Pinbot is in a Coma

[solar value]

Hi Fellas,

I was playing Pinbot just last night but when I went to turn it on this morning it would not power up at all, i.e. no lights, no sound, nothin'. Upon opening the in-line filter box I found that one of the varistors had blown up. I replaced the varistor and checked the main power fuse which tested OK but I replaced it for good measure anyway. Surely this would bring Pinbot out of his coma? No, still nothing at all when I flick the switch. Plug looks OK (it's a clear one), have tried different powerpoints to no avail.

Can anyone tell me how to check if power is getting past the in-line filter to the transformer? Are the two varistors in the in-line filter box the same? Any other advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks, SV.

[MartyJ]

Hmm, you can test the Line filter for 240 either side but very dangerous and should be done by qualified person

[beaky]

are any led's lighting up on the mpu / driver board ? if there is then you are getting power

It's safer to check if you have any voltage coming out of the transformer by checking the low voltage a/c into the power supply, if you have power getting to the transformer and the transformer is ok you will get the low voltages into the power supply

the easiest and safest way to check if power is getting to the transformer is to do it with the mains plug unplugged from the power point and make sure the switch under the pinball machine is turned on.
then put your multimeter onto continuity and connect the red and black multimeter wires on the two pins on the plug that are active and neutral (the two angled pins)
if the switch under the machine is on and the multi meter beeps then the circuit will be complete and power will be getting to the transformer when you plug it in.

[solar value]

Hi Marty and Beaky, thanks for the replies.

Beaky, there are no LED's lighting up on the MPU. I checked for continuity on the plug and I'm pretty sure the circuit is not complete (I used the lowest resistance setting because I don't think my multimeter reads continuity). There was no change in the reading when I flicked the switch and I compared this to another machine which did change. So that means there is a problem with the power lead, the varistors, the fuse or the filter itself, right? The fuse is definitely OK, Can I test the other components?

[beaky]

Hi Marty and Beaky, thanks for the replies.

Beaky, there are no LED's lighting up on the MPU. I checked for continuity on the plug and I'm pretty sure the circuit is not complete (I used the lowest resistance setting because I don't think my multimeter reads continuity). There was no change in the reading when I flicked the switch and I compared this to another machine which did change. So that means there is a problem with the power lead, the varistors, the fuse or the filter itself, right? The fuse is definitely OK, Can I test the other components?

yep you sure can. it is possibly the power filter.  again you will need to have the plug disconnected from the supply to do the following tests.

unplug the plug between the switch under the pinball machine and the transformer. then check resistance from the brown wire going in to the fuse holder to the brown wire connected to on your 3 pin mains plug and then test the blue wire on the filter to the blue wire on the plug.

if all is ok (0 ohms on each) then test from the brown wire going into the fuse holder to the orange wire coming out of the fuse holder. if this reads 0 ohms then proceed to the next step. if not then there is a problem with the fuse or fuse holder.

next test from the orange wire coming out of the fuse holder to the orange wire going into the line filter,

if this is 0 ohms check the orange wire going into the line filter to the black wire coming out of the line filter. then test the blue wire going in to the line filter to the white wire coming out of the line filter.
if all is ok (0 ohms) then proceed to the next step. if not then it is the line filter that is faulty.

next test the black wire coming out of the line filter to the black wire on the plug that connects to the transformer that you disconnected earlier. if it is open and does not read 0 ohms then try changing the position of the switch if it is ok then do the same with the white wire coming from the line filter.

let me know how you go.

at no stage during these tests is the machine to be plugged into the wall

[goodolddays]

Great advice there Beaky . This should go in the Handy hints and Tips section .

[beaky]

thanks mate.
Marty had a very good & Valid point so i thought of a safe way around it.

[chillie]

Check that you have not interchanged a Varitor and a thermistor (Excuse my spelling) they do two different things and will cause the problem you describe.

My 2 cents worth

[solar value]

Check that you have not interchanged a Varitor and a thermistor (Excuse my spelling) they do two different things and will cause the problem you describe.

Ah, yes, that will be it. Thanks Chillie, nice bit of deduction there.

And thanks Beaky, you helped me narrow the problem down and I learnt a lot from the process.

Thanks again Aussie Pinball.

[beaky]

Looks like some have a wire between the fuse holder and filter and some have a wire

i have only come across the ones with a wire

good call Chillie