WMS BB2 printer comm error

[idhgamer]

It sounds like a possible bad solder joint, flaky interface board or loose ground pin connection.

To begin with, I would be unplugging and thoroughly checking that printer harness from one end to the other end.
I'd clean every pin with deoxidizing agent.
Then I would place the printer interface board under a magnifying lamp and checking out each and every board IC component.
The printer itself, I'd be totally dismantling it and checking that printer head as well.
After that, I'd be running test after tests to make sure it powers up and prints correctly until I am certain that everything works perfectly....but that's just me....

Greetings from Canada!

I know this is old but it seemed reasonable to keep Printer Com issues in the same spot. 
Topic split by moderator - better to start a new one.

I have two BB 2 machines. I'll call them husband and wife.  Wife was powering off/resetting and it was recommended I replace the power supply. Once replaced, I encountered a Printer Com error similar to original poster. The harness from the gen2 printer to the molex was super ratty, so I started with replacing that.  Error persisted so I traded printers in the machines. Error persists, and Husband BB 2 now has Wife printer and it works fine. I feel if ticked a few of the above recommendations.  Deoxidizing agent ordered. Im wondering if something isn't fully tight after power supply replacement... but it seems solid. How best to investigate that, and how to identify printer interface board if needed?

Appreciate your time

[Stayouttadabunker]

Your problem may not be the printer rather, but instead the power supply.
Since it was previously working and you haven't changed any printer settings, (It should still be set for Netplex printer), I will harbor a guess that the "Printer COMM error" message is the result of a failing power supply box....I've had it happen to me once.

It sounds to me like you've lost the voltage on that single orange wire that connects from the printer harness, to the power supply box.
Swap power supply box, but use the same printer...to see if that narrows down the problem to the single, orange un-powered wire from the power supply.
You can see check for voltage on that pin straight out of the power supply with your multimeter, if you own one.
Offhand & here at home, I can only guess that the voltage going thru that orange wire should be 5 volts DC?
Again, I'm unsure of the volatge on that paticular pin out of the power supply box.

Finally, check that orange wire for continuity....if it's broken somewhere under the wire covering that you cannot physically see, and doesn't supply voltage thru it, you will get that printer COMM error message.

[idhgamer]

Thank you for the reply Stay. 

That would be a bummer if the 'new' power supply was a lemon.   

I'm going to start with your continuity suggestion first; perhaps something happened to it when I swapped in the power supply. Maybe try the classic unplug replug first.

 

*EDIT*  8.87V to the printer harness connection.   Too high?     

FWITW  - Husband Machine (planet Moolah) would play but not print a ticket with Wife (Dukes of Hazard Spinning streak) printer - A RS232 Gen2.   So I traded them back and Moolah is fine now.     Its using an epic 950L from Ithaca.

The RS232 is making quite a grinding noise trying to feed. Will the mechanical issue throw up the error?   Trying to do more testing but cant get 'call attendant' off the screen.  Key has no spring in it. Making a grocery list of parts at this point.

[Stayouttadabunker]

I think the RS232 GEN2 is NOT an Netplex printer? I could be wrong.
It uses the same kind of connector plug as the Ithaca right?
Plus, you had Moolah printer settings already set for "Ithaca 850", instead of Netplex printer?
If so, that could explain why the Gen2 wasn't "seen" by the MPU....it needed the pinter settings changed from Ithaca to Netplex.
Patience is the key here as it takes forever for a BB2 to fully boot up.

On the orange wiring pin at the power supply...what was the 8.87 volts for?...AC or DC?
Still need to check that orange wire for continuity.
I wish someone could check the voltage coming out of the power supply on that orange wire fo ya.
We need some help guys!

[idhgamer]

These came from a shop down south after making the bill slots inert. (can't adult in Canada)   I don't have start up know how, although a tech up here said there was a card that could allow a reset?  From browsing here I'm guessing that tech is a no no.

Same pin config on the printer so I tried trading. makes sense of course that they would have a different bios.

Voltage was DC  - 8.7 through the harness leading to the printer connection.   Printer harness was new. Could be just new to me.

[rickhunter]

What printer do each machine have in their software configuration.  You have to open door, push the diagnostic button and look at the setup tab under devices to see what you have selected as printers.  Do you have a TITO board installed?  What is the firmware on your gen2 printer (hold down feed button while you power on machine and it will print a ticket with the required information).  It is possible that you have a bad gen2 printer if you have the correct firmware and still getting errors.