Mermaid's Gold Dotmation Reset on Credit

[boycer]

Hello Everyone!

I started messing with my new slot. Someone already replaced lower power supply with a PC power supply. All lights lit on IO board. No errors on machine. When I first started it, I put in a quarter, it "bongs", resets reels, dot matrix goes blank, then it goes back, and lets you spin reels. I opened the door and checked wiring/adapters from the coin mech to the plugs. Then it started playing normal for about 30 times. However it started doing it again. It does it when a quarter is entered and with a single credit bet using credits. Max bet it does not do this. With no error codes, I'm not sure where to begin. Anyone see this? I made a video I uploaded to youtube if anyone wants a PM link. I'll keep digging, but it appears I have 2 machines doing this same exact thing!! Appreciate all of you.

[boycer]

Welp...Update

Now when I turn it on the reels keep resetting. The dot matrix will come on briefly with the Mermaid screen, but then goes out and reads "Bad Packet! 0x0000". All IO lights lit. Reset just leads to the same outcome.

[Stayouttadabunker]

Paste the YouTube link here...maybe someone will watch it and be able to help you.

[boycer]

Thanks. I wasn't sure if links would get flagged.

First link is what it was doing at first with credit resets:
https://youtube.com/shorts/gCiXuf_t4bY?si=QVesxBnrKZEKg_tJ

Second link is where I am at now:
https://youtube.com/shorts/TsVAypYvVwM?si=oOvS9ENmU6yheopt

[boycer]

Pretty sure it is MPU. I swapped MPU and put in Pharaoh's Fortune and it does the same thing. I will find a couple MPUs and hopefully be in business.

[playklax01]

To me, this is by far the strangest issue with a WMS machine I have seen.  I don't know if it's the watchdog getting triggered and constantly resetting the machine or what.  When you say you swapped the MPU, you mean you swapped the board for another or just installed Pharaoh's Fortune on the same board and the problem persists?  If it's the first situation, it would point to it not being the board.  Second situation, then possibly yes.

Have you inspected both boards carefully?  I had a problem with a Winning Streak before where it kept randomly erroring off on the Dotmation with Bad Packet errors and other weird things.  Turns out there was a strip of Scotch tape that got stuck to the bottom of the MPU board.  Removed it and never had the problem again. 

[boycer]

That is crazy that scotch tape could cause a short on a board. I'll double check, but I didn't see anything obvious. I tried swapping I/O boards with no change. I know I have a bad cap on my Pharaoh's Fortune MPU, so I tried the Mermaid MPU in that machine. It does the exact thing, which leads me to something on the MPU board. I appreciate you looking!

[boycer]

Is there more to replacing the MPU to these than just swapping chips and making super jumper is correct?

[playklax01]

With your last 2 posts I'm a little confused.  If you swapped MPU's (the board with the chips on it), then the machine would need a Hard Clear performed.  You can't just swap out one for another, it simply won't let you.  I'm not sure what you mean by Super Jumper?  Jurisdiction jumper maybe?  Need more info.

[boycer]

Sorry autocorrect hit my last post. I have 2 good MPUs I can swap out for my old MPUs. Asking if all you need to do is move the chips and set the jumper on the MPU. I believe this jumper has to do with the amount of sound chips. I am putting the same game back on the board. No true game change. Just new MPUs.

[boycer]

Update. I got both machines fixed. Replaced MPU boards, installed ram clear chip, cleared ram, installed game chip, and they work great. 2 dotmation machines back in business.