Alpha 2 V32 dead

[Tacman]

Okay, I found my Alpha 2 V32 dead a couple of days ago. There was a power outage prior to this. Fast check showed the fuse under the 2 switches blown. Got a pack of 6.3AL250VP fast blow fuses and put a new one in and it blew immediately after turning on both switches. Opened all doors, lifted the bet deck and installed another fuse. The main switch on and MPU and power supply kicked in, turned on cabinet switch and fuse blew and saw a spark through the grating on center left of the power supply. I was thinking of looking for a short in the cabinet or should I focus on the power supply? Thanks!

Dan (Tacman)

[idesign]

Power supply may be cooked.  I would remove it and open it up and look the damage.  They are not cheap to replace.  Everything Bally seems to command higher prices now.

Also, behind the power supply is the power backplane board on the back wall of the cabinet.  Maybe a fried component on that causing this.

[Tacman]

Ok, guys. I ponied up for a new power supply and all numbers match with the old one. One difference is that the old fan has a bracket that leaves a space between the MPU case and the fan, the new one is surface mounted to the case. Here’s where it gets wonky. The power leads to the fan are spliced to another small board with a multi wire connector that goes To the bottom serial port marked T-Scrn sec Comm10. I have included pics of the board and connection. Does anyone know what this is? Can I ignore it or disconnect it? Weird cause it’s just laying on the bottom of the cabinet. Thanks!

Duh, OK so Microtouch would indicate a touchscreen controller. But is it for the main monitor or the Ideck? I’m confused as to why this is just lying around.

[rickhunter]

That touchscreen controller came with the power supply?  My guess is that the power supply was used to fool the system into thinking it had another touchscreen and just used the fan's power wires to conveniently tap power to the touchscreen board.  You can just remove it.

[Tacman]

Nah did not come with it, seems like someone just used the fan power line to get power to the touchscreen. Bad spice job too, may have caused a short, loose tape over the twisted wire. I’m thinking I may need that touchscreen. Is anyone else’s Alpha 2 have a touchscreen serial in Comm 10?

Dan

[idesign]

There is no power the that controller in the photos.  Power is the 2 pin connector.   Just remove it like Rick says.

So did the new PS get you back up and running??

[Tacman]

Sorry, controller was connected to the spliced power of the MPU fan, so I’m assuming I have to find and alternative 24v source for the controller?

Dan

[Tacman]

Well, I put on my big boy pants, installed the new power supply without power to the mystery controller. The Alpha 2 loaded fine and after adding credits, both the Ideck and monitor touchscreens worked fine and the machine plays without a hitch. So, I guess I’ll disconnect the mystery board from the serial connection of the MPU since there’s no power going to it. I still don’t know why it’s there and it had power going to it!

Dan (Tacman)