New Life Games LLC
**Reel Slots** Gaming Machines => IGT S and S-plus Reel Games => Topic started by: rlchase on October 13, 2017, 05:06:51 PM
-
Hi, I am Chase, and I just acquired a IGT S+, Coral reef, circa 1998. It is, if I believe the front, a 3CM, but at this moment not sure if it just isn't a bunch of parts someone put together. I have seen lights flashing and the reels moved on power up, but presently I may have a blown fuse, because it does not power up since I moved it from the garage, but May have pinched the chord while putting it on the base.
I am a retired NASA system administrator and computer geek, with an electronic tech background. I have little knowledge of Slot Machines, other than I wasted a ton of money in them in my younger years. I am sure that eventually with patience, and time, I can get this thing up and running. I am pretty sure that it might have been a progressive slot machine because of a board I found in the top with 5 Ethernet cable ports. You can see from the pictures that most of the guts from the top box is missing and the cables cut. I did notice a little power supply, that was bolted to the back plate above the mainboard, no idea what it did. I want it to become a stand alone family machine.
Looking for a little guidance on removal, cleaning, and getting it up and functional. Any help would be very much appreciated.
Chase
-
Chase welcome to NLG. The first thing I would check is the wires that run from the power supply to the motherboard. Picture Included.
The picture shows a burn mark on the plug like the one I have included
Try to wiggle that plug and check to see if the reels move
That could be the problem since it was working in the past.
-
Sorry could not add the plug to the post
-
Like this.
-
The Coral Reef machines are attractive, we don't see them often enough.
The loose circuit board laying in the top box area is probably an old casino network comm board from when the machine was in casino use. Often when an older machine is removed from the casino and sold they will leave unwanted boards like this in the machine. It is not needed for stand-alone operation. If you post a close view of the board in the top box we can tell you for sure. If this is what it is then you can disconnect the wires connected to the board and remove it all. Or it might be part of a progressive jackpot equipment but I don't think so. A photo of the circuit board will help identify it.
Also, post photos of the lower part of the machine where the coin hopper and other parts are located. We can point out things you will need to know.
In the very bottom of the machine cabinet not far from the coin hopper there is a circuit board laying horizontally on the bottom floor. This is called the "motherboard", it is an interconnect board with lots of connections. It is what is pictured in the earlier photo showing a common problem with the power supply connector that connects to the motherboard power connector. Plugged into the rear side of the motherboard is a large circuit board assembly called the "mpu" board. The mpu is mounted to a metal tray, the tray has a round black knob so you can remove the mpu easier. You just pull upward to disconnect the mpu from the motherboard, it is easy to do. It is a good idea to remove the mpu board for inspection, there is a battery located on the mpu board that can leak and cause damage. So always good to check the mpu board on a machine that is new to you.
The top box is usually pretty empty on these machines, just the fluorescent light to backlight the top glass and the wiring that runs to the candle (top light).
That panel just below the top glass is the player tracking panel. You may remember when playing slots in casinos that you can insert a player's card into the machine and you will accumulate slot club points for your time playing. It looks like the casino removed the electronic equipment from the player tracking panel, that's why there are holes exposed in the panel. But that isn't a problem, you don't need it for stand-alone operation. Most people just cover up the panel with something to hide the holes.
One of your photos shows the bill acceptor (bill validator), it is a ZT-1102 made by Mars (MEI). It contains software that it uses to recognize US paper currency. Depending on how old the software is the bill acceptor may not work with the new-style bills we have in circulation now. But a $1 bill will always work, so use the $1 for testing. I believe the ZT-1102 software can be updated if needed so that it will accept the new-style bills.
Also, it looks like your coin comparitor is missing the quarter that it needs to operate properly. (see example below)
(click image to enlarge)
(https://s1.postimg.org/7wirax7fgf/IMG_3210z1.jpg)
.
(https://s1.postimg.org/6tj201ellr/IMG_3215z1.jpg)
.
(https://s1.postimg.org/33xgj4iazj/35012100z2.jpg)
-
Also, in case you ever need it, here a manual for your ZT-1102 bill acceptor:
https://na.suzohapp.com/service_center/pdf/support/MEI/zt_technical_manual.pdf
-
Thank you Men, today I found a loose fuse and when I got it properly seated, and turned on the machine lights flickered, reels turned and the candle flashed, and it acted like it was paying out quarters. That is the good news, the bad news is that I get nothing from either the Bill acceptor or the coin comparator. When the machine is powered on shouldn't I see a glow around the Bill acceptor, or the led on the coin comparator be lit?
