IGT S2000 MEI Bill Validator Issues

[marcbollinger]

OK, here it goes - I've done a LOT of troubleshooting and just am at my wits end before ordering (expensive) parts.

Here is a video of what is happening:
Explanation:

I randomly started to have an issue where the MEI would start doing a winding reset and then the light would go off on the front door and/or result in a Bill Validator Comm Error. All 3 lights (green, yellow, red) steady on. This would occur during normal game play.

Now, no matter what I do, I can not get the MEI to do it's reset, even when powering on the machine or reseating it and the PCB.

Here are some details that might help:

- I have 2 MEI PCB Interface cards, same behavior on both. (One question, how easy are these to short? I placed them in the coin tray while I was swapping them out.. wondering if that did it)
- I have 2 MEI Cashflow readers, same behavior on both.
- I have an IGT S2000 Double Top Dollar and IGT S2k Triple Double Diamond Free Games, same behavior on both.
- I have 2 cash boxes, both in good condition
- The vision board in both machines seems to be working fine (no display errors)

The only thing I can think of is the MEI PCB cards have been shorted out (is there any way I can test with a multimeter?) It's an expensive part, so I want to try to narrow it down if I can.

Please excuse my ignorance, I recently got into slot machine repair, so I'm still learning the ropes. I've reviewed the FAQs and couldn't find anything close to this.

Best,
Marc

[marcbollinger]

If I could delete this thread I would.... I ended up clearing and keying up both machines and the problem is gone.


I guess you can't swap out the PCB's for the MEIs without doing that process.


Best,
Marc

[marcbollinger]

Well, as things typically go during the troubleshooting process, this was only a temporary fix. However, I can now reproduce the issue almost completely now:


1) Insert MEI PCB connector
2) Insert MEI Cashflow reader
3) Insert Cash Box
4) CLEAR
5) KEY and Config - All settings are correct
6) Bill Acceptor works and I'm able to feed as much cash in as I can without fail.
7) Open door, take money out of cash box. Bill Acceptor shows flashing green light (good)
  Close door, light does NOT come on front for bill
9) Open door, test switch, I/O tests, auto-config netplex, Auto-config Bill Validator (fails) - won't accept bills
10) Unseat and reseat bill validator, resets, shows flashing green light, repeat auto-config (fails) - won't accept bills


I've repeated this process with both MEI Validators I have, and both PCB connectors and cash boxes and it always behaves the same.


Is it possible I'm missing something? I've done this process so many times and don't think I'm missing any steps, but having a problem isolating the issue.

[rokgpsman]

It sounds as if the problem begins when you open the cash compartment door to remove the money. The bill validator works properly until you remove cash, then the bv doesn't work until you go thru the whole setup process again. Is there something about the cash compartment security switch that isn't getting activated when you close the cash compartment door? Can you bypass the security switches that have to do with the cash compartment and the bill validator?

I don't know much about the MEI bv setups, hopefully others will have some better suggestions.

[rickhunter]

I would purchase a KNOWN working 6602 head and have a go at it.  If it works, then it's something with your validator heads (mostly likely need to be reflashed).

[marcbollinger]

Both good suggestions, I appreciate it. I’ll be back at this tomorrow.


Know of a good place to get the 6602 heads for reasonable? They seem on the pricey side. I’ll also look around for a flash procedure.


UPDATE: I’m on the MEI forum now and see some things to try. I’ll report back, thank you guys.

[Sunrise Side]

Try doing a Auto  configure in menu 4

[marcbollinger]

Try doing a Auto  configure in menu 4

Yup, already tried that.

[ANIslots]

by chance do you have your main door switch bypassed
reason i asked is on a few of my machines the belly door switch was bypassed, so when i opened belly door then open cashbox door and get the b open and bill validator error cause cash box removed, upon putting cashbox back in the bill validator error would not go away when closing main(belly door)
i had to open main door and close it  to reset it,
once i reenabled the belly door switchs problem went away
apparently the bv would not reset till after it detected my main door close.


just my experience and may have nothing to do with your issue

[marcbollinger]

Hey all,

OK, so I'm having a problem with both of my MEI Cashflows in 2 separate machines. It's completely reproducible at this point and I'm not sure of the cause.

Summary:

The MEI's will accept cash after a CLEAR and KEY process, but then will quickly fail and "lockup", usually after the first time removing the cashbox and putting it back in.

