CEI Video Poker Version 51.0X Picture Tube Replacement

[gwingard]

I'm trying to freshen up a Version 51.0X CEI video poker machine.  Machine works perfectly but is suffering from the dreaded CRT screen burn-in.  I know a lot of folks have replaced the CRT in various machines with LCD screens but I was hoping to just find another CRT that will fit in the device.  The current picture tube is an RCA A33ACD42X.  I was wondering if I might be able to just swap in a tube from an old TV or perhaps from an old computer monitor?  This machine also has a very house favorable payout scheme and I'm wondering if there's a software fix to make it payout a little more liberally or do I need to change a PROM?  Any help would be most appreciated.
Geoffrey

[rokgpsman]

Hopefully someone familiar with CEI/Cal-Omega machines will be able to help answer your questions. Here's what little I can say and I'm not 100% sure so keep that in mind.....

Does it have a dipswitch someplace on the main logic board (mpu or cpu board)? If so I think some of the game software sets may look at the dipswitch and you can select between 2 different payout percentages.

If this machine has always had the same or similar poker game then the screen burn may not be too noticeable when the machine it running. A lot of times the screen burn looks bad when the machine is off but ok while playing it.

Sometimes you can brighten an old crt by using what is called a "crt rejuvanator". It is a piece of equipment that you connect to your crt and it temporarily applies a higher voltage to the cathode to "boil" off the old coating that forms on it. That coating reduces the number of electrons the cathode emits, and that causes a dimmer image on the screen. If the screen image can be made brighter/stronger then the screen burn is not as noticeable when playing. But nothing will remove the screen burn, that's a permanent fading to the phosphor coating on the inside of the screen. The crt rejuvanator can sometimes destroy the crt so you should use it with caution, perhaps only when the crt image is unacceptable.

I've not heard of someone replacing the crt with one from a tv set but if it was an equivalent tube it might work ok. You may have to move the yoke deflection assy from the old tube to the new one since the horiz and vert scan circuits are probably different between your slot machine monitor and a tv set. The problem with this idea is that crt's are not easy to find in the size you will need, tv's stopped using crt's quite a while back so there just aren't that many around anymore. And in a lot of towns there aren't any tv shops with old tv's sitting around for parts removal.

[Badbaud]

If it is a Ceronix monitor there are a variety of tubes that can be substituted like CPJ370BVAP...

[Amechanic]

Shoot us a picture of your CRT and chassis so we can see what power chassis it has.

[gwingard]

Here's a few pix.  Let me know if they show what you need to know.  Thanks, Geoffrey

[Amechanic]

You have a 1490 Ceronix chassis. If you check with Badbaud he might have what your looking for. You did say that your picture was ok and that you were just looking for a nicer CRT?

[gwingard]

Game plays 100%  The CRT is super burned in and I was hoping to find better one, perhaps from a thrift store TV or other source.

[Amechanic]

Game plays 100%  The CRT is super burned in and I was hoping to find better one, perhaps from a thrift store TV or other source.

These are a 15” monitor. Not sure a TV came in 15” plus I don’t think they would be compatible. I do know that Badbaud has some in his shop in Vegas. I’m here in MI and I’m sure I have one some where too. Just not the easiest thing to ship.

[Badbaud]

Yes, we have over 30.

[gwingard]

Badbaud:

I'm doing this machine for a friend who may or may not want to spend the money on the replacement CRT.  Is the stock you have new and what would be the price so I can pass that info along to the owner.  Feel free to e-mail me directly if need be.

Thank you,

Geoffrey
gwingard@sbcglobal.net

[Badbaud]

Nothing new about any of these tubes, If I do a swap on a tube I usually look for:

#1 how bad is the burn in?
#2 can the gun brightness be brought up.
#3 does it work installed in a monitor assembly, ie. is the yoke still good.
There was a place in Canada that still made new tubes for Ceronix monitors but I have not tried to contact them in 6 years.
They wanted $140 for a new tube back then.

[rokgpsman]

The cost of new crt's is why I think some CEI and PE+ owners either live with the way their display is, or look at an LCD replacement alternative. Personally I like crt displays but it's getting harder to justify the cost. Not saying KLAR's prices aren't good, just that you have to evaluate what it will cost vs how long the end result will last.

[Amechanic]

Nothing new about any of these tubes, If I do a swap on a tube I usually look for:

#1 how bad is the burn in?
#2 can the gun brightness be brought up.
#3 does it work installed in a monitor assembly, ie. is the yoke still good.
There was a place in Canada that still made new tubes for Ceronix monitors but I have not tried to contact them in 6 years.
They wanted $140 for a new tube back then.

I wouldn’t think they still make CRT Motiors, but they might still have some NOS ones.