you need 110 volt up stacker validator. ICT, Pyramid, Mars etc etc. I recommend mars personally. They are easy to rebuild and will last a long time. Can usually pick up a used one for around 100 on ebay or sometimes on here if people are selling some off. Whatever you buy make sure it comes with the harness.

I thought they went to 12v to keep the HV off the door.

Some companies have gone 12v, stern has not, they come with an extra power cable you have to run from the backbox to the coin door area, so from the factory they do not come wired for 110v at the coin door, is something you do yourself (very simple, requires running the cable and just plugging it in.)

OK, wasn't sure, just was looking for clarification.

Make sure you test for correct crediting. For a while there, USA 4 would work while another labeled the same value did not.

http://www.twistedquarter.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=483_484&products_id=703

I order from twisted quarter for a lot of my arcade parts and never had an issue. Or if you want here is the same validator from marco specialties but for more money.

http://www.marcospecialties.com/pinball-parts/A6-15SCP-USD4-II

Also note i have never used an ICT validator, i always use Mars ones that i find for cheap on ebay and rebuild however new in box mars ones are usually in the 350-400 dollar range.

Any validator you buy. Be sure the stacker holds 300 bills or less, or it won't fit. Most new validators come with 500 count holders or more.

LTG : )

i have a mars

MARS AE2611U3 takes $1,2,5,10,$20, NEW BILLS TO, REBUILT BILL ACCEPTOR DBV DBA 115vac
i can sell for $195 shipped.
yes it will work in sterns.
message me with interest.

No. Best check with who you buy it from.

MARS ( MEI ) stackers stay about the same. You can always find smaller stackers on Ebay and swap them. Some companies like ICT have changed them, so older smaller stackers won't fit.

LTG : )

Actually that's no longer entirely correct the new stern's can accommodate 500 bill stackers. You can tell the difference where the entire black portion of the stacker face will fit into the coin door. Also the full 5' cable to the head may also be included in your purchase.

Yes it has a stacker on the back. Check with Twisted to see how many bills it holds.

LTG : )

Beston shows that part number as being a 500 bill magazine.

https://www.betsonparts.com/a6-15scpus4-110-v-validator.html

So, as Beebl points out, it may not fit unless its the correct DBV coin door. And smaller replacement bill boxes are not usually dirt cheap.

FWIW, it was our experience that you will have more jams with ICT and Apex acceptors than with MEI. You are better off getting a good used MEI than to worry about buying a new acceptor.

When new, the Magazine size is in the MEI part number : Near the end (Like U3E), U (Upstacker) or D (Downstacker) 2,3,5,7,10 (200-1000 bills) Last letter, E for single price harness or M for MDB (Vending) harness. But when buying used, beware of exactly what size magazine you will receive.

Agree with Cactus i use Mars/MEI validators, generally considered most reliable. MEI w/500 bill stacker fits in my KISS no problem, I don't know for sure about the ICT. I believe both SW and GOTG have the new style coin door.

Yeah i have 500 count stackers in a few of my newer sterns.

Here is the cheapest refurb'd mars i have found so far.

https://www.vendingworld.com/mars-vn2511-bill-validator.php

$153 with the harness, and you can upgrade to a large 500 stacker for an extra $25, I would double check to make sure it comes with a 300 stacker if you dont upgrade to the 500 as it does not specify.

Only takes $1's - won't accept larger denomination bills. You might not need $20's, but 5's and 10's are nice.

LTG : )

While i agree ad have those types on validators on most of my games, everyone might not care. Just in case here is a refurb'd one that takes 1 and 5's for 184 with the harness.

https://www.vendingworld.com/mars-vn2511-110-volt-1-5-bill-validator-flash-port.php

I personally prefer MEI validators. Have them on all our games, and they just work. Like others have said, the 300 or smaller style bill boxes. The cable that runs from the backbox into the front is a snap to install. I'd recommend reaching out to Chris at KingPinGames as I know he usually has used ones for sale at a good price. We've purchased a number from him in the past - reliable seller.

The VN2511 doesn’t have an always enable mode so you will also need an enable plug. You want to find an AE2451 or an AE2411 and hack off the front left corner of the bezel to fit it on the coin door.

We upgraded to newer 115v acceptors that take $1, $5, $10, $20 as well as some 12v DBAs, so I've got a few good 2411's with 300 bill stackers that only take $1s that I'd sell for $90, but you'd still need the $15 (new price) harness. Since these have been used on a route in current pins already, the dip switch settings are all set to go. PM if you're interested.

Is there a setting inside of the Spike 2 menu that enables the bill validator? I am trying to install PayRange devices and they don’t seem to get any power from the 9 pin as it is.

No. The setting just turns on or off the message on the screen.

LTG : )

What the heck is a "PayRange" dollar bill acceptor? I've never heard of them.

Pin 9 is usually 12 VDC neutral. I don't think you get power there.

You should from pin 5 ( 12 VDC + ) to pin 9.

LTG : )

It isn’t a bill acceptor, they are Bluetooth devices that let people coin up with their phone. I got some newer ones from a local guy who used to run then and I’ve never hooked them to the 9 pin.

We were going to try them on some cigarette machines and a few pins, but their CC fee is high. Plus, I feel customers would be confused by having to use the Payrange app. Payrange had a big presence at AMOA Expo and IAAPA a few years ago and I haven’t seen anything of them since.