Machine #1: IGT S2k Triple Double Diamonds FREE GAMES with MEI Cashflow 6602
Machine #2: IGT S2000 Double Top Dollar with MEI Cashflow 6602

Here is what Machine #1 does after clear+key: https://youtu.be/ko6JLvOOQK4

Here is what Machine #2 does (did a full key process on this one): https://youtu.be/flFYzaxIwOo

Now, some info:

I've tried swapping the heads, pcb and cashboxes between the machines and end up with the same result. Sometimes I will get a Bill Validator Comm Error, but usually I don't.

Basically, it will work for the first time I feed cash in, then it will fail after that in one of two ways:

1) MEI head will attempt to reset and stop in the middle with all 3 lights on (green, yellow, red)
2) MEI head will seem ready (flashing green light), but won't accept bills and NETPLEX can not find it any longer

Is it possible that I have 2 bad MEI heads and/or PCBs? Sadly, I don't have any other spare parts - would have to order more ($$$), so wanted to see if I'm doing something wrong first.

Thanks in advance!
Marc




(this post was originally in a separate thread, merged here because it is related to the same problem topic)

[marcbollinger]

by chance do you have your main door switch bypassed
reason i asked is on a few of my machines the belly door switch was bypassed, so when i opened belly door then open cashbox door and get the b open and bill validator error cause cash box removed, upon putting cashbox back in the bill validator error would not go away when closing main(belly door)
i had to open main door and close it  to reset it,
once i reenabled the belly door switchs problem went away
apparently the bv would not reset till after it detected my main door close.


just my experience and may have nothing to do with your issue

Nope, I haven't bypassed the main door


I recreated this topic over in the MEI sub-forum, I appreciate everyone's help and advice!
http://newlifegames.com/nlg/index.php?topic=21745.0


Best,
Marc

[rickhunter]

Both good suggestions, I appreciate it. I’ll be back at this tomorrow.


Know of a good place to get the 6602 heads for reasonable? They seem on the pricey side. I’ll also look around for a flash procedure.


UPDATE: I’m on the MEI forum now and see some things to try. I’ll report back, thank you guys.

What do you consider pricey?  Most of the time the heads can be had for under $50.

[marcbollinger]

Eh, that's reasonable, mostly talking about spininc with the crazy shipping ;p


Any recommendation on vendors besides posting a LTB on here?

[ANIslots]

Eh, that's reasonable, mostly talking about spininc with the crazy shipping ;p


Any recommendation on vendors besides posting a LTB on here?

its been awhile but if you contect spininc directly and dont order from web the shipping gets more reasonable  if your buying multiple items
most web sites cant calculate shipping correclty for multiple items

[marcbollinger]

Well, my post on the MEI sub-forum was deleted for some reason, I don't think I broke any rules, but shrug.


Anyway, I'm going to pick up a new MEI 6602 head and see what's up.

[rokgpsman]

It looked like it was a duplicate post to the one in this discussion thread so I deleted it. No need to have 2 separate discussion threads running for the same problem topic. Not a big infraction, just housekeeping to keep things tidy.

[marcbollinger]

It's all good, I totally understand... was thinking it would be more appropriate in that sub-forum, but couldn't find a way to move it.


Here are two videos that I made on this issue:


Machine #1: https://youtu.be/ko6JLvOOQK4
Machine #2: https://youtu.be/flFYzaxIwOo

[rokgpsman]

If you prefer to have this entire discussion thread moved to the MEI sub-forum I can do that. Just didn't want to have 2 threads in different places for the same problem topic, causes confusion since some people will reply in one thread and other people will reply in the 2nd one.

[marcbollinger]

If you prefer to have this entire discussion thread moved to the MEI sub-forum I can do that. Just didn't want to have 2 threads in different places for the same problem topic, causes confusion since some people will reply in one thread and other people will reply in the 2nd one.

Yeah, if you wouldn’t mind moving it, that would be great. I appreciate you keeping the house clean.

[rokgpsman]

ok, this discussion is now in the MEI bill validator sub-forum. Also, I resurrected that one post you had posted separate from this discussion and merged it in here. Due to the date & time you made that post it shows up as post #9 in this discussion. I think it reflects the state of your troubleshooting at the time it was made so may be helpful to the flow of thinking and give additional info to others. If you re-read it and want to change anything just click on "Modify" in the upper-right corner of the post to do an edit. Or if you want it removed entirely just let me know.