Coin Mech Power Dilemma!!

[PMiddy001]

Hi all,
I've been following Brian's tutorial in connecting up a coin acceptor in the hope of using the coin kit software. The PC I'm using is one that was supplied with my Sound Surfer Juke Box (I believe the coin mech was fitted to this machine for cosmetic purposes and has never been connected to the PC before) - Dell Optiplex FX160.

Following the tutorial, I've made the wire as instructed but after opening up the PC, I'm guessing the only way of connecting the 4 pin power cable is to splice into the black and yellow wires as shown in the picture below. Why is there 2 of each colour and does it matter which black and which yellow one I choose to cut in to?



Thank you in advance,
Pete

[PMiddy001]

Sorry, the picture doesn't seem to want to attach itself. I created a new account too!

[Steve]

Hi Pete I would say that you have to meter those wires before you connect anything because you never no if they are using non standard wire colouring, just test em before you connect your serial lead or coin acceptor...

[PMiddy001]

Thanks for that, Steve.
I know this will be a silly question, but do you know why there are 2 yellow and 2 black coming from the PSU? - It's strange why I'm not able to attach a picture to my post. You may be able to find it from the below link.
<img src="https://i.ibb.co/WpZRbdS/WIN-20220701-09-31-49-Pro.jpg" alt="WIN-20220701-09-31-49-Pro" border="0">

[Steve]

I dont know for sure but I was told that the different wires are for diferent parts of the pc like drives,cpu etc
as for pictures I think they have to be of type jpg and they have to be small (bytes not dimensions)

[PMiddy001]

Thanks for your quick responses, Steve. They don't make it easy using the same colour wires. I'll give it a go over the weekend and will report back!

[PMiddy001]

I thought it would be a "safer" idea to power the coin mech from a separate power adapter, so following Brian's tutorial, I've done everything that he's explained apart from where the power is coming from.

All fitted into my jukebox, I clicked to open the coinkit software to make sure that it's all compatible and it won't open without being connected to the internet! - Is there anyway around this as my jukebox is a self contained unit with no access to the internet. Nothing's straight forward!

[Steve]

You will need to put internet on temp to use the trial and for registration, once registered you can use it without the internet.
As for a seperate power supply im not sure about that one as they wont have a common ground or something ?

[PMiddy001]

Okay Steve, I'll carry the PC up to the house and will connect it up temporarily.
Yes, I was wondering about the earth wire but apart from a separate power supply, I'm out of options. I do seem to remember seeing a video on YouTube where a coin mech was connected this way. I'm determined to get it working somehow! Thanks for your reply.

[PMiddy001]

I've finally got the PC online and managed to get the coinkit software up on the screen. I did splice through two of the wires coming from the PSU on the PC and the green light on the coin mech is on. I surprise myself sometimes!

I auto detected the COM port (currently it's showing on COM12 - but I have tried them all over the last hour) I then go to Diagnostic but there's "No reply, trying to reset coin acceptor" - I have a feeling I'm so close but desperately needing your expertise! Any help would be appreciated.

[Steve]

What coin acceptor is it ? (model number) or picture of label...

[PMiddy001]

Hi Steve,
I've been alternating between an SR5 and an SR5i. The SR5i has an LED which proves power is actually getting through.
I've been doing a little research and I've heard it could be down to the serial cable I've been using. Apparently an "ser2pt.sys" could work? - It just seems like one problem after another but I'm remaining persistent! The PC knows which port the coin mech is connected to, and the power light is on - that's keeping me optimistic!

[PMiddy001]

The operating system is Windows XP. Could the problems be down to the type of serial cable I've used? - Would there be a difference between a 2.0 and a 3.0 for instance? As Brian only stated it was a serial cable, I simply searched Amazon for something that looked similar with the same "ends" as which were shown on the video. It looked like one that was described as a TTL cable. I don't even know what TTL stands for, but that's the one I got. Money's no object, I'd just love to get this machine accepting coins.

[PMiddy001]

Whenever I hit a dead-end, the LED on the SR5i usually blinks from green to red - if that means anything? I'll upload a video of the "sequence of unfortunate events" before bed and post the link!

[Bry]

this is the cable u need
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=pl2303+hx&_sop=15&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=1

https://jukeblaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=1769.0

On SR5 pin 9 to ground puts it in serial mode