New Life Games LLC

**Video Poker, Keno, Slots, 21** Gaming machines => SIGMA Video Games => Topic started by: ContraAl on November 05, 2017, 11:34:30 AM

Title: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: ContraAl on November 05, 2017, 11:34:30 AM
Howdy all!


I just got a video poker machine and it's my 1st restoration project so I'm not sure where to start.  Overall the machine works good but the lights are out on the switches and could use a good cleaning, too.


Am I crazy for taking on this project?  What do you think?



Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: rokgpsman on November 05, 2017, 12:45:06 PM
Nice looking machine! Where did it come from or how did you become the owner?

Although you will find more Bally and IGT owners of home slot machines there is a lot of love for Sigma from their diehard fans. Some swear that they run forever, just need a little repair attention now and then.

Typically the lens on the pushbuttons can be removed to replace the lamp inside. But on some machines the button assembly has to be removed by removing a fastener from below. Someone here more familiar than I am will hopefully give suggestions shortly. Be careful with the old buttons, they can get brittle with time and crack or break if you apply too much pressure on them when removing or installing.
Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: ContraAl on November 06, 2017, 11:08:10 AM
I got this on from my father. I think he had bought 2 at one point and we used this one for parts.  As it turns out, it was still working so maybe I can breathe some new life into it.


Brittle huh..  Since this is my first attempt to fix buttons, there was a bit of a learning curve to say the least.


Buttons, buttons..  Who's got the buttons?


I also have a Bally s5500 machine and a Sankyo pachinko machine in the works too.
Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: Jim on November 06, 2017, 11:11:26 AM
sent you a pm on the button issue.

Jim
Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: ContraAl on November 13, 2017, 12:54:02 PM
So, this is interesting.  I went to fire up the machine today and got this error message about bad roms.  After re-seating all of the non-soldered chips, the error is still there.  I'm thinking it might be battery issue.  Anyone run into this before?


I read something about a test button but have yet to locate it.  The only white button I can see is the door plunger..



Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: Jim on November 13, 2017, 02:09:25 PM
if the b-9 is anything like the b-52 then there should be three key operated switches on the side of the machine, turn the reset and see if that doesn't clear that error, if it continues to do this then I would suspect the battery or the super cap.  Sigma used several different types of ram memory storage devices, very few batteries, mostly super caps.

as far as the buttons, nothing like the ones you showed, you might be able to sub a newer type switch and lamp assembly into the opening, five wires typical
on the assembly,  three for the switch, NO,NC and COM. two for the lamp.  thinking a Bally type switch would fit into that opening,   square type for the round type, with nice legends.

the b-52 had a test switch mounted on the side where the white plunger was mounted, the test switch was a black push button type.

Jim

Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: rokgpsman on November 13, 2017, 02:24:44 PM
So, this is interesting.  I went to fire up the machine today and got this error message about bad roms.  After re-seating all of the non-soldered chips, the error is still there.  I'm thinking it might be battery issue.  Anyone run into this before?

I read something about a test button but have yet to locate it.  The only white button I can see is the door plunger..

If you can post a photo of your main circuit board (mpu board) or whatever board has the cmos ram maybe someone can point out the supercap if that is what your machine uses. A supercap is a high-quality low-loss capacitor that acts as a battery and many companies feel that they are better to use instead of a battery. It will be soldered to the circuit board, so replacement will require soldering. Replacement supercaps are available at a variety of places like electronic parts companies, ebay, etc. With the machine turned off (or the circuit board removed) you can put a meter on the supercap leads and see if it is holding a charge or not.

Supercaps come in a lot of different sizes and shapes, here is a typical one but yours may look different:

Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: ContraAl on November 13, 2017, 04:53:30 PM
I didn't see any super caps but I did find a battery.  (see pic)


@Jim.  Thanks for looking.  I'm thinking of just hogging the holes out and putting in some arcade switches.
Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: rokgpsman on November 13, 2017, 05:34:20 PM
I didn't see any super caps but I did find a battery.  (see pic)

@Jim.  Thanks for looking.  I'm thinking of just hogging the holes out and putting in some arcade switches.

Is the battery still good?
Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: ContraAl on November 13, 2017, 07:14:06 PM
Naa. The battery is toast. The machine was old when we got it and it was sitting for 5 years or so unplugged. I’ll just pop in a new one and see how it does.
Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: Badbaud on November 14, 2017, 12:10:02 AM
The B9 doesn't use Super Caps. They used a 2 leg NiCad battery I believe.
I'll have to look at my collection of 10 boards I have in stock tomorrow.
Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: rokgpsman on November 14, 2017, 12:21:22 AM
you're right, he posted a photo of his mpu up in reply#7 and it has a dead 3.6v cylinder battery.

What about his "Rom is defective" error message, can a dead battery cause that?
Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: Badbaud on November 14, 2017, 07:26:55 AM
Yes, putting in a fresh battery usually fixes that.
Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: Jim on November 14, 2017, 10:14:49 AM
before you do any modifying of the holes, post the dimensions of the opening, I probably will have something you could use with the legends that would apply to your situation.

Jim
Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: ContraAl on November 14, 2017, 02:14:13 PM
Thanks Jim. I found a store in LA that had replacement bulbs for $.60 each so I’m going to try to bring them back to life. Although that might go south really quickly.
Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: ContraAl on November 24, 2017, 12:13:34 PM
Hope everyone had a good t-day! 


I had plugged in the machine (bad rom), went on vacation for a week and I went to fire up the machine yesterday.  It worked fine.


The question is..  Are the board batteries rechargeable because I haven't replaced it yet.  :Scratch-Head:
Title: Re: Sigma Poker-B9
Post by: Badbaud on November 24, 2017, 03:01:27 PM
They are nicad so rechargeable.
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal