Earthshaker transformer

[MartyJ]

Rob,

You can see the difference in colour of my transformer.  Is there much other corrosion on the metal parts on the machine.

So I take it you have checked the schematics for the machine, the power cord in to the h/v box, fuse in it, wiring has not come loose or touching metal, EMI filter etc.. all OK?

Have you PM'd MarkC to see if he is wrecking any Sys11b games?  If he doesn't have a transformer to suit somewhere I'd be surprised!

I understand as I mentioned earlier, some transfomers need to be jumpered for correct voltage / hertz for different countries. 

I'm trying to find this to ensure yours is / was correct....

[robm]

Marty,

Yep, can see the difference in colour - but the stickers and wiring are all the same, so i'm happy its the right one and the problem was caused further along the circuit somewhere.  Have checked the wiring, fuses and EMI filter which all look perfect.  The transformer is the only thing with corrosion in the machine.

Have checked with Markc and Tony from the Pinball shed, neither have any wrecked sys 11B machines, but Tony gave me the number of a guy who is looking into it for me.  Otherwise it might be a waiting game until one comes up.

Rob

[MartyJ]

Alrighty sounds like a plan.

Have you tested the MPU board as yet?  Might be a good idea.  This can be done on your work bench with either a computer power supply or JAMMA power supply.  I did this on my Police Force and was very handy to make sure it boots etc..

[The pinballist formally known as Dean Morgan]

You could try taking it to an armature winder / electrical engineering shop that specilise in re-winding transformers, motors etc.  They would at least be able to test it for you and confirm that it is stuffed and probably price to have it repaired or stear you in the right direction for its repair or replacement.

[Strangeways]

Page 87-88 of the manual has the configuration of the transformer;

Pin 1 - Black wire

Pin 3 - Jumpered to Pin 9

Pin 7 - White

This is for 230 V input.

You need to check this before plugging it in again.

[robm]

How do i number the pins?

If they are

3 4 9
2 5 8
1 6 7

as holding in the picture then its all sweet?

[MartyJ]

Mine

[Strangeways]

I think yours is jumpered right, Rob.

Marty's is the same.

Can you test the transformer with no load - ie. No connections from the transformer to the machine ? The schematics will have the voltages you should be seeing.

[robm]

I'm a bit nervous doing that - not because its 240v but when i got the machine i did that (ie: disconnected from everything downstream of the transformer) and it gave a hiss and let out some smoke.

I did no further testing after that as i assumed its stuffed - but maybe it just fried a cockroach in there?....

It didn't trip my RCD

[MartyJ]

I think yours is jumpered right, Rob.

Marty's is the same.

Can you test the transformer with no load - ie. No connections from the transformer to the machine ? The schematics will have the voltages you should be seeing.

My theory (well 2) are:

Power surge / lightening strike has killed transformer and powerboard with surge.  The way it has burnt on your power board looks very much like a surge.

Or something has been spilt on transformer causing an internal short.

Hopefully another transformer will turn up.

[ddstoys]

If it smoked with no load theres a good chance its stuffed but just for good measure try it again and see what happens if theres no load its not going to do anymore damage.   Just open a window first

[Strangeways]

rob - Sounds like the transformer has an internal short.

At this point, I would be looking for a replacement - either from a parted out machine, or an equivalent sourced from somewhere. I think you can have them rewound ?

[MartyJ]

Any luck with a transformer as yet?

[robm]

Tony from The pinball shed got me onto a guy John, who got back to me yesterday with a replacement transformer!!!

Should be posted in the next day or so - may even have it by the weekend.

Then the fun starts.

I will have a working transformer and power supply board (got rottendog replacement).

Will start just plugging those two in and triple check fuses are correctly rated (unlike previous owner).

Then i will have some repairs to do on the display board as it looks pretty nasty - almost looks like someone has had a go with the welder in some spots instead of a soldering iron!!

Will be asking for assistance when i get to that stage

[MartyJ]

Awesome stuff.

In the mean time you can also check the CPU board.  This can be booted on your work bench with a JAMMA power supply or old computer power supply.

If you have any dead chips let me know I may have a couple spares..