, 11:54:00 AM
Thank You very much for the reply / information. I've attached 4 photos of the board in question as to get a definite ID. As I would like to fined a replacement, but not sure what board number would work if any in the series 400 thru 700.

Just a little history, I use to watch my Grandfather repair slot machines when he lived in Las Vegas back in the 60s - 70s. His name was George Petersen and back in early1960s he started working with Don Laughlin a year or so before Don sold his bar in Vegas to buy the one in what is now called Laughlin Nevada.   
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Op-Bell on February 16, 2015, 12:08:03 PM
I think that's a Jennings 700 board, it has the plug and socket connectors. I see it has severe battery acid rot, with some tracks eaten away.

It's very similar to the 400, but I don't have drawings or a schematic for that board to make a replacement. There is a company somewhere that may have original replacement boards but I can't remember who. It's mentioned somewhere here in the threads on Jennings 400 machines, maybe in the archive on the old site.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: ramegoom on February 16, 2015, 12:28:14 PM
Wow, no solder mask. What did they do, HAND-solder them?


I have two 700 series machines and 25 -400 machines, and all of the boards have the gold edge fingers on them. The 700's appear similar to the 400 boards.


Jennings must have gone thru miles of 24 gage insulated wire with jumpers on these boards. It seems that they would use one design, and jumper-modify it for different machines, pay lines, coins-in, etc. What a nightmare it must have been working as a tech. Ha, technology at its lowest.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Op-Bell on February 16, 2015, 01:13:43 PM
Those boards were designed back in the days before CAD. The pin patterns for the ICs were dry transfers - remember Letraset? - and the tracks were laid down by hand using thin strips of black masking tape, hence the curvy lines. All twice full size on sheets of mylar, one for the front and one for the back. You drew it first on tracing paper using red and blue pencils for the two sides, then taped over the lines. Then it was photographed actual size onto litho film with a camera the size of a volkswagon and contact printed onto the PCB material. Unless you were the military it was just too expensive to make additional film for a solder mask, though often they'd take the trouble to silk screen the component numbers.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: DavidLee on February 16, 2015, 02:48:00 PM
Thanks for the information. The copper was added over to replace a couple of bad trace.
My understanding is the board was solid copper and then etched with acid to form the circuits and a leaky battery just continued the process. 
Anyone have a solution as to how to remove a IC that has acid contaminated solder? Short of cutting it out.

A bit more history about Laughlin. One day my grandfather decide to clear some brush from around the parking lot. Back then the lot was gravel with old power poles for stops. George was pretty resourceful on how to get rid of these piles and get a little attention for the casino. I'm not sure what time it was during the night he added a little fuel and up in smoke went the brush. Back then the nights on the river were very very dark, you can imagine how bright these fires looked from across the river. Well here is the rest of the story. The fire department from Bullhead came over to see what was burning. The next day some of the residents from across the river came over to see if the casino burned. As I heard it some of residents wished the casino would of burned down.         
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: ramegoom on February 16, 2015, 03:58:15 PM
Oh yes, the days of using Bishop Graphics and very thin tape. I cut my teeth on that technology. I think the way they'd make a solder mask was to use the PAD layer and enlarge each pad by 5% in their photo booth, then apply the green ink to both sides of the board.


Usually three layers, top, board, bottom. I didn't pencil it in, instead I used a 0.1 grid to lay it out. But, those masks were ridiculously expensive, so I'd usually go without it.


I had many PC boards printed by the same company in Rockford IL that did the Jennings boards - a company called Pentaplex. I noticed their logo on a J400 board once. Too bad, the company went bust a few years ago. But I bet they would have pulled their screens out and made some Jennings boards for me if I asked.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: DavidLee on February 16, 2015, 05:29:28 PM
Very interesting info on the process. The mark on this board is Bell-Matica/s and Harlev J Denmark, apparently a town somewhere in Denmark made this board.
To bad the Pentaplex co is out of business. you know somebody has a box of these in their garage or attic.
Thanks again for the info.
Here is a bit more of Laughlin history. Being on the river in the 60s there were a great many small visitors with wings. We called it Nat City and if you worked close to the river you needed a Nat Hat. This would be a baseball hat with netting all around your head and neck. These little black nats would constinouly buzz your head and land near your eyes. If you were just visiting, you would constantly wave your hand to keep these nats away or get eaten alive.  The saying was "Laughlin is the friendly place" everyone is always waving at each other. A few years after the casino got going the state came in a eradicated those pest. Now a days it would take an act of congress a 20 year study and a few million.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Op-Bell on February 16, 2015, 08:33:22 PM
Anyone have a solution as to how to remove a IC that has acid contaminated solder? Short of cutting it out.

Cut it out. Absolutely cut it out. It's the only way to remove it from a double sided board without damaging the board. Cut each pin individually, either with a sharp blade straight down close to the package, or with small wire cutters, though the torque of those can pull the tracks off the board. Then unsolder each pin one by one and pull them out with tweezers. Suck the solder out of the holes with wick and give the contaminated area of the board a good scrub with water to get the salts off, then denatured alcohol. Most all of those logic chips are still available.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Sunrise Side on December 12, 2017, 05:48:29 PM
Hello. Any updates on these replacement boards? I have 2 that need this board. Was there enough request to get a batch made? Is there any info about purchasing these replacement boards? Thank You Tim   tkrozleski@hotmail.com
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Badbaud on December 12, 2017, 07:25:57 PM
I was contacted last week by someone who had over 50 Jennings boards and wanted to sell them cheap.
Here is his email. Might be worth a shot to contact him for boards also.

