Best Coin Acceptor?

[matts22]

There is a clear path between the coin acceptor and the drop that takes the coins to the collection box. There is plenty of room for the coins to fall into the box. They are getting blocked up higher (in the coin path). We never had this problem with the ginsan sensitrons that were in there previously. We have checked the meter doors and they are perfectly vertical. That being said, we were just discussing adding a couple washers in between the mounting hole and the meter door to try to increase the angle. So we'll try that out and I'll let you all know.

My whole point though is that Microcoin didn't even offer a suggestion on anything to try. I know that it may very well be an installation issue, but we obviously need some suggestions on things to try to fix it and they just said to try to get a refund and go buy another company's coin acceptor.

 

[mjwalsh]

What are you finding in the acceptor that's jamming it? You're sure there's no loose wire getting under it causing a jam, and there's plenty of room under it for the coins to fall clear into the safe?

matts22,

Just to add to what MEP001 says ... we have had in changing brands of coin mechs ... sometimes we find a brand new slight alignment issue with the old opening of the separate coin storage area of our box which I believe is different than car washes with more secure separate safes. This misalignment condition can cause 2 coins to jam towards the bottom of the coin mech which will cause all additional coins to also get jammed. Our long term solution was to cut the heavy thick stainless opening larger. At first we used a peanut air grinder with a grinding attachment but then we used a plasma cutter which was much easier.

In your defense ... it is not always easy to see that the slight impediment below the coin mech is the cause of the jams.

mike walsh www.kingkoin.com

 

[Randy]

It sounds to me like you’ve got an alignment issue with the coin acceptor and the frame that it’s mounted in. When you replaced the Sensortron coin acceptor with the Micro coin did you also replace the frame or did you just replace the coin acceptor insert? I’ve never seen 4 Microcoin QL coin acceptors with the problems you’re having. I find it rather odd that no one is trying to rectify your problem.

 

[DavidM]

I agree that it is very odd that they are not willing to help you find a solution.

We have Microcoins in all of our bays and most of our vacs. My experiences echo everyone else's, this was the best acceptor we tested.
Like Randy said, my guess would be bracket alignment.
I assume you are using the Microcoin bracket that allows the acceptor to clip in and out. If this is the case, make sure that everything is aligned correctly. The rear bracket should fit over the two studs on the acceptor and the ear on the rear bracket fits into a slot on the main bracket before the clip is attached. It is difficult to explain clearly, maybe I can get some pictures to help.

If it is jamming that frequently, I would drop coins until I see it jam to find out exactly what is causing the coins to catch.

David

 

[mjwalsh]

I agree that it is very odd that they are not willing to help you find a solution.

We have Microcoins in all of our bays and most of our vacs. My experiences echo everyone else's, this was the best acceptor we tested.
Like Randy said, my guess would be bracket alignment.
I assume you are using the Microcoin bracket that allows the acceptor to clip in and out. If this is the case, make sure that everything is aligned correctly. The rear bracket should fit over the two studs on the acceptor and the ear on the rear bracket fits into a slot on the main bracket before the clip is attached. It is difficult to explain clearly, maybe I can get some pictures to help.

If it is jamming that frequently, I would drop coins until I see it jam to find out exactly what is causing the coins to catch.

David

Matt22,

The only thing else I can think of besides foreign object dirt etc causing jams is the pivot pin on the bottom of the bracket that David above just described can sometimes come loose & fall out ... but that should be pretty obvious by comparing with a brand new MicroCoin QL. We are just in the process of experimenting with a long 1/16" or 3/32" cotter pin from Fastenal to make a more permanent fix for that problem.

Let us know how you eventually come out after following our suggestions ... it seems like it could be a big mistake to send them back & buy another brand of coin mech. Alls well that ends well goes the cliché.

mike walsh www.kingkoin.com

 

[JustClean]

I've had Microcoin for 8 years and I love them! The only part that annoys me a bit is the bracket. After a few years it cracks and you have to buy a new one. We first tape it and then eventually replace it. Having said this, when we tape it and it is out of alignment coins seem to get stuck. So I guess there is definitely a installation problem. It would be great if Microcoin came up with a complete stainless steel bracket!

 

[MEP001]

IDX has an all-stainless bracket:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-25621-idx-stainless-steel-faceplate.aspx

 

[mizzou51]

Matts22 is my partner in this car wash but I am the one that installed the Microcoin QL acceptors. We did install new frames, all of the alignment pins on the back are in alignment, the metal bracket locks everything into place as it should.
The coins jam in the insertion slot, they never make it to the actual acceptor mechanisim. We have never had a coin jam beyond the coin path slot. We have 5 of these installed and on average each one of them will jam once every week or so, most of the time they work great. The new brackets were mounted on the existing studs that were welded to the back of the door (the same studs the previous acceptors were mounted to) and everything aligned perfectly. I have to think that the slot angle it not quite steep enough and will try to shim the bracket out at the top to make the angle a little steeper. We will let everyone know if this solves the problem.
Thanks a lot for all of your input!

 

[MEP001]

Are your doors flat?

 

[2Biz]

I've learned its much easier to trouble shoot coin acceptors on the bench than try to figure out whats wrong when they are installed. I just put the acceptor in a bench vise and square it up. Wire it up to a 24v transformer and start feeding it coins. Its amazing what you can figure out by just watching it work!

In your case, if it works on the bench, then the problem lies somewhere else. But if it fails on the bench or coins jam up, surely you can see what the problem is. Its hard to imagine that the manufacture would have the coin path dimensions so tight that it causes feeding issues. Seems as though others don't have that issue with this acceptor.

 

[Randy]

I made a coin acceptor/Dixmor timer test box that has a 24 volt transformer, Dixmor harness and a terminal strip mounted to the box. It makes it real easy to preprogram or test Dixmor timers and coin acceptors. It also has 24 volts so I can test 24 volt bill validators. Like 2Biz said it’s easier to test the coin acceptors on the bench than on the coin box.

 

[mjwalsh]

I agree with 2Biz & Randy on having a workbench test setup with proper voltage etc & a special magnifier light. We have always maintained a minimum of 2 spare complete coin box setups ... almost everything pertinent is on the removable faceplate that includes the coin acceptor & bill validator to make FOR TESTING & also QUICK SWAPPING backup assemblies. The real test is in the bay though ... especially when the moisture gets more dense with both doors shut during the winter time.

mike walsh http://kingkoin.com/USA_Deficit_Reduction.html