Balloon Bars suddenly quit working

[OneArmedBandit]

Hi everyone,

Our balloon bar machine just quit working. I went to power up the machine and after closing the door the startup process didn't start. Right now I have working lights on top, but no power to the buttons. I searched for a manual but I cant find one. I appreciate any help!

JC 

[Tilt]

 

How about starting with a picture of the machine.  It could be a S+ or a S2000 and we need to need to know which one it is to start helping you.  Photos have to be less than 1MB in size to post, so resize it as necessary to get under that limit.

[OneArmedBandit]

Here's a couple.

[rickhunter]

It is probably the power connector.  Have a look at this post.

https://newlifegames.com/nlg/index.php?topic=28443.0

[OneArmedBandit]

I tried cleaning the pins and reconnected the molex connector  and machine is still inop. Is the pin oxidized enough to cause this?

[Stayouttadabunker]

"Is the pin oxidized enough to cause this?"
Yep...your machine is what....30+ years old? lol
I can clearly see in your photo above that the second pin from the right on the white Molex power connecter is browned and burned out.
On top of it is the 2nd green ground wire.

Have you checked the three fuses on the power supply yet?
Top fuse = 8 amps
Middle fuse = 6 amps
Bottom fuse = 8 amps.
These should all be quick- blow glass fuses with the thin filament inside.
Check all three fuses with a multimeter.

okay...if the fuses are okay.
There IS something that you can try.
With the door opened and the power switch ON, slowly wiggle the Molex connector upwards on the male motherboard pins.
As you are doing that, observe closely the reels.
If you get power to the reels, they will jiggle slightly like as if they're being energized.
That's when you stop moving the white Molex plug.
What you were trying to do is get a fresh. cleaner electrical contact between the male motherboard header pins and the Molex females pins.
Feel the resistance of the reel basket by moving the reel baskets with your fingers... move one reel basket a few symbols off, up or down, after a few seconds, the reels should spin back to wherever they were before you moved it.

Also... the display should be showing something on the reel glass display....at least the last rightmost one that says [Coins Played].
Don't worry about the 25 cent denomination light - it's probably burned out?

What I just told you here is sort of what kind of behavior you should expect from your machine as you fiddle around with it testing stuff.

Oh...below I've attached your photo, but I outlined a 6-pin black connector that should be plugged into the [J13] header socket on the motherboard.
It is located right next to long 20-pin [J10] header socket.

Click on photo below to enlarge if you wish...>>>

[OneArmedBandit]

Thank you! I'll try this out tomorrow when I get home from work. Thanks again for your time! 

[Stayouttadabunker]

Yeah...if you want and if you're handy with soldering & crimping techniques, you could pick up some brand new Trifurcon pins from Mouser.com.
Below is a link to it...>>>
https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/molex/0008520113/172057

Below is a picture of a trifurcon female pin....it 's made somewhat better than the OEM 2-sided pins.
The Trifurcon pin touches 3-sides of the male motherboard header pin.

Click on photo below to enlarge if you want...>>>

If not, you could place a WTB ad in the Classfieds section of NLG for a new S+ power supply harness.
Hopefully a member/vendor will spot your ad and have one to sell ya.
Member Trisail, I believe, makes new ones. 

[erbs]

He does have them.  https://newlifegames.com/nlg/index.php?topic=32733.msg205178#msg205178