Medieval Madness
Williams, 1997Hoping someone can give me some ideas to try here.
During regular gameplay, the Left Popper switch to get the ball out of the moat is triggered randomly.
In the switch tests, everything seems to function fine, but in the switch edge test, hitting the flippers can trigger extra switches, including the left popper.
See video of test. https://vimeo.com/251056406
Any ideas?
Probably vibration. You need to gap that switch a little. Look for anything loose under there while your at it.
The left popper is an optoswitch; how do I gap that? Or is there another switch involved that I am missing?
I have taken black and white sides both out, cleaned and resoldered and also checked optoboard underneath play field.
Should not be an opto, the rim switch or skirt at the bottom of the pop number that the ball hits pushes down on a spoon under the playfield. Buzz is correct, you have to adjust the switch gap.
Basically the skirt wiggles its little Willy in the spoon, found some pics online to help (from performance Pinball)
Looks like those opto were replaces once before and there could be a cold solder joint. Those wires are a little messy with a burn mark on the board.
Also blow some canned air into the optos first to make sure they are not dirty.
But I would think if you put the game in switch edge test you could trigger it with a little jiggling and banging.
Quoted from Taxman:But I would think if you put the game in switch edge test you could trigger it with a little jiggling and banging.
Went through them again, no luck triggering in switch edge accidentally. Chances it is the Optos themselves or the optoboard?
If is was an opto it would trigger as a switch (opto failing, dirty or wire).
The only reason for the popper to fire is it thinks a ball is there. The only reason for it to think a ball is there is for the CPU to get a triggered switch. So from opto to the 10-opto board to the CPU switch matrix all does one thing. Tell the CPU a switch it triggered.
Unless during game play one switch is triggering another. With physical switches this normally means a diode on a switch making it look like another was closed. If a component on the 10-opto board is failing (like an LM339) it would still register as a switch triggering.
When you say it fires during gameplay is it random? Is the ball triggering a different opto? How often does it happen?
Quoted from Taxman:When you say it fires during gameplay is it random? Is the ball triggering a different opto? How often does it happen?
Ball doesn’t seem to trigger other opto.
The only thing I’ve been able to isolate in play and testing is the flippers sometimes appear to trigger a few switches.
Left or right flipper by itself seems okay, both at once will trigger the left popper, castle, etc.
I didn't know this was also triggered by both flippers.
Question, did you install any mods or LED strings where you needed to tap into the 12v power?
Quoted from _xizor:Chances it is the Optos themselves
Clean the optos with a moist Q-Tip. Remove the old solder for the wires to the optos and flow on new. You can remove the whole assembly by two connectors and three screws, and work at a table. Be sure new solder joints are clean and good.
If problem remains, replace both sides, transmitter and receiver.
LTG : )
Quoted from Taxman:I didn't know this was also triggered by both flippers.
Question, did you install any mods or LED strings where you needed to tap into the 12v power?
All mods have been removed (had troll eyes and wizard using 12v taps, both off right now)
Hey folks,
Thought I'd bump the post and see if anyone has any other ideas I can try.
The issue has gotten a bit worse, but essentially the same.
When the flippers are engaged certain coils will randomly fire.
Primarily the left popper and now I also get an additional ball put into play once in a while.
The issue is the same as it is seen in the video, when flippers are engaged other things start to register.
I've went through the game looking for loose connections, wires, etc. but have found nothing obvious. Any ideas?
Quoted from _xizor:Hey folks,
Thought I'd bump the post and see if anyone has any other ideas I can try.
The issue has gotten a bit worse, but essentially the same.
When the flippers are engaged certain coils will randomly fire.
Primarily the left popper and now I also get an additional ball put into play once in a while.
The issue is the same as it is seen in the video, when flippers are engaged other things start to register.
https://vimeo.com/251056406
I've went through the game looking for loose connections, wires, etc. but have found nothing obvious. Any ideas?
Do you have a ColorDMD in the game? Disconnect that and see if the problem goes away. You might have a problem with the 12 volts unregulated.
Quoted from DCFAN:Do you have a ColorDMD in the game? Disconnect that and see if the problem goes away. You might have a problem with the 12 volts unregulated.
Ha!
Unplugging the ColorDMD made the issue go away. Any recommendation on what to address on the 12v side?
Quoted from _xizor:Ha!
Unplugging the ColorDMD made the issue go away. Any recommendation on what to address on the 12v side?
Check the 12v unregulated to see the voltage level. If it is low then replace the bridge rectifier components/diodes.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ij-going-crazy-color-dmd-issue
Quoted from DCFAN:Check the 12v unregulated to see the voltage level. If it is low then replace the bridge rectifier components/diodes.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ij-going-crazy-color-dmd-issue
Bah!
I replaced the whole driver board with a new RottenDog and still the same issue when ColorDMD is hooked up...
Any other ideas?
Quoted from LTG:Separate power source for the color dmd.
LTG : )
Yuuup.
Finally bit the bullet and just did the separate power supply.
Everything works great now.
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Hopkins, MN