IGT S+ coin optic problem

[Mark H]

New to this board, so please bear with me.

I picked up a 1996 IGT S+ from a guy on a whim.  It was working OK, but he said he moved it across his garage and it wouldn't accept coins after that.  He said "probably a loose wire, but I don't want it anymore".  So I picked it up for $50.

After getting it home, a couple days later I had error code 12.  So in doing research, I replaced the battery.  Error code went away, but comparator was still not working.  I reset the machine and now the comparator is working and accepting coins, but no credits are registering.  The reels spin and I get a 0 in the coins as if it's ready, it takes the quarters, but no credits.

I opened up the door and pushed the white button on the coin optics.  It registered up to 3 credits, so I know I have power.  In addition, I did the cardboard test, and that caused it to register credits.  If I hold the cardboard in long enough, I get error 21.  So the optics seem to be working with the door open.

When I get home tonight, I'm going to drop coins through the optics with the door open to see if they register.

But with the door closed, is there a setting that needs to be changed so that the optics work when the door is closed?  Or is it just that the coin is going by too fast?  Or the guide needs to be adjusted?

I apologize if I'm using the wrong terms.

When this is done, it will be a great addition to my man cave, which currently has pool table, big screen TV, leather chairs, surround sound, stainless steel bar, refrigerator and sports memorabilia.

Thanks for your help!!!

Mark H
Fort Worth, TX

[rokgpsman]

Welcome to NLG!

There's several possibilities, you've gone thru some of them and been reading about your machine, that's good!

When you replaced the battery on the main logic board (called the "mpu" board) did you see any signs of battery damage to the board? That stuff can cause intermittent and odd failures. Although it isn't likely to be what's going on here you need to be aware of it to avoid other problems.

When you press the small white button and it puts credits on the machine that is good, means a lot of the circuitry is working. After putting credits on the machine this way you should be able to press the Spin button and play. I think they call these "pseudo credits", it is used for testing purposes. This part working but not getting credits by inserting a coin from the front of machine points to a problem in the coin acceptance area. Since your coin comparitor doesn't reject the inserted coins back to the front tray I agree that your comparitor is accepting the coin. Was the machine possibly converted to nickel coin use and the coin optics are still setup for quarter or larger coin? If so the smaller coin may be dropping thru the coin optics without actually being seen. In between the coin optic boards is a plastic guide to steer the inserted coin so it properly passes by the optic sensors. If this guide is missing or the wrong one that may be your problem, something to consider. When you get a machine that's new to you and no telling what people have done to it in the past then everything is a possibility. I'd carefully remove the coin optics boards, see what it looks like in there. Post photos if you aren't sure and have questions, or post some anyway, we like seeing photos.

If you can post pictures of the inside of your main door showing the coin acceptor/coin comparitor area that will help people here to know better what you have. Not all machines are the same, even if they are the same model.

I don't think there is a setting for coinless operation that can turn-off the coin optics, others here will help with that question. But if there was I'd think the coin would get returned to the front tray instead of the machine letting it drop thru to hopper. The settings available on your machine will depend on the eprom software chips installed, post a photo of your mpu board showing the large socketed chips so we can read the labels, that will determine what settings and preference options you have.

By the way, $50 for a parts-complete S+ is a good deal in my book, good job.