How to make a $1 Coin Changer

[Rudy]

I have a Hamilton SS-1 Changer that I'm taking out of service. It has been set up to dispense brass tokens, and still works like new.

I need a machine to convert $1 coins to 4 Quarters, and I'm toying with the idea of using this machine. Would it be possible to cut two slots (to the front door) and add a coin acceptor? Short or long drop? What brand?

I'm thinking that if I connect the pulse output from the coin acceptor to the $1 pin of the controller (C2000), things should work. Would the pulse be of sufficient timing/voltage to work? I'm thinking that if the acceptor "sees" a good $1 coin, the C2000 would interpret the same as a good $1 pulse from a validator.

Ideas?

 

[I.B. Washincars]

I think the newer Hamiltons have provisions for a coin acceptor so I think it would be easily doable. Why do you need two slots in the machine?

 

[Rudy]

One to put the coin in at the top....one at the bottom for coins that get rejected.

 

[I.B. Washincars]

Let them drop to the coin cup already on the machine. My Hamiltons and Americans only have one slot from the factory. If you try to make a reject slot you will also need a reject cup/catcher thingy.

Honestly, I don't think I would do anything along those lines. There is a bill going to congress soon that proposes eliminating the dollar bill. If that happens you will most likely need to make all your equipment accept dollar coins.

 

[Rudy]

You're right. Either I'd have to cut a second slot at the bottom for the "reject" slot, OR plumb some kind of "chute" to route the rejected coin to the coin cup. I don't know which would be more reliable.

It's a long story, but I do need a $1 coin to Quarter changer.

Does someone know the technical spec of what type of pulse the Controller needs. What acceptor could provide that type of pulse?

 

[MEP001]

I believe the C2000 controller is ready for a coin acceptor pulse, but you'd have to modify the harness plug to the controller. It would be easier to use the bill acceptor signal which is just a momentary-closed circuit for the payout. A Sensortron has a relay passthrough circuit so you could use that to directly send the pulse; almost any other acceptor and you'd need a relay for the pulse.

One thing I don't know is what will happen if the controller receives a pulse while it's trying to pay out - you might need to use the validator enable circuit to disable the acceptor while it's vending so people changing multiple coins don't lose their money.

 

[Rudy]

Thanks for reminding me about the "disable" issue. I forgot all about that. It wouldn't be hard to run the coin acceptor's power through a relay which would open when the controller sends a disable signal.

I've had good service in my Self Serve bays using Sensortrons and Quarters. The only problem......I wonder if a magnet might have been used a time or two over the years to "rip me off". Are the Sensortrons still vulnerable to this? I'd certainly NOT want to have someone be able to empty my hopper.......

 

[Dan kamsickas]

Thanks for reminding me about the "disable" issue. I forgot all about that. It wouldn't be hard to run the coin acceptor's power through a relay which would open when the controller sends a disable signal.

I've had good service in my Self Serve bays using Sensortrons and Quarters. The only problem......I wonder if a magnet might have been used a time or two over the years to "rip me off". Are the Sensortrons still vulnerable to this? I'd certainly NOT want to have someone be able to empty my hopper.......

Any Sensortrons build since the beginning of '08 are impervious to magnets.

FYI any coin acceptor that uses a relay output is suseptable to magnets if the theif has the correct type of magnet.