I’ve been tempted to put a credit card reader on a pinball and see what happens. I know which location to try it. I’ve just been reluctant because I’m just tired of the extra fees and bookkeeping and bullshit. Between Looneytunes (y’all know em as Touchtunes), AMI, Incredible Technologies, and USA Technologies (the brand of credit card reader we use), it’s a bookkeeping nightmare. No wonder my account is so wealthy! I pay him all my damned money to decipher all these monthly statements!

Stern stopped including the cable that goes between the backbox and 9-pin. It is a big fat 2 wire cable. I called stern when I had the same issue with BKSoR and they sent me one for free.

Yeah, I have a few of them. Basically I like the concept but their prices are shit. I went so far as to design another device that would let me pay from an iOS or Android mobile wallet, but then quickly realized PayRange has an insane amount of patents which would make it very hard for me to create something I would ultimately sell.

On the Mars/MEI 9 pin connector in the Stern pinball machines, here is the wiring pinout for 120v ac acceptors:

Pin 4: AC120v "Hot" (black)

Pin 6: AC120v "Neutral" (white)

Pin 7: credit switch pulse

Pin 8: credit switch pulse

If you have a brand new machine and the bill acceptor AC power cable which is supposed to run from the backbox to the coin door was not included in the machine, contact your Stern Pinball distributor. They will send you one for free. It's Stern part number 036-5700-10.

If you need to use 12 volt DC bill acceptors, you will need to crimp/stuff new pins into the 9 pin connector at the appropriate locations. Tyco/Amp (TE Connectivity) # 770987-1 Pin (18-22 AWG) or Mouser Electronics # 571-7709871.

Pin 5: +12 volts DC power

Pin 7: credit switch pulse

Pin 8: credit switch pulse

Pin 9: power ground
12 volt bill acceptor pinout (resized).jpg

Oh interesting, so Stern will send me the 120v AC? Where does it hook into? I was planning on just buying some cheap extension cords and running it from the service outlet in the back box.

The PayRange devices are a trip, there is no way to tell how they are pinned since it looks like they did a few different things to support multiple applications. The one thing I do know is the 120v AC hot and neutral. The guy who sold them to me had a plug in there that is basically a two pronged US plug down to a 9 pin connector. When I hooked that up, the device turned right on.

I was going to make my own version of that, I just need to figure out what wires come out of the PayRange device to trigger the credit pulses.

PayRange will probably respond to my email tomorrow and help me out.

These two threads will help you on hooking up the cable:

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/spike-dba-hook-up#post-3778951

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/best-dollar-bill-acceptor-for-gb-pro#post-3778911

Stern 036-5700-10 BA power cable (resized).jpg

PayRange has an installation video for installing their unit in a pinball machine:

Yeah, but the guy just plugs it into the 9 pin then says “done”. I assume that game has 120 at the door? Ty for all of this help though!

The Bill validator will require the Paula Jones/Lewinski converter

Here are the Stern instructions....from when they used to include the power cable extension.
Stern Bill Validator Instructions (resized).jpg

PS: If anyone needs a splitter for the Bill Validator power connection because you want to run a mod that uses that connection (Deluxe SPIKE 2 Speaker Light Kit or PowerBladez) AND a Bill Validator....I sell them on my website for $6.

http://www.speakerlightkits.com/Accessories.html

Doug (SpeakerLightKits.com)

Yes, machines that are wired for a 120 volt ac bill acceptor will have 120 volts ac available at the door.

You assumed right. It's a World Cup Soccer. Williams was including the 9 pin connector for 120 AC in pinball machines around then.

LTG : )

So on a brand new stern machine, pin 4 is +12VDC and pin 6 is what?

KenLayton mentioned the following:
Pin 5: +12 volts DC power
Pin 7: credit switch pulse
Pin 8: credit switch pulse
Pin 9: power ground

But on my machines they are pinned to 4, 6, 8 and 9.

IMG_0705 (resized).jpeg

IMG_0706 (resized).jpeg

For 120 AC.

Pin 4 is the other 120 AC.

Have you searched for bill validator 9 pin pinouts ? There are pdf manuals on line with this.

LTG : )

I found a bunch of stuff online, including @kenlayton’s other posts, but I have yet to see something from Stern that explains exactly what this is.

If I understand you correctly, you are saying Stern pins this thing for 120VAC, but never actually hooks it up? So essentially the wires currently in there are dead?

Because Stern is not the ones setting this plug's standard. (Because they didn't 'invent' it. It's the same effin' 9-pin plug that was used in WPC games 25+ years go.)
It is a DBA standard.

Look in a Mars/MEI Installation Guide for ANY of the AE2x00 model DBAs. (In the AE2400 manual revision "GA", it's on PDF page 6 of 6.)

Exactly. Mars invented the 9 pin wiring standard for bill acceptors. Stern wires the machine to Mars standards for 120 volt AC bill acceptors.

If a person wants to use 12 volt DC bill acceptors, you need to add two wires (for +12 volts and power ground) and connector pins to the 9 pin harness connector in order to use 12 dc bill acceptors.

Yes, a Stern SPIKE 2 game has the 9 pin connector on the coin door from the factory.......BUT you need to run the 120 volts AC (from the connection in the back box up to the left hand side, inside the coin door, below the cabinet node 1 board) or it will have no power and the 9 pin connection will be useless.

See the Stern instructions I posted about 8 posts above this.

Yes, those instructions are super clear thank you. I am just surprised that they would go through the trouble of installing the 9 pin if it isn’t technically hooked to anything. If you wanted 12VDC where do you pull that from? Also wouldn’t you have to repin the connector to work with a different voltage?