Rowe BC-1400 (Mars replacement kit problem)

[1carwash1]

I upgraded a Rowe BC 1400 with a Mars replacement kit (kit sold by Rowe) and sometimes when a customer inserts a bill the machine will take the money but does not dispense any quarters. Any ideas on how to isolate and correct this problem? Has anybody else experienced this problem? Other than this issue, I am satisfied with the changer.

 

[chaz]

I have this issue periodically with my Mars validator and Hamilton card dispenser/changer, only with 10 or 20 dollar bills. After 8 years, Hamilton says it's a issue with the Mars validator .... They are working on a fix. Not sure how this may apply to your Rowe equipment ... But I thought I'd throw it out there.

 

[Ghetto Wash]

Update the firmware in the Mars. This was a problem when Rowe's conversion first came out and Mars had to modify their programming. I don't know what version firmware is required, but the latest one should correct your problem.

 

[MEP001]

Is the validator accepting the bill and cycling it into the stacker?

 

[1carwash1]

Is the validator accepting the bill and cycling it into the stacker?

Yes, the bill is cycled into the stacker.

 

[1carwash1]

Update the firmware in the Mars. This was a problem when Rowe's conversion first came out and Mars had to modify their programming. I don't know what version firmware is required, but the latest one should correct your problem.

Does Rowe have to update the firmware or can I go to any MEI authorized service center?

 

[Randy]

How old is this Mars validator/Rowe kit? What size is the bill box on the validator?

 

[Ghetto Wash]

Does Rowe have to update the firmware or can I go to any MEI authorized service center?

I would guess either one could do it. My ex-local changer repair guy did a couple of mine and loaned me his programmer and I did a couple by myself. Call Rowe and ask them, they would know for sure (my local changer repair guy is now the GM at Rowe).

 

[1carwash1]

How old is this Mars validator/Rowe kit? What size is the bill box on the validator?

I'm pretty sure it was purchased in December of 2012. I don't know the size of the bill box, but I know it is not the smallest available.

 

[Randy]

I'm pretty sure it was purchased in December of 2012. I don't know the size of the bill box, but I know it is not the smallest available.

There’s your problem, its 4 years old and in need of a good rebuild and a firmware upgrade, they’ve had a lot of firmware upgrades since 2012. After about 2 or 3 years the capacitor on the main board begins to get weak, the validator will still work but it’ll start rejecting a lot of bills and stealing money among other things. Another problem they had with the AE2681 validator is the bill box they were using had a lot of slop in it and when the validator would accept a bill the bill box would move slightly and the validator would go off line with a Bill Stacker error. To fix this they came out with a Black bill box release button, the Black release a little thicker and takes up the slop from the bill box, most validators have the Yellow or Blue Bill box release button.