I still have wires with no connections. Thank you for your help, it was nice to see some life come from this machine. I have included more pictures.
Chase
-
I have included the picture of the little power supply that was screwed to the back wall, anyone know what it was used for? All the wires to plug it in and the connector has been cut off. I keep reading about a test button but have yet to find it, it is not next to the power switch as you can see in the first picture attached.
-
Did you install a "sample" coin (quarter) in the coin comparitor? I can't tell from the angle of the photo of your coin comparitor.
The small power supply (ac power adapter) isn't original equipment, it may have been added to power equipment like the extra board you found in the top box or something else that was removed. The small power supply can be removed since it isn't doing anything now.
If the slot machine was in the middle of paying out a winning spin when it last shutdown then it will continue to try doing that the next time it powers up. That's a design feature in case power is lost in the casino. So you may have to keep putting quarters into the coin hopper so it can pay them out, until the machine is satisfied that the payout completed. Or there can be other reasons for it doing this, like the hopper's coin counter not working.
If the white TEST button is not readily visible then it is sometimes hidden on the backside of the power switch assembly or nearby. Or it may be on the fuse panel. Try looking or feeling back there. Once you find the white TEST button you can press it with the main door open and step thru the menu steps, they will be displayed on the front display. I think at step 9 you can make sure the bill validator is enabled. A display of 9-0 means bv disabled, if it says 9-1 then the bv is enabled. (going by memory on this, someone will correct me if wrong).
I think the LED on the coin comparitor is only lit when the door is closed and the machine is powered up, the LED is to show that the comparitor is ready to accept coins, which it isn't when the door is open. Below the coin comparitor are the coin optics circuit boards. When the coin comparitor accepts the coin it then drops down and passes thru the coin optics boards, this is where a credit gets added to the machine. Then the coin slides to the coin hopper. If the coin comparitor rejects a coin then it is sent to the coin tray on the front of the machine. Near the coin optics boards is a small pushbutton for putting on credits to the machine for testing purposes. This is called the "pseudo coin" button. With the main door open you should be able to press this pseudo coin button and have the machine add credits. I think you can even press the spin button with the door still open and the reels will spin. Once you close the door these testing credits are removed.
Have you removed the mpu board yet for an inspection of the battery? When you do post a photo of it for more information, include a close view of the socketed chips and their labels. Also, if you have a volt meter you should check the battery, see if it is dead. A new battery is about 3.6 volts.
-
Eureka!!!
After putting the coin in the correct position in the coin comparator, and dropping a coin, pushing the spin button, and see the reels actually do what they were suppose to do, I became elated and determined. I then started messing with the Bill acceptor, I heard a noise and saw some belts turning, then after a few crumbled dollars, I cleaned the bill stacker from some excess oil and got things moving properly. So I think the machine is working!!
I found the test button, and after my vacation, next week, I will pull the motherboard and submit pictures of the chips.
50 years ago, as a teenager living in San Diego, I had a girlfriend whose father had a horseshoe shaped house, on a hill overlooking the USC football field. When I would come pick up his daughter he would put me in the den with two slot machines while his daughter was finishing getting ready. I lost most of my money while waiting for her, which I am sure was by his design so I would get his daughter home early.
Thank you so much for all of your help.
Chase
-
Good job, great to hear that it is working! :cool_thumb_up:
Did you try different paper money to see what it would accept? As long as it takes the $20 bills that should make playing easy since that will let you put on several playing credits. But if it accepts a $100 all the better.
