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Roadshow - One final question Ground Short and I'll promise no more dumb newbie questions after this

Andy MD

Andy MD

Registered
5Years
Joined
Feb 26, 2018
Messages
55
Location
South coast
Hi all, nervous posting this but..

to recap

  1. Had a 5v reset problem, ordered and fitted daughter board from Pinball Heaven
  2. Worked for 10 mins and got the ground short stuck fault
  3. Unplugged the connectors at the bottom of the board. Fault remained
  4. Ordered and replaced the Uln2083 chip from Pinball Heaven _ Very quick turnaround - Thank you
  5. Still got the fault
  6. Read up and learnt about the matrix switch tests
  7. Looked through the row which had a short for loose or pinch wires Trough, ramp exit etc) - Nothing obvious from my untrained eye
  8. Tested all motors etc (bulldozer, Red, Ted) all working fine in test
  9. Unplugged the board that controls the bulldozer (see video below) and the Ground short fault disappears.
Does this mean the fault is within the bulldozer (wire off or pinched) Or would this have cleared the fault regardless of where it was?

Sorry trying to learn these things but still need some guidance. Will be contacting Bob after lockdown

Many thanks
View attachment MOV_0784_Trim.mp4
 
So with bulldozer unplugged does the game boot up & work flawlessly (minus the bulldozer obviously)?


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Andydn said:
So with bulldozer unplugged does the game boot up & work flawlessly (minus the bulldozer obviously)?


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Click to expand...


Opps sorry forgot this bit

When I boot it up with the bulldozer unplugged it says check fused F114 and F115. I have an they are ok - Set the multi meter to buzz and hit each side of the fuse and I do get a buzz.
 
Andy MD said:
Opps sorry forgot this bit

When I boot it up with the bulldozer unplugged it says check fused F114 and F115. I have an they are ok - Set the multi meter to buzz and hit each side of the fuse and I do get a buzz.
Click to expand...

With the fuse out of the holders ? They need to be removed from at least one end to test them. Prise them out at one end, swing the fuse out and then test, means the fuses are still in the right holders (can do a bank of 4 or 5 at a time this way)
 
I had that fuse message recently and it was because I had left a connector unplugged in the backbox (after tinkering!) - worth checking everything’s plugged in, could be one hanging down the gap in the bottom of the backbox.


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Andy MD said:
Opps sorry forgot this bit

When I boot it up with the bulldozer unplugged it says check fused F114 and F115. I have an they are ok - Set the multi meter to buzz and hit each side of the fuse and I do get a buzz.
Click to expand...
What else do you have disconnected at the same time. In line three of your report you say the fault remained when you unplugged the connectors at the bottom. This cannot be true as well as point 10, as that suggests the faults are not there with the bulldozer removed but are there with the connectors at the bottom of the cpu removed. Just trying to be clear of what you’ve got connected. If you think that the fault is the bulldozer board then everything else should work with except the bulldozer, yet there are no other switches showing closed. Go back and reconnect everything except the bulldozer.
 
pinballmania said:
What else do you have disconnected at the same time. In line three of your report you say the fault remained when you unplugged the connectors at the bottom. This cannot be true as well as point 10, as that suggests the faults are not there with the bulldozer removed but are there with the connectors at the bottom of the cpu removed. Just trying to be clear of what you’ve got connected. If you think that the fault is the bulldozer board then everything else should work with except the bulldozer, yet there are no other switches showing closed. Go back and reconnect everything except the bulldozer.
Click to expand...

Hi

Yes apologies as before I changed the chip the fault short fault was present regardless of the connectors being attached or not.

I've just checked. With the board connectors unplugged I get the check fuses fault. I have checked the fuses out of the holders and they are fine.
With the connectors attached, I get the ground short fault and the trough kicks out and then the Bob's Bunker kicks every 3 seconds

This was with the bulldozer plugged in - Thanks for your help, does this narrow it down and more?
 
I think you should get it to an engineer or someone who knows better than you.
No offense intended but I think you could actually cause mroe issues now.

