SOLVED - BSD MIST Opto Issues

I'm having an issue with mist (long range opto) that I could use pinsider help with..

Symptom: Mist motor keeps running back and forth.. ball doesn't attempt to load.

Problem: "Ball on magnet" switch, in switch test will not close when interrupting the long opto beam on the playfield.

Troubleshooting steps:
Row/Col for the "ball on magnet" switch can be successfully tested at the mpu, eliminating the MPU as the issue
Replaced the opto board w/ the homepin opto board and the LED indicator light is lit, and goes out when breaking the beam w/ my hand. The "ball on magnet" switch never closes in switch test.
Continuity for the row/col test successfully from J3 back to the appropriate pin on the MPU.
All other switches/opto's in the game work correctly
Repinned J3 connector (grasping at straws)
Replaced both transmit and receive optos (grasping at straws)

update: using the original board and a TV remote towards the receiver, the "ball on magnet" switch will close, but manually interrupting the beam will not. I can see the transmitter lit up w/ an IR camera.

using the homepin board, and a TV remote towards the receiver, nothing happens.. I'm thinking the homepin board is defective.

a diode between j3 pin 1&3 (row/col) closes the "ball on magnet" switch correctly, so this should rule out the playfield wiring, and MPU as an issue.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Post last edited 5 years ago.

#2 5 years ago

DLS

bigd1979

Pinside member

I have heard of the homepin board having issues like this. Do you happen to have the original 24opto board?

#3 5 years ago

BTF

PinballManiac40

Pinside+ Frequent

It is time to change the transmitter opto.

#4 5 years ago

knockerlover

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from bigd1979:
I have heard of the homepin board having issues like this. Do you happen to have the original 24opto board?

Yes I have the original board.. which only sometimes works..

#5 5 years ago

knockerlover

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from PinballManiac40:
It is time to change the transmitter opto.

I've already replaced it, and the LED being lit on the homepin board indicates that it's working, doesn't it?

#6 5 years ago

DLS

bigd1979

Pinside member

OP
Quoted from knockerlover:
Yes I have the original board.. which only sometimes works..

OP
Quoted from knockerlover:
I've already replaced it, and the LED being lit on the homepin board indicates that it's working, doesn't it?

Not necessarily from what i remember.... try the original board and c what happens

#7 5 years ago

BTF

PinballManiac40

Pinside+ Frequent

OP
Quoted from knockerlover:
I've already replaced it, and the LED being lit on the homepin board indicates that it's working, doesn't it?

I am not familiar with that board.

Does the Mist opto register in the switch edge test?

#8 5 years ago

knockerlover

Pinside+ Frequent

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/bsd-mist-woes-long-beam-opto#post-2977881

Here is homepins post about this board and the indicator light.

#9 5 years ago

knockerlover

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from bigd1979:
Not necessarily from what i remember.... try the original board and c what happens

The original board only works sometimes, like on initial startup then the same thing happens.

#10 5 years ago

Spinape

Inactive member

Edmonton, AB

5y 43,800 311 2

OP
Quoted from knockerlover:
The original board only works sometimes, like on initial startup then the same thing happens.

If I recall, that’s exactly what was happening with mine. It worked on startup and that’s it. For me it was just changing out the transmitter. The receiver opto rarely fails. Is it saying check switch 82?

#11 5 years ago

DLS

bigd1979

Pinside member

OP
Quoted from knockerlover:
The original board only works sometimes, like on initial startup then the same thing happens.

Board just needs a new capacitor at c7 more than likely. That fixed mine and others ive did for people with same issue.

#12 5 years ago

BTF

PinballManiac40

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from PinballManiac40:
Does the Mist opto register in the switch edge test?

#13 5 years ago

knockerlover

Pinside+ Frequent

Problem: "Ball on magnet" switch, in switch test will not close when interrupting the long opto beam on the playfield

#14 5 years ago

BTF

PinballManiac40

Pinside+ Frequent

Is the transmitter opto lit when you look through a digital camera?

#15 5 years ago

knockerlover

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from PinballManiac40:
Is the transmitter opto lit when you look through a digital camera?

yes

#16 5 years ago

Spinape

Inactive member

Edmonton, AB

5y 43,800 311 2

You said it will work once on start up? Try taking a TV remote to it. I found that reset it. I think the remote only works on the long range opto due to the intermittent pattern it transmits.

#17 5 years ago

???

mollyspub

Pinside member

Cheektavegas, NY

10y 128K 3,414 7

Quoted from bigd1979:
I have heard of the homepin board having issues like this. Do you happen to have the original 24opto board?

Since when?

#18 5 years ago

Spinape

Inactive member

Edmonton, AB

5y 43,800 311 2

Quoted from mollyspub:
Since when?

I’ve read a few other topics with mist multi, new homepin board and the issue persisted. However, that doesn’t prove the board is to fault

#19 5 years ago

DLS

bigd1979

Pinside member

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/bram-stokers-dracula-clubmembers-only/page/81#post-3521701

Quoted from mollyspub:
Since when?

Since i read about issues with them here in pinside..... u think i just make random stuff up?

#20 5 years ago

JAM

NPO

Pinside member

12y 133K 7,652 3 17

Quoted from mollyspub:
Since when?

It does happen...mine would continuously load the mist ball and then dump it into the PF. It was a constant never-ending cycle.

Homepin was great and sent me new boards right away.

#21 5 years ago

NEW

newtoit

Pinside member

Bradenton, FL

10y 71,350 1,326 4 22 1

Is thr green led lit on the homepin? Mine had an issue eith the sensitivity pot on the board. Wigglef it and it would work

#22 5 years ago

???

mollyspub

Pinside member

Cheektavegas, NY

10y 128K 3,414 7

Quoted from bigd1979:
Since i read about issues with them here in pinside..... u think i just make random stuff up?

Ya never know here on Pinside. Hahaha

#23 5 years ago

???

mollyspub

Pinside member

Cheektavegas, NY

10y 128K 3,414 7

Quoted from NPO:
It does happen...mine would continuously load the mist ball and then dump it into the PF. It was a constant never-ending cycle.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/bram-stokers-dracula-clubmembers-only/page/81#post-3521701
Homepin was great and sent me new boards right away.

I purchased one of these recently... Just in case. Guess I better try it out before it's too late to exchange it.

#24 5 years ago

knockerlover

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from newtoit:
Is thr green led lit on the homepin? Mine had an issue eith the sensitivity pot on the board. Wigglef it and it would work

Yes.

#25 5 years ago

RAT

Medisinyl

Medisinyl Mods

Gainesville, FL

9y 142K 3,160 16 34

Receiver opto was my fix for this same issue...after replacing everything else first and failing (as I also read that it wasn't likely the issue).

#26 5 years ago

BTF

PinballManiac40

Pinside+ Frequent

Quoted from Medisinyl:
Receiver opto was my fix for this same issue...after replacing everything else first and failing (as I also read that it wasn't likely the issue).

That would be my next step.

#27 5 years ago

STK

flynnibus

Pinside+ Frequent

11y 134K 13,217

Quoted from PinballManiac40:
That would be my next step.

Both Optos were already replaced as part of the troubleshooting.

#28 5 years ago

knockerlover

Pinside+ Frequent