I'm having (another) opto issue on my Scared Stiff. The two optos in the crate are working intermittently. I found out that if I shake the harness, they either trigger or starting working again. Even if I disconnect the connectors that go to the optos and shake the harness, the switches sometimes register. The connectors look good. Seems like there's maybe a short or open in the harness.

Thoughts?

I reflowed the connections for a previous issue which is now resolved.

If I move around the harness near the optos, they'll trigger. If I move them around the opto PCB, no triggering. It's odd.

Here's a video of the issue. Note that two of the three optos that I pulled on had new IR transmitters and receivers.

Any ideas???

Bump.

Based on the video, do you think some opto connectors need to be re-done?

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/opto-issues-on-scared-stiff

TDLR, replaced trough opto board after the switches were flickering and usual fixes did nothing. Lost two optos in the process. New trough boards were the culprit.

Now, it seems like all optos are just very touchy. Seems really weird.

I disconnected all the optos and tried to narrow down the issue. Only three optos trigger with the harness moving - popper and both crate switches. These three are in a sequence on the matrix. Also, they trigger by gently flexing the Molex connector for each switch, so it's not the harness.

Any ideas on where to go with this next? I'm really struggling to figure this one out!

SS_Switch_Matrix_(resized).png

Ordered some Molex parts. Going to try that next. Should be here towards the end of the week.

I hope this works, but I am doubtful. Seems suspicious that these three switches are sequenced on the switch matrix.

Re-pinned the three connectors and everything appears to be working! Only put one game on it, but I think it's fixed.

I'll report back after getting some more time on it.

Put about a dozen games on it. Looks like re-pinning the connectors fixed it.