Accuscore XL Quits Scoring

[Longtimer]

As title states the scoring quits keeping score on both lanes......we reboot the cpu between the monitors and the MIU on the backwall and that will usually fix it. Sometimes it will run for 2 or 3 weeks without rebooting and the next time it may only run 7 or 8 frames. It is getting kinda frustrating.....has anybody had this problem or does anyone know where to start looking. I have not switched any components with other lanes. Just looking for a place to start and see if we can get this fixed.....THANKS for any help....it is appreciated!!!

[jim8230]

If this across the house...the only time I've seen that is when the building has "dirty power" coming in. I've worked on many XL systems and most work fine...but if the electricity coming in the place is unstable, the CPU's react in the way you have descibed. Check with your local provider to see if they can monitor the power for a couple of weeks and see what they find. If its just one CPU, then you need to swap it to another lane and see if it moves. It could be a few things...like the power supply or hard drive. Keep us posted.

[Ted]

Could be a camera lockup. If you just cycle the power cable to the underground - unplug, the replug from the MI - and it starts scoring again (before there is a fault show up and need a reboot), then a ground wire needs added between the camera base and heavy metal or the ground wire across the curtain wall.
Also, if your underground track is plactic runners, make sure the camera wires aren't drooped down where the ball can discharge onto them.

[Longtimer]

jim.....it only happens on 1 pair, lanes 7&8....has never happened on any other pair.

Ted....I have above ground ball returns and the camera sits on the saddle over the return....I am not sure whether there is a ground from the camera to anything.....when this system was installed new they left a few things undone. I will check on the ground and let you know. This system has been in since '96 and has been faily reliable.

Thanks for the input....will keep you posted.

[Longtimer]

Ted....I do not see a ground wire to the camera or any of the cameras. AMF did ask me to run a ground to all my pinsetters which I did before they would install scoring. As far as a ground wire across the curtain wall I see none. If I remember correctly we had some problems when it was first installed in '96 and when an installer from AMF came back he found the first installer had not connected the grounds in the bowler terminals.....like I said a few things were left undone.

[Ted]

With overlane, is the ball being guided into and through the hoops? Standard overlane track needs to be made wider with hardwood to prevent wobbling.
Balls hitting the hoop will be evident, even if it's a scrape within the hoop. And that could cause a lose connection to be a bad one temporarily. Or if frequent, effect the electronics on the camera board - causing cold solder joints.
The ground would be less of an issue as the hoop itself is metal and a static hit would probably discharged and not effect the electronics. Although we still grounded it to the pinspotter frame or ground wire.

[Longtimer]

Ted.....my saddles are 12 1/2" long solid formed sheet metal wood screwed to the overlane return wood. It does appear that the balls have been scraping the inside possibly since there is some markings but I do not think they have been hitting the leading edge since there is a plastic type guard around this edge and I see no indication of abrasion. Where would you make the track wider with hardwood....I am not real clear on that? I may add a ground wire to see if that helps.....as always Thanks for the help!!

[Ted]

I'd add guide rails clear down to the hoop to prevent the wobble, and potential of the ball hitting the start of the hoop.

DownsweepGuideRails.jpg
I'd also ground the hoop to the frame of the pinspotter even though the hoop, being metal, will probably take any static hit from the ball without affecting the electronics.
You might also inspect the CPU for excess dirt built up preventing air movement through the chassis, as well as the power supply fan for moving air. This could be a processor or power supply heat issue within the CPU.

[Longtimer]

Ted....I installed a ground wire today from the camera saddle to the pinsetter ground I had installed earlier.....we will see what happens this week. I bowled twelve games on 7 & 8 combined.....only had to change score on 7 because it didn't score 2 times....after inputting values it scored fine. When we had to reboot it was because both lanes had quit scoring.....that did not happen after I installed ground. Also cleaned CPU and ventilation holes but they were not excessively dirty. Where is the fan located as I could not see one? Do you have to open the CPU to find it? Thanks for the help!!

[Steve Stafford (JBEES)]

You might consider being a bit proactive on this issue to help narrow down the problem. You could swap parts around to see if the issue follows one particular part. You could swap the MIU with lanes 3 & 4 and the camera with lanes 5 & 6. These would be the most common parts to create your issue...followed by the CPU then the Bowlers Terminal board. You could go ahead and swap those around also if so inclined...would allow you to determine what the issue is a little quicker. Just a thought...

[Longtimer]

O.K.....came in this morning and turned my front desk brightness up(always turn it down at night) and I have no communication with any of the lanes.....rebooted the back office and that did not work.....went down to 7&8 since that has been my problem and on the CPU only have the xmit yellow/green light blinking and not the rcv light.....both lights are blinking on the other CPU's....I have 10 lanes....rebooted 7&8 that did not work. Will one CPU cause you not to have communication on all of them? I am going to have to run in standalone for league this afternoon....1st time in 16 years(not too bad).

Steve....that was my next step if ground did not work but now I have more problems.....

[Ted]

Unplug the 't' connnector from the 7/8 CPU. If this was the offending CPU, you'll see the green LED come on on the rest of the CPUs.
Make sure the terminator is still on the last CPU's T connector. And make sure it's still on the 'T' connector at the office CPU.
There have been changes recommended for your older network, your's may or may not have the updates. If the small white coax still goes form the back office, to the front desk, then to the lane CPUs, it should be changed to a cat 5 utp wire method with a new switch and media converters. If there is a 10 base 2 (white coax) repeater on the back wall, it might have failed, and you won't find a replacement. You'll have to change the network structure to cat 5, except for the CPUs interconnection daisy chain.
PM me and I can call you with some troubleshooting steps.

[Longtimer]

Ted....how many lights should there be on each CPU? I have one red and two yellowish/green on all CPU's except fot 7/8. When I unplugged 7/8 nothing changed on the other CPU's. The terminators are still on the last T connector as well as the back office. I only have MIU's on the back curtain wall and a Control Desk Interface under the front counter. I have not had any updates in the wiring structure since it was installed. I cannot hear on the phone very well so you can send me any info to my e-mail [email protected]. It is hell when you can't hear but better than not being able to see!! Thanks for your help!!!

[Ted]

Sounds like there is a network hardware issue. You'll have to first pull all the "t" connectors off the CPUs and try one at a time. You will only have to try a few to eliminate a CPU as the problem.
I'll send you an email.