Now that you've found the TEST button you can follow the instructions at the link below and the machine will display the SS and SP numbers for your game software that is located in the socketed chips on the mpu board. This is easier than pulling out the mpu board to see the labels on the chips, but it is still a good idea to inspect the mpu board to make sure the battery is not leaking.
http://www.newlifegames.net/spset/SPSS.htm (http://www.newlifegames.net/spset/SPSS.htm)
And here is information about your machine from the NLG S+ game page. Your SS chip should be one of the ones that is shown in the chart, they vary by what the player payback percentage is, different casinos specified different percentages to IGT. Your machine's top glass is different from the one shown below, not sure why that is, I guess there are some variations.
http://www.newlifegames.net/igtbible/IGT%203CM/Game%20Library%20-%20S-Plus%20-%20Coral%20Reef%20(3%20Coin%20Multiplier).htm (http://www.newlifegames.net/igtbible/IGT%203CM/Game%20Library%20-%20S-Plus%20-%20Coral%20Reef%20(3%20Coin%20Multiplier).htm)
More photos of it would be great! That Coral Reef machine has always been eye-candy for me, nice artwork. I think one of the NLG members (knagl ??) has one too. Just curious, did you get it from another owner that sold it, or maybe from a slot machine reseller?
That's a funny story about your girlfriend from back in the day. If you'd married her you might have inherited the machines he owned, or at least gotten back some of your lost loot. :garfield:
-
I will put different amounts in the bill acceptor in the AM.
The machine was advertised on Facebook Marketplace near where I live. When I enquired about it, I was told that it was sold as is, because it was in a place with no electricity. So on faith, I went to see it. Bought it out of a home that smelled of smoke, was dark, disgusting, and who's owner had recently passed away. So I got it about 4 weeks ago, and since a hurricane passed through shortly afterwards had little time to dabble with it. That is all I know about it!!!
Except it weighs a ton!!!
Chase
-
They are heavy, about 225-250 pounds or thereabouts. When it is moved you can lighten it somewhat by removing the coin hopper (it just slides out of the machine easily) and by removing the glass, which is fairly easy to do and protects it during transport. Be careful about breaking your glass, replacements can be hard to find and costly.
Even with a non-smoking owner the machines are often smoky due to the many years of casino use, unless the home owner does a good job of cleaning it inside & out. That cigarette smoke can be very detectable to someone that does not smoke.
I worked for Rockwell International for many of the years they were involved in our US space program. Maybe you saw some of our employees around the Houston or Cape Kennedy/Cape Canaveral facilities.
(https://s1.postimg.org/8cwz6fqk33/Rockwell_International_logo.jpg)
-
I know Rockwell. They were contractors when I was a t Kennedy. Originally I am from Langley AFB, in Hampton, VA. It was the very first NASA Center, NACA originally.
I think the top glass is different on my Coral Reef because my glass is smaller to make room for the card slot, and the progressive meter. So they cut the Coral Reef off and just put up the Pay Table.
The chip is ss4278, and the game is 05-1019, which means nothing to me. The dollar acceptor only accepts $1. It rejects all other currency, I am assuming since they built the machine the currency has changed. Did you say that I can upgrade the software, or do I need to get a whole new acceptor?
Chase
-
I think the top glass is different on my Coral Reef because my glass is smaller to make room for the card slot, and the progressive meter. So they cut the Coral Reef off and just put up the Pay Table.
The glass is correct. It is missing the player tracking cover panel. It covers that area below the glass.
-
According to your game's SS chart link posted earlier your SS4278 chip means the machine will payout over time about 95% of the money it takes in, and the casino will keep about 5%. This percentage is over hundreds of thousands of spins, so in the short run anything can happen, you can hit several good wins or jackpots, or you can have hours of bad luck and not win much at all. That's the slot machine destiny.
The other numbers that were displayed ("05 1019") mean your SP chip is SP1019. And your IGT S+ game is "Type 5". The game Type is a characteristic category that IGT used to organize games with similar features, for software programming reasons (I think).
By pressing the white TEST button inside the machine you can enter the TEST/Setup menu and view the various settings the machine has, and you can make changes if desired. The Setup menu is organized in steps and sub-steps, each with a number. On newer models of slot machines with a video display the Setup menus are more user-friendly by being shown on the video screen, but on the S+ models they had to use the small displays on the front of the machine.
Over the years IGT released different versions of the SP chip to fix bugs in the software and to add new features. By knowing the SP number we can pull up the proper document to see what options and preference settings your game has. Sometimes someone will upgrade their SP chip to a different SP chip, the SP chip is in a socket and easily changed. You can do this as long as the replacement SP chip is for the same game Type you have, which is Type 5 in your case. You use the white TEST button to step thru the setup menu from one step to the next. If you make any changes you then save the changes and exit the menu system. The attached SP1019 document has the instructions for doing this. Be careful about making any changes you aren't sure of, or at least write down what the old setting was so you can change it back if needed. Ask if you have any questions about the settings.
