14 replies to this topic

[kensplace2]

Just picked up a dirt cheap jcm note acceptor with a fitting for a barcrest machine (tenner for the lot).

Unfortunately no manual, or loom.

Any one know how much the wiring costs, or is there anyone that has a manual or connection details so I could knock up a connector myself, its for the pie factory machine. May have a old ribbon cable with a suitable connector on lying around that I could cut to fit, if its a straight through cable.

Dont have any cash box, but I dont mind the notes just falling inside the bottom of the machine, as its just for savings purposes anyway, and the machine is kept locked.

[kensplace2]

the uk distributer for jcm emailed me a manual for the note acceptor, so thats half the problem solved

I have managed to get the accepter powered up, and it does accept and reject notes ok (although its not connected to the fruity, just hanging of
my computers spare power connector for the 12v) so at least it looks like the acceptor is fine.

Found out from another post that its meant to go into the aux port on the mpu, so got a old lead that fits the acceptor end, wired it up to some terminal blocks and Im just waiting for a bunch of old fruity looms to arrive so I can grab a connector for the aux port.

Hopefully then I can try the different combinations to get it working!

I have emailed barcrest, to see if they can supply me with the mpu end wiring details for the acceptor, will see if they get back to me after the weekend.

If after all that I cant get it working, then I will give up and wire it to the parallel port on my pc, and make a note acceptor for my pc to charge me for surfing ebay - its one way to save up!

[kensplace2]

Barcrest, although friendly, and I suspect the guy wanted to help, but had his hands tied by rules and regs, were about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

mental note to avoid barcrest like the plague if I ever do own a chain of arcades....

On the other hand though, the supplier for jcm, has once again proved their weight in gold, and will try to get the info for me. Well done JCM, nice to know there are companies out there that actually care......


Fingers crossed I can get it to work, its working on the desk, got it to flash a led when a fiver is accepted, so I know the acceptor is ok.

[Bencrest]

Barcrest tech support are fan-fu**ing-tastic

I mean, I contacted them on several occasions, here is an example with their reply :

'Dear Sir/Madam,
I recently purchased one of your machines, Each Way Nudge [Genesis MPU5 '98] from a local supplier. I have been told by them to contact you to obtain decals for £5 Jackpot as they haven't yet got a spares account with you. I would obviously prefer to have a set of proper decals rather than make some myself!

I understand the machine is almost exactly 5 years old - do you still support it, and if you, how much would the decals be? I have a variable stakes/prizes key so all I need are the 2 decals, for Each Way Nudge.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Regards,

Ben'

Reply?

'Dear Ben,

Thankyou for contacting us. The only way for you to obtain spares would be through your supplier who will have a Barcrest 'Spares Account'.

Also, I need to remind you that to make your own decals would be an infringement of our intellectual property rights, and you would be prosecuted for doing so.

Regards,

*************'

See what I mean? As much use as a chocolate teapot

[kensplace2]

lol ben, that is a nice reply from them, makes you feel glad to be a proud owner of their product.... not...

Too many companies are shooting themselves in the foot..

Where do they think the next set of buyers / techs etc will come from?

Its from people with a interest in the industry, and if they treat them badly, they will remember it in the future. On the other hand, a company that bends over backwards, will be remembered just as much, but for positive reasons.

What would any sensible firm rather have? Someone singing its praises, or someone remembering for life how bad they are, and letting everyone know?
Its basic marketing.

So what if someone wants something for home use, or for a older machine that they will never make any money from.... Could be a case of jobsworth, could be pure ignorance, or could be greed - whatever it is, it sure will backfire on them eventually.

Each case should be judged on its merit, and that is something they dont seem to understand, but hey, im only me - I dont own a brewery.....

[Bencrest]

lol ben, that is a nice reply from them, makes you feel glad to be a proud owner of their product.... not...

Too many companies are shooting themselves in the foot..

Where do they think the next set of buyers / techs etc will come from?

Its from people with a interest in the industry, and if they treat them badly, they will remember it in the future. On the other hand, a company that bends over backwards, will be remembered just as much, but for positive reasons.

What would any sensible firm rather have? Someone singing its praises, or someone remembering for life how bad they are, and letting everyone know?
Its basic marketing.

So what if someone wants something for home use, or for a older machine that they will never make any money from.... Could be a case of jobsworth, could be pure ignorance, or could be greed - whatever it is, it sure will backfire on them eventually.

Each case should be judged on its merit, and that is something they dont seem to understand, but hey, im only me - I dont own a brewery.....