caspers@casperselectronics.com
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Op-Bell on December 12, 2017, 10:22:03 PM
Well the demand for replacement boards hasn't been overwhelming - like, three in three years. But I need one myself, so that's four. I'll get some boards on order then. If you would like one, I need a pic of your pay table glass to determine what program version it needs. Send to my private email.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Sunrise Side on December 13, 2017, 05:38:53 AM
I have sent an email  to you with pics Thank You Tim  . If you  do not receive  it  please  let me know.  Thank You!
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: DavidLee on December 13, 2017, 10:10:04 AM
I'm would like to get a Jennings logic board if possible.
Posting photos of what I have.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: DM1111 on December 17, 2017, 07:54:20 AM
Oooooo, could I get one of each, please.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Amechanic on December 17, 2017, 10:39:10 AM
I've stayed away from these games just for this reason. It would be great if a new board was an option to getting and keeping them running..
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Op-Bell on January 12, 2018, 03:08:41 PM
I've had a run of 25 PCBs made, they arrived today, and now they need to be stuffed and soldered. This takes a while as I have to do it by hand. So everyone who contacted me, I'll email you when I've got yours ready, and the store is open now if anyone else needs one.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Amechanic on January 12, 2018, 03:19:39 PM
Great new to know.  :cool_thumb_up:
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: DavidLee on January 12, 2018, 05:20:18 PM
Wonderful, thank you for taking the time to get them made up.

Okay, do you have a price and will you be able to test the boards before you ship them?

As I have an old 75 Jennings machine and the board has be rework and in real bad shape.
The machine tries to work but won't make a complete cycle.

Thank you
Dave
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Op-Bell on January 12, 2018, 05:39:28 PM
I'll do them for $100 for now but reserve the right to increase the price in future, since making them by hand is very time consuming. I paid someone else to build the previous batch, but he's not available any more. I do test them, yes. I have a standard Jennings 400 that I keep around for that very purpose.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Sunrise Side on February 28, 2018, 11:17:59 AM
Hello Op - Bell. Any updates on the new boards? Thank You Tim
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Op-Bell on February 28, 2018, 12:03:08 PM
I apologize for the delay, but I was too busy to work on them until recently. I should have six finished at the weekend.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: DavidLee on February 28, 2018, 03:25:51 PM
Would it be possible to post a picture of the finished product?
Also, what would be your preferred means of payment?
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Op-Bell on February 28, 2018, 04:12:38 PM
Of course. For payment, I prefer Paypal. The picture bears a curious resemblance to the one at the beginning of this thread.


Would it be possible to post a picture of the finished product?
Also, what would be your preferred means of payment?
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: DavidLee on February 28, 2018, 04:33:28 PM
Thank you
PayPal works for me.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Sunrise Side on February 28, 2018, 06:21:37 PM
Pete, Very Nice! Thank You!
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Amechanic on February 28, 2018, 07:13:38 PM
That's a lot of soldering to do!! YIKES..
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Sunrise Side on March 04, 2018, 05:13:06 PM
Hello. Would 2 of these boards that will be ready soon,  be for the 5 line machine  ? Thank You Tim
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Op-Bell on March 09, 2018, 02:06:03 PM
K. I have boards ready for three people - a 3 line and a 5 line star jackpot for DM, what looks like a 3 line 1-2-3 bar for DL, and two 5 line 1-2-3 bar for TK.

If I missed anyone, drop me an email to petehand at gmail.com
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Op-Bell on March 20, 2018, 03:00:02 PM
I built up a few extra, so the next person who wanders into this thread looking for one is in luck.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Sunrise Side on March 27, 2018, 08:14:26 AM
Got my boards and installed. Machines work Great!  Thanks to Pete and NLG !!!
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Rpowell18 on April 02, 2018, 06:20:03 PM
i have a question about my j400 logic board and my battery come out without an issue..the board looks like it just needs a good cleaning..any thought on this..the contacts on the bottom of the board has some a green residue on it ..the battery is in good shape..i wanted to check with people who might know...it was a little tough to get the board out ant there is some green residue on the plugs in the backside...if i need another board  where can i get one...thanks
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Op-Bell on April 02, 2018, 07:11:18 PM
Your board may be recoverable, although it looks as if some of the edge fingers have been repaired before - the bottom four pads in the top picture look as if someone's been at them with a soldering iron. Those are ground pins. If they can be cleaned up and maybe a piece of copper tape applied to restore them, and none of the other tracks are corroded you may be in luck. The battery is trash - those nicads are only good for ten years and it's more than 40. You can try replacing them with a 3 cell cordless phone battery, but make sure it's a NiCd and not a NiMH. The charging circuit on the board will kill a NiMH in a few weeks.

I think I may be the only source of replacement boards now. There is, or was, someone else offering refurbished original boards but I don't know if he's still in business. I have several of the old boards, and my complete lack of success getting any of the damn things to work inspired me to design a new one.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Rpowell18 on April 03, 2018, 05:15:34 AM
thank you ..thats is very good news..i got this for my collection for 200..00 and was it will be a display only ,but now there is hope..off to find a battery..thanks again
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Op-Bell on April 03, 2018, 10:57:11 AM
Actually, reviewing the pictures again, that looks like a 4 cell battery. You should be able to count the cells from the bulges in the plastic. Get something with the same number of cells. But wait - the board doesn't need the battery to run the game, only to remember its state. Before you waste your time and money on a battery, make sure the board works.
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: Rpowell18 on April 04, 2018, 04:15:26 AM
Good point..I will thanks
Title: Re: Jennings 400 replacement logic boards
Post by: ScareWe Productions on November 21, 2023, 10:05:36 PM
Need Jennings 400 logic board, no reset button found and call attendant stuck on
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal