cycle problem

[craigchandler]

i have a weird problem that has arisen in my centre over many lanes

when a ball strikes the cushion, the sweep momentarily drops, but stops as soon as the cycle mech is released, instead of running down to 66 degrees

i have removed my computer scoring cycle mech to eliminate that possibility

i have by passed the managers control switch, to eliminate that as well

i know its a machine wiring issue, not a chassis

can someone help

[craigchandler]

Re: cycle problem

could this be some kind of earthing problem???

[BowlEquip]

Re: cycle problem

I know you said it was not in the chassis. Is this because you swapped out another and boards? What chassis do you have?

Here's what we found in a ten-laner here in the Chicago area. Just installed new OmegaTeks in all 12 (2 spares) Elco chassis'. Tested them by cycling at the back end control boxes, and then showed the owner that they worked by cycling at the tenth frame switches. No problem. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img]

Got home an hour later to a phone message to call that center. The league started but none of the machines would cycle. I went back and tried them at the cycle switch...no problem again! [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif[/img] Until one time, when I realized that I hit the button very quickly and saw the sweep move just a little. Tapped it again...a little more. Held the button in longer, full drop to 66.

So what was happening was the ball would hit the cushion, the SS switch would be closed for only an instant, the sweep would drop about an inch (not enough for the bowlers to see), then they would press the reset button to get a cycle. The mistaken call was "no Cycle" from the cushion switch. But that's not possible, since the SS, reset switch, and PBC are all in parallel.

Long story short: after calling this into OmegaTek, it was explained to me that the 0 to 66 drop part of the cycle is a separate circuit and the device on the board that handles this is new, and more sensitive to voltage fluctuations. Then as I stood out front and watched the league bowl after putting the 5 boards back in, I noticed the house lights flickering dim every time any table or sweep motor started up.

Turns out the circuit breaker box was over 175 feet away from the machines, downstairs, below lane 1's approach, and the wires to the junction boxes from the breakers were only 14 or 16 gauge. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img]

I've heard similar stories regarding house current and newer electronic equipment, including partial sweep drop, like yours, but they almost always pointed to the circuit board(s) vs. house wiring.

If you do have OmegaTeks, it would be worth your while to call OmegaTek and talk to Jim about your problem. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img]

[craigchandler]

Re: cycle problem

you are on the ball, and have said exactly what is happening, in every detail.

i only have an 8 lane centre, the problem is happening on lanes 1,5,6,7,8,

the machine breakers are behind 3&4, the main circuit box is 30 metres away behing the front counter, then the building circuit box would be another 50 metres away

[Joe]

Re: cycle problem

What happened to me was like what you described and it ended up being back feeding through the table way. Let me ask you this. When this happens the table starts down right. It stops after a couple of inch's right. If you hit the nine pin switch does it complete the cycle? If so and you are using omega tec boards or MP Chassie's what you need to do is place a 100 microfarin in the table way, I'll have to check on which connections. Let me know if what I described is correct and I'll get the number of the connections. Good luck. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

[craigchandler]

Re: cycle problem

doesn't get to the table stage at all.

bowl equip was on the right path.

just got to get my mains power issue worked out