Author Topic: Creating a 'Virtual Hopper' and printer interface for an S plus - project. (Read 2170 times)

Bikertrash00 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 10, 2019, 07:07:56 PM »

Good stuff, could only dream of being that smart, thanks for all others interested in doing this.

jay · « **Reply #21 on:** May 10, 2019, 07:17:09 PM »

Hi,

I understand what your doing is not TITO its just 'TO' but the Bettor slots people created a TITO solution for the S2000 and others.
They had the opposite problem. The slots would generate a ticket out but there was no way of validating the ticket.

So I had suggested that once you have this off the ground you contact them and perhaps between the two of you, you can get a fully functional TITO for the S+

All very cool â€¦ no matter where it ends up....

marcdavis · « **Reply #22 on:** May 10, 2019, 09:48:54 PM »

So quick update on the Virtual Hopper; good news is I didn't fry my slot machine; better news is my SSR solution for the coin-out optics worked perfectly. Only downside is the transformer I picked doesn't have enough amps after the voltage passes through the square wave generator to trigger the printer. But I think that can be fixed. I hooked up an external power supply to the generator and it did print a ticket with 10 credits (was doing the hopper test). So need a day to get some more parts and we will try this again.

Stay tuned!

Badbaud · « **Reply #23 on:** May 10, 2019, 09:51:35 PM »

There is a sticky on this site somewhere on how to build your own fake hopper.

marcdavis · « **Reply #24 on:** May 11, 2019, 08:24:29 PM »

Quote from: Badbaud on May 10, 2019, 09:51:35 PM

There is a sticky on this site somewhere on how to build your own fake hopper.

I just found the original article - same approach - 555 timer to send pulses to the coin-out optics; different implementation.

marcdavis · « **Reply #25 on:** May 12, 2019, 08:11:33 PM »

So I have it working - Mostly. The Virtual Hopper is registering the coins correctly on the machine - and the ticket prints out - but nine times out of ten the printer is registering 1 additional 'coin'. Doesn't seem to matter if it is a 10 coin payout or 200. Bugging the heck out of me. Adjusting the 555 timer frequency and duration don't seem to help. I think the additional pulse (coin) is the result of the relay not shutting off fast enough after the machine shuts off power to the hopper. I am looking into options to remedy this; not sure if a capacitor of some kind on the signal out line to the printer would help.

More pics.

Badbaud · « **Reply #26 on:** May 12, 2019, 08:29:42 PM »

Maybe try inverting the signal going to the printer?

marcdavis · « **Reply #27 on:** May 12, 2019, 08:41:15 PM »

Some more pics - fully assembled. I will share the parts list and build notes once I figure out this extra-coin issue.

Badbaud · « **Reply #28 on:** May 12, 2019, 09:02:36 PM »

Where did you find the hopper plug?
Part number?

marcdavis · « **Reply #29 on:** May 12, 2019, 09:06:37 PM »

Found it on Ebay - just searched for IGT S+ Hopper Plug.

Badbaud · « **Reply #30 on:** May 12, 2019, 09:37:45 PM »

Thanks, I'll check that out. I have some rusted ones I need to replace.

rickhunter · « **Reply #31 on:** May 13, 2019, 11:21:45 AM »

Wow, pretty cool!

marcdavis · « **Reply #32 on:** May 14, 2019, 08:19:13 PM »

So a few days later and a few deliveries from Amazon I have a working inverter. Printer seems to like it; ran it on the breadboard with the square wave generator and it worked; the inverter leaves the line high on the printer which is what it is expecting at the end of the pulses. Still have to try this on the slot machine - but I am hopeful.

Pics of the test breadboard and the prototype; still need to trim it to size.

Badbaud · « **Reply #33 on:** May 14, 2019, 08:44:57 PM »

Good, inverting the printer signal worked, thought it might.
Reminds me of the song "Some like it high, some like it low"

marcdavis · « **Reply #34 on:** May 16, 2019, 07:48:03 PM »

Update - wired the inverter into the circuit and I'm still getting an extra coin-out! Sooo disappointed - thought for sure I had it. So what I think is happening is after the last coin is counted by the hopper there is a slight delay in the shutoff of the hopper-power - and the relay I'm sure has a fractional delay before it de-energizes. That delay is probably causing the printer to get an extra pulse from the generator. I think I need a capacitor on the printer line. More research...

Badbaud · « **Reply #35 on:** May 16, 2019, 08:04:02 PM »

A R/C combo should provide some delay.

Stayouttadabunker · « **Reply #36 on:** May 16, 2019, 09:32:43 PM »

You got this far....I'm sure you'll figure out the rest!
Sometimes taking a break for a couple days refreshes the brain and let's you find a solution to try!
Awesome work so far!!

jay · « **Reply #37 on:** May 16, 2019, 10:11:58 PM »

If your consistently 1 over, Can you pre-load your count register with -1 that way the extra coin is nullified.

marcdavis · « **Reply #38 on:** May 17, 2019, 08:27:07 AM »

It's not consistent; and I don't see a way to modify what the printer starts counting at.

marcdavis · « **Reply #39 on:** May 20, 2019, 08:35:04 PM »

So after frustrating myself with trying to build an RC delay circuit I ended up picking up an adjustable delay relay which served the purpose; the hardest part is dialing in the right frequency on the square wave generator and the time-delay on the new relay - most of the time it is working properly - but every now and then it now prints out one-less coin value (instead of one more). But for the most part - it works. I really just think I need a faster relay - but I have gone way-over on my project budget for this so I think I am going to enjoy it for what it is and maybe future-me or other smarter people will contribute.

I will be posting my absolutely horrible instructions

in the next few days. I've attached pics of the version 2 prototype. I will post a video of the self-test on youtube and share a link shortly.

Printer locations: If your machine has a cutout in the upper glass area that would be the ideal place for the printer to go; my S+ does not - so I will be removing the coin tray and replacing it with a trim piece with a slot for the ticket-out.

Also - This device may be useful without the printer; I saw some threads here where people wanted to 'disable' the hopper and on some chipsets you can't; with this plugged in it will achieve that without the need of the printer.

Thanks to everyone who made suggestions - it is much appreciated.

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Author Topic: Creating a 'Virtual Hopper' and printer interface for an S plus - project. (Read 2170 times)