Attached is the software document for SP1019.
-
Go to your bank and see if they have any small face 50's or 100's. Since the 1 works they should. You have a Mars validator, I don't know if they are chip or flashed for currency.
-
I know Rockwell. They were contractors when I was a t Kennedy. Originally I am from Langley AFB, in Hampton, VA. It was the very first NASA Center, NACA originally.
I think the top glass is different on my Coral Reef because my glass is smaller to make room for the card slot, and the progressive meter. So they cut the Coral Reef off and just put up the Pay Table.
The chip is ss4278, and the game is 05-1019, which means nothing to me. The dollar acceptor only accepts $1. It rejects all other currency, I am assuming since they built the machine the currency has changed. Did you say that I can upgrade the software, or do I need to get a whole new acceptor?
Chase
Everyone at Rockwell was proud to be part of the space effort but there were plenty of problems that didn't always get the best solution due to time or budget limits.
Back in the day not all casinos had a player's card tracking system so IGT came out with different sized top glass for the machines. Since the casino that originally ordered your machine wanted to install the player card equipment the top glass that was used was the shorter one. I've seen people cover the tracking panel in various ways, like with black vinyl or even a piece of mirror glass. And sometimes you can find a solid panel that you can install by removing the panel that is on there now. Another idea is you might be able to find the full size top glass and install it in place of the top glass on there now
I'm not familiar enough with your Mars/ MEI bill acceptor to say for sure but reading thru the ZT-1102 manual it says the software is stored in flash memory so it is made to be updated. It wouldn't surprise me if someone somewhere can update it. Usually they just connect a cable to the bill acceptor and transfer the new software from a computer. But it may take a special setup (cable and unique software to do the transfer) so you may have to remove the MEI unit and send it out to get updated. Someone here may be able to help know more about this so keep checking back to this discussion. Replacing the bill acceptor is another option but upgrading the software (if possible) should be lower cost. Also, as elvis said, you might be about to get some of the old-style bills that will work with your bill acceptor and that might take care of your playing needs since you can remove the bills from the machine anytime you need to reinsert them again.
-
Here's an example of the full-size Coral Reef top glass for sale. In the ad the seller didn't spell the game title correctly, he has it as "Corral Reef". He says the dimensions of the glass are 19 inches Wide x 15 inches tall. Does that match up with your top box opening?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gaming-Slot-Machine-Glass-Corral-Reef-Huge-Piece-of-Gambling-Machine-Glass-/162694031221?hash=item25e151e775:g:OOsAAOSw2AFZqc0K (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gaming-Slot-Machine-Glass-Corral-Reef-Huge-Piece-of-Gambling-Machine-Glass-/162694031221?hash=item25e151e775:g:OOsAAOSw2AFZqc0K)
(https://s1.postimg.org/19lxctpwf3/CR_glass.jpg)
-
Mine is 19.5 wide and is 9" tall, to cover the entire top box, it would have to be 19.5 by 12.
I am searching on updating the bill acceptor, do you know of a replacement for my zt1102?
Chase
-
You need one of these to fill in the space below the glass .. it fits onto the metal plate in the very first picture you posted. The second picture shows the metal plate removed. -- Sent you a message.
-
Mine is 19.5 wide and is 9" tall, to cover the entire top box, it would have to be 19.5 by 12.
I am searching on updating the bill acceptor, do you know of a replacement for my zt1102?
Chase
Odd that the full size top glass that is 19x15 is 3 inches too tall. Maybe IGT put a different top box housing on your machine and it is a little shorter than another taller version. -EDIT- your machine has a 9" short top box, it can only hold the top glass you already have. Your player tracking panel just needs a suitable covering. See Ken's post below.
I don't know the Mars bill validators specifics but maybe one of the parts/slot machine vendors here will be able to suggest a solution. There is another model line of bill validators called "WBA" but I think when you switch from one family of bill validator to another you have to change everything pertaining to the bill validator, including the mounting frame, cash box, bill acceptor front end head and then transport, etc. But the parts may only be $125 for a complete setup (that's just a guess). What I'm not sure about is if a WBA bill validator system will work in an S+ machine. But as long as the WBA uses ID-022/023 it seems like it should be ok. This is an area I'm not too knowledgeable about.
