GP Switch, Yea or Nay...

[TheGMan143]

We had automatic scoring put in a while back, and the boards to not require the 1-10 respot cell switch input (Omega-Tek MK70 & MK70EX Boards). According to the instructions, the table cable harness can be removed. However, if you remove the cable, the GP switch input to the chassis (which is still active) stops, and the table will not run. I could easily bypass this by adding a jumper across the GP terminals in the front wireway, which would allow the machine to run.

The question is, should I? I've always been a big fan of the GP switch protecting the respot cells from a considerable amount of damage if a flying pin or a pin jam closes the fingers before respot. Instead of jumpering the GP switch, I can also modify the table cable to use just the two GP wires and a ground, which is more work, but would eliminate grounded cell wires causing cycle problems on strike cycle, but still allow the GP switch to perform it's function properly.

I'd like some other opinions on what everyone else thinks about this, or if anyone has had problems with bypassing GP.

[Guest]

Re: GP Switch, Yea or Nay...

We took out all our table wiring with our MP's and then just ran figure 8 cable from gps to the wiring block in the channel .....works great and best of all no wiring harness !

Jon

[8270 pinspotter]

Re: GP Switch, Yea or Nay...

I removed ALL of my table wiring with those pesky GP switches about two years ago. I haven't had any problems with respot cell damage. With steel fingers you don't have to worry about it. Do yourself a favor and rip those things out of your machines.

[Guest]

Re: GP Switch, Yea or Nay...

8270 pinspotter is dead on. With steel cell fingers you don't need the GPS. I did'nt use them even before the scoring interface upgrades.

[masternut]

Re: GP Switch, Yea or Nay...

We removed our GP switches,and jumped termial strip last year with no problems.

Peanut

[poplarpetey]

Re: GP Switch, Yea or Nay...

Took 'em out 3 years ago and haven't had a single problem.

[Lampie]

Re: GP Switch, Yea or Nay...

Nay, you can use them somewhere else!


Thank you Bowlequip, can you list the poop again to Gman?

[ December 19, 2001: Message edited by: Lampie ]

[8270king]

Re: GP Switch, Yea or Nay...

Removed them 10 years ago. No problems.

Jerry

[xpmech]

Re: GP Switch, Yea or Nay...

Well Gman, we put in ubica scoring two years ago and I was so happy to get rid of those damn table cables it was the first modification I made to the machine. After two years of spotting pins that the camera misses and the cups I've had to replace because the machine wants to run a strike cycle, I'm really rethinking my decision. Not that I plan on putting the table cables back in, but I sure think that it was a snap decision that caould have been thought though much further. Granted, the GP Switch and it's function is not really necessary with steel fingers, but if the GP is activated, it may mean another problem may exist. The GP function, you need it, but then again, you don't. My suggestion to anyone who has plans to install auto scoring on AMF machines, "Keep your table cables until you are satisfied that your cameras are good enough not to miss wiggling or moved pins." The ubica scoring grounds the five pin so you can remove the mask bulb to keep it from lighting. Do the same for the other nine pins, but keep those table cables and keep them functioning. It's kind of a pain, but it's worth it in the long run.

[TheGMan143]

Re: GP Switch, Yea or Nay...

Quote:]Originally posted by jps:
Keep your table cables until you are satisfied that your cameras are good enough not to miss wiggling or moved pins." The ubica scoring grounds the five pin so you can remove the mask bulb to keep it from lighting.[/QUOTE]

I was thinking of just modding the table cable connector for the two yellow GP wires, the table ground, and ONE cell wire, probably the head pin... then I was going to jump the rest of the cell wires to that pin, with a quick-disconnect 'bullet' terminal breaking the wire in the front wireway... I figured that if something really bad was to happen with the scoring, I could always switch back to a regular respotting cycle by connecting the bullet terminal and removing the scoring interface board... the machine would still show pins standing on respot, since any pin in a gripper would hold the #1 pin signal closed. If I just pull the cables, I'd have to reinstall them to have the same effect in that situation. I'm still a little leery about relying completely on the auto scoring to handle respotting...

What kind of interface boards do you have? Mine hold the #1 pin closed, and not the #5 pin...

[8270 pinspotter]

Re: GP Switch, Yea or Nay...

When I removed the cables, I jumped the GP terminals together and jumped the head pin to the ground terminal in the front wireway. I am using the AMF (creative tech) boards and I have had Zero problems. Also, you said something about relying on the scoring. If the scoring was that messed up would you be using that lane anyway? I don't know much about Qubica but I have Accuscore XL and those cameras almost never mis-score.

[8270king]

Re: GP Switch, Yea or Nay...

Omega tek automatically grounds the 2 pin Gman. Your problem lies within when the scoring is down and someone strikes. You get a phantom #2 pin instead of a X cycle. The only thing you can do is keep the cables hooked up and undo the expander switch to go back to hard wire respot cycle.

Jerry

I guess the #1 pin thing would work provided no grounded wires anywhere. We keep enough spare stuff on hand to keep scoring working. 2 spare CWC, 1 eprom, and if the desk or advantage goes out you just go into stand alone.

Jerry

[TheGMan143]

Re: GP Switch, Yea or Nay...

Quote:]Originally posted by 82/70 king:
I guess the #1 pin thing would work provided no grounded wires anywhere. We keep enough spare stuff on hand to keep scoring working. 2 spare CWC, 1 eprom, and if the desk or advantage goes out you just go into stand alone.

Jerry[/QUOTE]

Grounded wires are a pain in the kiester... [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img]

As far as I know, our Qubica scoring system doesn't really have the option or replacing ROMs or anything... If the camera, camera board, or interface goes down, then it's down until the offending unit is replaced (and I don't have a really huge spare parts kit)...break out the paper sheets. I know if the counter terminals go out, the scoring system will function, but I think that's it... I could be wrong about that, since I'm not totally familiar with some of the scoring system functions.

[John_Galt]

Re: GP Switch, Yea or Nay...

Quote:]Originally posted by 8270 pinspotter:
I removed ALL of my table wiring with those pesky GP switches about two years ago. I haven't had any problems with respot cell damage. With steel fingers you don't have to worry about it. Do yourself a favor and rip those things out of your machines.[/QUOTE]
Nuts to that. The GPS is very useful in early detection of rs problems.

If your GPS stops the table, it means your cells aren't opening enough. That means there's something going wrong with them. Duh.

You guys say "you haven't had any problems" since you pulled your GPS's, but how do you know?
I bet if your GPS made you go to the machine when something was starting to bind, you wouldn't have had to replace some lever respots, pivot studs, cell frames, bushings, links, or... yes, even FINGERS!!!

Instead, the problem festers in your tables until something breaks. Meanwhile you happily think to yourself, "gee, I don't have near as many trouble calls since I pulled my GPS's!"

For those of you who run without GPS's, I hope you saved the switches for spare BS's.

I'll keep mine where they belong, and fix little table problems before they can cause down time. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Chad [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

[8270king]

Re: GP Switch, Yea or Nay...

Chaddie....I am in the process of switching to the larger studs. prolly close to 1/2 way done. I also removed the plastic end pieces off the ends of the fingers. My machines have ran a LONG time with out table cables. I do respect what you are saying. I just do not believe they are needed.

By the way I am also adding a 3/8 flat washer under the pivot studs so the R/C does not stop against the stud the fingers are secured to.

Jerry