American changer

[Detbjr]

Hi I’ve got an American changer ac2221. I’m trying to get it back to life. The hopper boxes are filthy and so is the orange plastic chain. Is that chain something that should be replaced periodically to get the changer to work right or it doesn’t matter?

 

[Keno]

Posting pictures will help you getting better from the forum. There are several good videos on YouTube on cleaning, inspecting, and lubricating american changer hoppers

 

[Greg Pack]

There's a Facebook group that might be helpful for you. It's ran by a guy that runs a changer repair business.

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[SudsMaster]

You can check feedback about it or watch videos; it will surely help you.

 

[buckeye3847]

They sell new hoppers for $99-136 range at suzo-happ. You can replace the belts and clean the hopper, but if its been in service for a while, it might just be easier to get 2 new hoppers than chasing down issues with a worn out hopper. https://na.suzohapp.com/products/coin_hoppers/EV100-001B or https://na.suzohapp.com/products/coin_hoppers/EV100-011B. Both have serial or cctalk parallel interfaces for the new and old control boards. You can definitely try to do a proper cleaning first as well by taking apart the hopper and cleaning thoroughly.

 

[Detbjr]

Thanks for all the feedback. I took the hoppers apart and cleaned them. I loaded them up. They work once and then I get a 300 error code, which means empty hopper. If I turn the board off and on, the error code clears. Put a bill in then the error code comes back.

The coin contact strips in the Hoppers are good - if I empty the hoppers, I get the 300 code right away. Fill it, the 300 code goes away but then one bill cycle, the 300 code comes back. Power off and on, code clears, bill in, code back.

any idea what I should check next in this condition?

thanks!

 

[Detbjr]

 

[Detbjr]

This is the board from the changer. I saw another thread that the money controls hoppers are the best. I just was trying to do some troubleshooting before buying a bunch of stuff lol

 

[buckeye3847]

This is the board from the changer. I saw another thread that the money controls hoppers are the best. I just was trying to do some troubleshooting before buying a bunch of stuff lol

I have that same board on my changer and use the suzo happ ones. Mine were a million years old original (the old black Mk4 ones). The money controls ones arent even made anymore, so the guys saying they are the best are able to rebuild/clean etc. and not everyone has time for that. The labor for a vendor to repair them is $150, and they charge twice that for a refurb, so buying a brand new one from suzo happ for $140 seems like a no-brainer. It comes with a parallel cable and can be switched from front to back load depending on what you have. You can then try to rebuild your MK4 with a new plastic chain if you want to take it apart but it could be gears, motor etc. thats going... but if you can, use that as your spare for next time one of them go out..

 

[Detbjr]

Thanks. I ordered 2 new ones from Suzo happ. I saw comments on another thread that the suzo happs were junk. But I figured I could do the new suzo happ and then send the mk4 out for rebuild. I think there might be an electrical problem somewhere as the issue is intermittent. American Changer never responded to my emails either.

 

[Keno]

Did you call the tech support line, they have been good about helping out with my issues

 

[Detbjr]

I didn’t call I just emailed the pics of the circuit boards with a description of the error and what’s going on.

 

[Keno]

I would try to call on Tues, they closed Mon. I just called yesterday and they were able to help with one of our changers.

 

[Detbjr]

Thanks. I’ll definitely do that if the suzo happ hoppers (say that fast 3 times!) don’t work. I have the old mk4 hoppers ready to send out for rebuild as spares. I’m trying to see how much the changer gets used. Lots to learn here!

 

[Randy]

I'd replace it with a Hamilton DRS and be done with it.

 

[Detbjr]

Hi guys - Does anyone happen to know the specs for the 24v power supply required to drive an American changer universal board, the hopper and a validator? I see that mean well makes it and you can buy them from Mouser or TRC but American changer won’t tell me the specs. Thanks!

 

[cbchevy4x4]

Hi guys - Does anyone happen to know the specs for the 24v power supply required to drive an American changer universal board, the hopper and a validator? I see that mean well makes it and you can buy them from Mouser or TRC but American changer won’t tell me the specs. Thanks!

IF i remember i will look tomorrow and attach a pic, i know ive bought them from trc in the past for much less than AC charges

 

[Detbjr]

Thanks!

 

[OurTown]

Hi guys - Does anyone happen to know the specs for the 24v power supply required to drive an American changer universal board, the hopper and a validator? I see that mean well makes it and you can buy them from Mouser or TRC but American changer won’t tell me the specs. Thanks!

Is there a manufacturer label with the specs on the power supply?

 

[Detbjr]

My hope would be someone who has the 24v universal board already in their machine would confirm the label on the supply.

I have the old 110v legacy system hence my question. None of the websites selling the 24v universal board show the label on the power supply. I sense it’s overpriced when sold together…