STAR*TEcH
Journal
September 1 995
Monitor
SEGA PINBALL
Proble111s?
DIAGNOSTIC DISPLAY MESSAGES
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TEAM SEGA
Joe Blackwell, Eric Winston
Ted Kilpin,Jay Alfer
Melrose Park, Illinois
JvlON/TORS:
SYMPTOMS/SOLUTIONS
''What is this pinball machine
trying to tell me?"
Includes all S* TJ
monitor articles from
SUBJECT
1990, 1991, 1992,
1993,1994& 1995
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1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
Listed below are explanations to
the diagnostic aids currently used
in our Sega Pinball machines -
the latest being "Operator Alert".
If you have any questions or con-
cerns regarding these, please feel
free to call us at 800/542-5377
(800/Kickers).
$14.95
$14.95
$14.95
$14 .95
$14.95
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DIAGNOSTIC
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□ Entire set for $59. 95
TOR ALERT"-A message dis-
played during Game Mode or
Power-Up to alert the operator of
a problem.
Name: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Company _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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Address - - - - - - - - - - -
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t
City ____________ l
State/Zip
Ams
1) The display reads "OPERA-
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o Prepaid or O COD I
(Please add $3 s/h. Thank you!) I
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~_:~f~~:..~:...2!~~J
Operator Alert works by monitor-
ing any switch-activated coil that
has the potential to trap a ball
when disabled (e.g. in the Auto
Launch, Scoop, Eject, etc.). If this
assembly has a closed switch in-
dicating a ball is stuck or the
switch is stuck closed, the CPU
board will activate the coil ten
times. It the switch remains
closed, the game will display a
message indicating there is a
problem (e.g. "OPERATOR
ALERT AUTO LAUNCH NOT
WORKING"). This not only
warns the operator of a problem
immediately, but indicates ex-
actly where the operator should
look to resolve it.
2) The display flashes "OPEN
THE COIN DOOR" - This in-
dicates that CMOS RAM
memory ( CPU Location D5) has
been corrupted.
This is caused by either failure
in memory (e.g. batteries are
dead or faulty RAM) or upon
installation of updated version of
code. Opening the Coin Door
will initiate a Factory Restore, by
opening the Memory Protect
Switch. Check battery voltage at
CMOS RAM with power off.
The overall CMOS RAM ad-
dress range is 0000 - lFFF (Hex).
The protected memory in the
CMOS RAM occupies addresses
lE00- lFFF (Hex). If the address
bus is in this range, and MP
(Memory Protect) is in a logic low
state ( due either to the coin door
being closed or a possible wiring
problem), write operations to the
CMOS RAM are disabled
through the logic of gates 7C, IF
and 9E on the CPU board.
3) TECH ALERT is a part of
Portals diagnostic menu and
when selected will display the
switch name and number of any
switch that the CPU has not seen
change state in 50 games.