The easiest solution is to get your Mars/MEI unit updated so I'd spend a few days checking on that, see if it is possible and what the cost would be. If that doesn't work out there should be other bill validators you can buy and install, the S+ is the most popular hobbyist machine to own, so parts available for it are abundant.
-
The machine he posted a picture of is a 9" flat top. It's missing the player tracking bracket cover.
The link posted for the award glass is for a 16" high top machine.
-
Thanks Ken, that clears that up, no way a full size glass will fit. What about the MEI/Mars bv, do you know if anyone can update the software in it? If not is there a good bv replacement, like a WBA system?
-
WBA with new 5 would be the best thing for this machine.
-
Jim, anyone, Can you tell me how to remove this WBA metal housing, seem to be stuck. Got it this far!!
Chase
-
In your second picture you can see holes at the bottom side edge. A 9/32 socket I think will go in to remove at least 2 nuts.
-
I blew up the picture of the interior. The screw by reel 3 can go back in that top hole.
Inside of the inner frame there are two phillips head screws inside of those 1/4 pie openings. Those two screws need removed.
-
I forgot about those. Could not see in picture
-
I'm late to this thread, but congrats on your purchase. Coral Reef was my very first slot machine (hence my icon), and it's a great game.
-
Thanks, It wasn't in the best shape and tonight I pulled the motherboard to check the battery for leakage. It looks like roaches once had a thriving community on the motherboard. I got the 3 9/32 screws out of the outside cage and found 2 more on the bottom between the cage and power supply. I will need to find a 6" 1/4 drive, to get those. Here is what the motherboard looks like.
Chase
-
Thanks, It wasn't in the best shape and tonight I pulled the motherboard to check the battery for leakage. It looks like roaches once had a thriving community on the motherboard. I got the 3 9/32 screws out of the outside cage and found 2 more on the bottom between the cage and power supply. I will need to find a 6" 1/4 drive, to get those. Here is what the motherboard looks like.
Chase
Leave the five 9/32 nuts there. You are only trying to remove the inner frame .. not the outer frame.
-
Thanks, It wasn't in the best shape and tonight I pulled the motherboard to check the battery for leakage.
For your knowledge, on the IGT S+ machines, that board you took out is called the MPU board. The "motherboard" on those machines is the small fixed board in the bottom of the machine that the MPU board plugs into. :Professor:
-
Too many connectors, what do they do and where do they go?
Chase
-
A lot of times there are a number of connectors in the machines that are not used. Usually left over from casino equipment that has been removed before the machines left. Sometimes the connectors are even cut off and just wires are dangling.
Dave
-
If all aspects of the machine are working ok then the unused connectors are not for anything critical. As Shaggy said, they could be for optional equip that was installed in the casino, then removed when the machine was sold. They leave the wiring in the machine because it is not worth their time to remove it. And some cables could be for something like the drop box in the stand for overflow coins, etc, that are not being used at this time.
-
Coral Reef S +
I really thought I had this thing wrapped up, but this morning I played the thing and this came up. When I got triple bars it gave me 150 credits, when according to the top glass it should have been 500. Is there a dip switch the controls the payout, or is that a function of the progressive slots which wouldn't work now because it is a stand alone machine?
Chase
-
Good news - The pay is correct.
Bad news - The inserts are incorrect and need replaced.
Should be 2500/150 for the top two awards for 3 coins played not 5000/500.
-
Are you talking about the inserts on the top glass? If so where would I find these?
Chase
-
Rich, I have those inserts, I'LL send them to you, no charge. :merryxmas:
Jim
-
Thank You Jim, I would greatly appreciate that. Do you have my address still? Wife had me Christmas Shopping all day yesterday, so I didn't see this till this morning. I picked up another machine that I can play with after this one. It has a ram error. It is a s2000 triple triple Diamond. Dollar, Coin-less, with a printer, might want to make it another quarter machine after the holidays.
Chase
-
This is the final product. It works and has the right top glass. I want to thank you all for all your help. I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and Holidays. Now onto the S2000, triple triple Diamond.
Chase