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Help! Please - Half of AFM back box GI not working. - SOLVED

Andydn

Andydn

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5Years
Joined
Oct 14, 2019
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Kent
Any help here appreciated please, not sure what to check next.
One string of my AFM back box GI is out.
Bulbs - OK
Fuse - OK
Continuity test from last bulb back to connector J105 - ok (although I do get continuity no matter what wire I touch on the connector end)
With power on it appears I’m getting voltage at J105 - multimeter seems so sensitive it fluctuates a lot though.
If I plug connector into J106 instead the issue stays the same.
So looks like I have power & continuity, bulbs are good - so WTF??

12v unregulated blew last night whilst trying to sort this out, replaced fuse this morning and that bits ok now.

Where should I go from here please anyone?


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I had a really weird flipper issue that I couldn’t work out and it was the upper ribbon cable, what about the ribbon cable that connects from mpu to powerboard. Long shot I know.
 
Update: Using a much better multimeter, power on, I get voltage at the socket. Plug the connector on and I don’t get voltage from the connector on wires 5 & 10 (top insert) but I do on wires 6 & 11 (bottom insert)

So I lose voltage to wires 5 & 10 when I plug the connector in??


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And final update:
I’m I disconnect the whole back box at connector in photo I DO get correct voltage at J105.
When I reconnect this I lose voltage at connector across wires 5 & 10 and that GI string doesn’t work.


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4561e61e38d031ceecd5e0c0fe60b80c.jpg
 
M4carp said:
Cracked solder joint on board?
Click to expand...

I’ve added the photo now, full voltage at J105, only loose it on two wires once backbox connector is made?
Could that still be an issue with the board/joints or does it hint at it being the backbox itself?
I’m using the pinbits blackout mod but this happens without that in place too.


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I see, yeah that’s weird. Forgot about that bb connector. Not sure if that little currant draw would would cause the joint issue either.
But if continuity is ok in bb I don’t know, maybe take all the lamps out on that string and do a voltage test.
 
I’ve just wired the non working GI into the working GI string of the back box connector (the one previously pictured) and they come on, bulbs are working.
So why, when they are connected correctly does that string lose voltage?
I will try removing all bulbs still then check voltage [emoji106]


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It’s just got weirder!
All bulbs on non working string removed, I now have voltage on that string!
Put single bulbs in random sockets - none work, put same bulbs in the other string and they work fine??

Losing voltage just by putting a single bulb in, does that suggest dry/cracked solder joint? - although it also does this if I plug J105 into J106!

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I’ll try that but just managed to get a photo of the end of J105 socket - looks like it needs attention!
0e212d3c9ca27db8c7890e2d42dbeb19.jpg



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Been bodged at some point in its past life, it’ll be going off to Jim [emoji106]

7c5af04727c5a90c14ed8bb7d6d62fc9.jpg



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All sorted!

Received my board back from Jim today, some burnt out areas repaired, 2 new connector sockets fitted and a few other bits.
After reinstalling the board, issue remained - Jim included 2 new connectors for me to fit this end just in case... but of course, I thought I knew better! Anyway cut a long story short, after more diagnosing and then chatting to Jim on the phone he suggests I change the connectors he provided - upon closer examination sure enough I find 3 burnt wires going into one of the ones he suggested I change!
To summarise:
1) I should listen and do what I’m told.
2) Jim is very patient with idiots like me and got my AFM backbox GI working again.
3) I love pinball when things get fixed, feels good.

Cheers Jim - he comes highly recommended.


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He knows his stuff Jim. The problem is as these games are what, 25 years old now. They didnt have a lot of love on site by operators. Things get bodged onsite by engineers. A lot of times I come across cables soldered onto the pads without any pins in place. Technically it still works, and the operators needed them to earn money.

With LED installs now, you also know that these GI connectors will not get the same heat. Plus it may only be on a few hours a week rather than 12 hours a day plus in a commercial premises.

AFM is a cracking game. Have fun....
 
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