With the ground fault happening with NOTHING plugged into the CPU at the bottom, its pointless playing with things on the playfield as it is not that.

Until you get that sorted, it isnt worth looking futher afield.

My workshop is in Birmingham - I am more than happy to look at it for you. I am off to Stroud next wek on Tuesday, if you want to meet me, I can grab the machine off you. Of course other people may be more local but not working at the moment. The offer is here.
 
Pick Holder said:
I think you should get it to an engineer or someone who knows better than you.
No offense intended but I think you could actually cause mroe issues now.

With the ground fault happening with NOTHING plugged into the CPU at the bottom, its pointless playing with things on the playfield as it is not that.

Until you get that sorted, it isnt worth looking futher afield.

My workshop is in Birmingham - I am more than happy to look at it for you. I am off to Stroud next wek on Tuesday, if you want to meet me, I can grab the machine off you. Of course other people may be more local but not working at the moment. The offer is here.
Click to expand...

Many thanks for the offer and yes I plan to get someone in. However it's only the check fuse fault I get without the connectors plugged in.I've used Bob from Pinball Toys in the past as he's close to me, but myself and the wife are still shielding, so can't arrange anything just yet

Absolutely no offence taken! I know my place and my limits :D. It's just frustrating as it's mint table and cabinet and I miss playing it!
 
Did you check the 12v digital voltage that I mentioned in the previous thread? A quick check of this with a multimeter on the driver board will be useful.

Also, if you want to borrow another cpu board to check if yours is faulty then i can lend you one for postage cost, so you can check if it makes a difference. This was how we got to the bottom of the getaway issue thread awhile back!

Also, don't be afraid to ask questions on game repair, this is how people learn.

Jim
 
OK. I had one of those thoughts. It was I wonder if you can put the ULA chip in upside down? Just been out and spun it around. Booted the machine up and the only error is time and date not set. I honestly thought I'd cracked it, visioned myself with a cold one in the hand playing pinball all night. HOWEVER, only half the standup targets work on the playfield. I'll upload a video to show you but need to edit it down as it's too big to upload at the moment. If you know the game, none of the small targets register or the demolition zone. The radio ones do as do the pop bumpers an slingshots.
 
Andy MD said:
OK. I had one of those thoughts. It was I wonder if you can put the ULA chip in upside down? Just been out and spun it around. Booted the machine up and the only error is time and date not set. I honestly thought I'd cracked it, visioned myself with a cold one in the hand playing pinball all night. HOWEVER, only half the standup targets work on the playfield. I'll upload a video to show you but need to edit it down as it's too big to upload at the moment. If you know the game, none of the small targets register or the demolition zone. The radio ones do as do the pop bumpers an slingshots.
Click to expand...

You need to identify which targets are not working and if its a specific column of switches. Use the switch matrix in the diagram to work it out. Most likely you'll need another uln2803a ic now as putting them in backwards isn't something they like unfortunately.
 
myPinballs said:
You need to identify which targets are not working and if its a specific column of switches. Use the switch matrix in the diagram to work it out. Most likely you'll need another uln2803a ic now as putting them in backwards isn't something they like unfortunately.
Click to expand...
Trouble is they are blank, no writing on them!
 
Sounds like you’re almost there, took less than a minute on google to find out the orientation of that chip, just take your time and don’t rush. Get another chip - ironically they’re cheap as chips luckily!
In the mean time look into what connectors those switches go to, carefully check them, do as much non intrusive investigating as you can.


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Not sure it did,
Andydn said:
Sounds like you’re almost there, took less than a minute on google to find out the orientation of that chip, just take your time and don’t rush. Get another chip - ironically they’re cheap as chips luckily!
In the mean time look into what connectors those switches go to, carefully check them, do as much non intrusive investigating as you can.


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Click to expand...
Many thanks Andy, I've ordered another one and I'll ask on here if it's no obvious which way it goes. The one I took ironically the writing was upside down on it. I'll check the switches tomorrow.

Once again thanks
Andy
 
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