Coin Door - change from tokens back to quarters and how to light it up?

[galaxypenguin]

Slightly off topic for GameEx but you're the right group to ask soooo...

I have a Spiderman: The Arcade Game cab that I bought off Craig's List that I converted to a MAME machine. It came with operational everything, including the coin door.

I havent tried hooking up the coin door yet, but I would like to. I noticed a couple Aladin's Castle tokens inside the cab so I assume the coin slots are calibrated for these tokens, not quarters.

Anyone have much experience with coin doors that can provide some insight? I would like to switch it to quarters and make use of it.

Also, my coin slots can be illuminated. Any tips on how to power these up from a power strip? I am using a laptop for the internal rig so tapping into an ATX power supply is out. Same thing for the marquee bulb - can I light this too?

Any help appreciated!

[bkenobi]

This is pretty simple and has been covered over at BYOAC forums at least a few dozen times. Basically, the coin slots are connected to the machine via standard switches. All you have to do is wire up those switches to your controls in place of/in addition to your current coin buttons. To light the coin door, you have a couple options. You first need to know what voltage the bulbs that are in your cab require. If you are lucky, they will be either 5, 7, or 12 volt. If they are, you can connect them up to your pc via a hacked molex connector (5v = red + black, 12v = yellow + black, 7v = red + yellow). If the bulbs are not any of these voltages, you can either go to Radio Shack and buy a compatible bulb for your current bulb socket, or you can get a new socket and appropriate bulb (go with the first option if at all possible).

As for switching the token slots to coin slots...it's definitely possible. The slots are typically modular so they can be swapped out without tools in a few minutes. Some slots can even be switched by just adjusting a set screw somewhere (to change the width of the coin). Be aware that if you have to buy new ones from HAPPS, the pair can get a bit pricey (IMO anyway). You need to know the brand of coin door you have though as I do not know whether there is a difference from one manufacturer to another.

[shaunopp]

  galaxypenguin said:

Slightly off topic for GameEx but you're the right group to ask soooo...

I have a Spiderman: The Arcade Game cab that I bought off Craig's List that I converted to a MAME machine. It came with operational everything, including the coin door.

I havent tried hooking up the coin door yet, but I would like to. I noticed a couple Aladin's Castle tokens inside the cab so I assume the coin slots are calibrated for these tokens, not quarters.

Anyone have much experience with coin doors that can provide some insight? I would like to switch it to quarters and make use of it.

Also, my coin slots can be illuminated. Any tips on how to power these up from a power strip? I am using a laptop for the internal rig so tapping into an ATX power supply is out. Same thing for the marquee bulb - can I light this too?

Any help appreciated!

The marquee should already have some sort power running out of it. You should be able to rewire it to a regular power plug from an old extension cord or such and plug it directly into a wall socket. If there's no housing you'll have to buy and mount a fluorescent light. I'd also suggest putting a switch inline to be able to turn the marquee on/off from the outside of the cab.

Most people run the other lights off of their computer power supply. You can use one of the extra 5v power connections from your computer but a better way (especially if you have many lights or lighted buttons) is a controller like Ultimarc's PacDrive or Groovy Game Gears Led-Wiz which connect to your computers USB port and supply power for multiple items.

http://www.ultimarc.com/pacdrive.html

LedWiz

You can swap the switch assembly on your coin doors to a different size/type (mine happens to take dollar coins) but seems like a waste of time and money to me given how often they get used. Is it hooked up yet? Quarters may actually work. It's doable though if you really want to.

Check out Happs site for parts:http://www.happcontrols.com/coindoors/doors.htm

[gryhnd]

What Ben said.

My door came with bulbs, which promptly blew when I wired it up to a power supply I salvaged from an old PC. I went to NAPA autoparts with the bulbs and asked for 12V and I was in luck. I didn't want to muck with the PS in the computer itself, hence the spare. This also let me safely wire up a bunch of other goodies (3xLED fans in the cab walls, LED illuminated buttons, etc) without fear of toasting the expensive part of the operation.

My door came with adjustable mechs. Haven't needed to fiddle with them yet, but when/if I do I'll be following this description.

[shaunopp]

  gryhnd said:

What Ben said.

Why do you assume it's 'Ben' Kenobi? Could be Bob.

[gryhnd]

  shaunopp said:

Why do you assume it's 'Ben' Kenobi? Could be Bob.

The force told me so

Good call though, I just read into the name and naturally...well...it was better than Biscuit.

[galaxypenguin]

  gryhnd said:

The force told me so

Good call though, I just read into the name and naturally...well...it was better than Biscuit.

lol...