Of course, the problem is that an unlicensed person such as myself shouldn't *really* have a machine in the first place. As I understand it, they are under pressure from the likes of Bacta / GBGB to not contact members of the public, or deal with them in any way - i.e they can't sell anything to you

I think you might get better results from a small supplier though - If I had an old MPU4 RIO cab, I might be taking up Union Games on their latest offer

[kensplace2]

Sort of true, as far as I understand it, it is actually legal to have a machine, for home use, but its illegal to use it for gambling (ie let anyone play it to use it for gambling). Internally, in the home, family only is ok, as it is not a gambling machine if you are not gambling......

If im wrong on that, would like to know, as as far as I know that is the case, so cant see why they have a problem.

Its certainly legal if the machine cant payout, and its stated so,
you could site it anywhere.....
So there is no problem with decals in that instance, did they ask if it could payout? nope.....

It also begs the question, why do they not want the public to know about machines? Is it because they are frightened the truth will come out?



What is the latest offer you mention? Curious about that.

[Bencrest]

Rebuild kits for £299 from Union Games.

Heres a page showing what you basically get for a kit :

http://www.uniongames.co.uk/thekit.htm

It isn't a bad offer TBH, rebuild kits tend to be a lot more. Having said that, they are based on the MPU4 hardware, so the machine you are upgrading may well be on its way out

[impact]

as i remember with these yuk n/a you do have the barcrest chip installed on the acceptor this will pair the 2 together the jcm+mpu5 with out this dont even think of your loom just yet

[kensplace2]

Think I got it working! Thank god for that

The acceptor came with a barcrest eprom fitted, and a barcrest
mount for the cabinet. Made up a loom, with help from jcm (gotta love that company), and so far so good.

Sods law I dont actually have a single note in the house to test it with
tonight though

BUT, when I powered up the machine, the note acceptor churned away,
then turned itself off. So remembering they dont work if the hopper is below
a certain level, I hit the hoppers topped up switch. On came the note acceptor, and now when I turn the refill key, it has a extra settting, showing note 0 (which I guess will be the value of the last note inserted?)

So, it looks very promising so far, just need to get some readies to put into it, and see if smoke starts coming out the back of the machine, or if I get credits

[mikenoble]

does anyone know where i will get a cheap note acceptor for my big brother fruit machine?

[kensplace2]

Keep an eye on ebay for note acceptors with a fitting kit for the make of machine you have. Not sure if BB can take a note acceptor, I took a chance with my pie factory, and it paid off nicely.

Make sure you get the right type of note acceptor, there are serial and parralell versions out there, you need to check to see what your machine requires (mine needed a parallel one)

You will need to make sure any acceptor you get comes with a mounting kit for your cabinet, or you wont be able to fit it.

You will also need to get a loom with it, unless your machine already has one, or you are confident in making one up (that was the bit I was stuck on, but got it figured out eventually)

You will also need to make sure the note acceptor has the right firmware eprom for the interface for your machine, and if you dont want the notes just falling into the bottom of the cabinet, you will need the tinwork and cashbox for the note acceptor/cabinet.

I just let the notes fall into a plastic lunchbox, as its for my own personal use, and does not need extra security really, as the machine is locked, and house all alarmed, and camera'ed up. Plus there is never any serious money in the machine, as I always end up taking it out to spend.....

You can always confirm with the seller if the note acceptor will be suitable for your machine, and it comes with the bits you need. Or just take a chance as long as it comes with the bits, if it does not work, you can always resell it.

....

Tested mine today with a fiver, and it works perfectly! It only gives change, did not give credits, but Im happy with that, its a handy source of change!

Going to get another one sometime, when one goes cheap on ebay,
and fit it to my showtime spectacular (I know its probably impossible to fit one to that machine, as it does not probably does not support one,
but I will wire it to the coin mech, via a credit board, 5 pulses for a fiver etc,
so it will be able to give credits for 5 and 10 pound notes. The machine wont know its got a acceptor so wont be able to turn it off if cash low, but Im not bothered, its just a easy way of getting a load of credits, and saving a little.)

[Bencrest]

Pretty sure any machine from 1999 onwards in the Genesis cab will take a validator without a problem, as long as you have the loom and stuff

One way of checking is to go into the meters, and look for a value called 'nochange', which means 'no change in £1 coins was available for this number of games'.

Although not 100% sure, I believe that will mean it is a program which can handle note validators [acceptors]

[iggis]

I would be eternally grateful if anyone has a wiring diagram for connecting an NV4 validator (15 pin) to an MPU5 AUX port.

Ian

[dave1de]

All machines in the 1998 genesis cab will take note acceptors, they can go down in the bottom left under the tray, you can see the plastic where you can put them, and sometimes theres a big mr barcrest there.