Cirqus Voltaire
Bally, 1997Since I have owned this game I have always had this issue:
Lamp column 3 and 4 lights all light together even in single lamp test.
I have traced the wires and could not find any case of bridging the two column wires together. And I would think that if that did happen, it would not affect both columns entirely. Is there anything on the boards in the backbox that could be causing the two columns to light together or is the issue only under the playfield?
Thanks,
Dave
Hi Dave,
I think you have short circuit under the playfield or on the Power board.
Maybe the previous owner soldered something and made small mistake.
Please check the following possibilities:
Lets start the playfield...
1st: Start a lamp test again when seems the problem and remove the cabinet lamp connector J122.
If changing then mistake is in cabinet/door.
2nd: Remove one by one the all lamp connectors to localise the places.
3th: Check the all lamp boards connectors on both side. Check the all single round socket. Possible the hot solder dropped on the lamp board/socket.
I should clarify the problem
When I test in single lamp mode:
1) Row 3 lamp 13 and Row 4 lamp 14 each light together
2) This repeats for every lamp on both rows
A visual inspection of each of the connectors and wiring to the lamp sockets does not show any obvious shorting. (It is very difficult to access / see the WOW light and Ringmaster light board)
What is the best way to troubleshoot next?
Quoted from DnDPins:I should clarify the problem
When I test in single lamp mode:
1) Row 3 lamp 13 and Row 4 lamp 14 each light together
2) This repeats for every lamp on both rows
A visual inspection of each of the connectors and wiring to the lamp sockets does not show any obvious shorting. (It is very difficult to access / see the WOW light and Ringmaster light board)
What is the best way to troubleshoot next?
Hold up - each row/col only has eight lamps on it. Are you meaning:
When light 13 (col 1, row 3) is on, so is lamp 14 (col 1, row 4)?
That is exactly correct.
Following that further:
Next is Row 2 lamp 23 and lamp 24 at the same time...all the way down both rows
Quoted from DnDPins:That is exactly correct.
Following that further:
Next is Row 2 lamp 23 and lamp 24 at the same time...all the way down both rows
Ah, okay! You say "down both rows", so when lamp 43 is selected in game menu, lamp 33 lights too?
If yes, then disconnect the lamp row plugs from the power board, and check for continuity between the two. (When I get into office, I will look up wire colors and plug numbers..) You should NOT get continuity - if your do, then the wires are shorted together on the playfield.
If they're not, then either traces are damaged/shorted on the power board, or the address chip, driver are bad..
Quoted from Coyote:When light 13 (col 1, row 3) is on, so is lamp 14 (col 1, row 4)?
Just to be clear, does that also happen in reverse. When light 14 should be on, does light 13 also turn on?
Quoted from terryb:Just to be clear, does that also happen in reverse. When light 14 should be on, does light 13 also turn on?
I think there's some confusion all around, since rows are side to side, and columns are up down. But, I'm tryin' to figure out if it works the other way, too. 
Quoted from terryb:Just to be clear, does that also happen in reverse. When light 14 should be on, does light 13 also turn on?
Yes.
The problem is isolated to both rows all the way ACROSS (LOL) to rows.
It seems like pin 4 and 5 on the same connector.
Thanks,
Dave
Quoted from Coyote:If yes, then disconnect the lamp row plugs from the power board, and check for continuity between the two. (When I get into office, I will look up wire colors and plug numbers..) You should NOT get continuity - if your do, then the wires are shorted together on the playfield.
Then check this ^. I was just making sure you weren't having an issue with a reversed diode.
Inkochnito's tech chart will give you all the info you need on pin numbers and wire colors.
http://www.pinballrebel.com/pinball/cards/Tech_Charts/Bally_Cirqus_Voltaire_Tech_Chart.pdf
I just noticed that in the manual the connector for the lamp matrix for columns is J121 and on my machine it is plugged into J123. Can someone with a CV please confirm if the Yellow/xx lamp column connector is plugged into J121 or J123. There is nothing currently connected to J121. I want to be sure there is no error in the manual.
Quoted from terryb:Then check this ^. I was just making sure you weren't having an issue with a reversed diode.
Inkochnito's tech chart will give you all the info you need on pin numbers and wire colors.
http://www.pinballrebel.com/pinball/cards/Tech_Charts/Bally_Cirqus_Voltaire_Tech_Chart.pdf
Yeaup, exactly.. a diode wouldn't cause ALL the rows.. Strange issue, I'm guessing either wires touching, or a bade address/driver on the power board.
Good luck OP, let us know what you find..!
Quoted from DnDPins:I just noticed that the connector in the lamp matrix for columns is J121 and on my machine it is plugged into J123. Can someone with a CV please confirm if the Yellow/xx lamp column connector is plugged into J121 or J123. There is nothing currently connected to J121. I want to be sure there is no error in the manual.
This is fine - if my memory serves, there are three plugs for both light rows and columns. (One plug for playfield, one for cabinet, and one for backbox.) The wire connectors are keyed - so you can't plug a column plug into a row header. However, all column headers/plugs should be keyed the same, so it can go into any one of those three. 
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Banning, CA