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row conversion to mars

R

rzeavy

Member
I have converted 6 row changers to mars ( with row conversion kit), but I am getting a message (every few days) "acceptor jam" and the red light is flashing.
I press the reset button on the computer board and it goes away.
any idea would be appreciated.
 
I don't have an answer for you, but I have a question. Does the system work well (besides the obvious)? How much per changer? Does it still use the buckets or is it real time payout?

Thanks!
 
I'm not positive, but I don't think there's any way for the Mars to communicate back to the Rowe, and even if there were clearing an error shouldn't put it back into service. Does this happen on all six units or just one? If it's just one, I'd suggest swapping parts between two changers one by one until the problem moves to the working changer, thus narrowing down the problem.
 
It happen on 5 out of 6 changers, when it works it works fine but once a day one of them will act up.

sorry for the delay in responding, I was away for a while.
It pays in real time but have to fill up the bucket like before.
 
I was getting strung with my Rowe validator. So, after all the positive feedback from this forum on the Mars, I also converted one of my Rowe machines to a Mars validator. I used the Rowe kit also because my changer repairman said that was the only conversion kit that he would work on. Been using it for two months now. Haven't been strung since. Once a week, however, I get the same error that you get and show up at the wash with the changer down (very frustrating). I've been able to replicate the shutdown by feeding a VERY limp, soft, and tired dollar into the Mars. The bill doesn't get jammed, it comes right back out, but the machine shuts down with a bill jam error. Push the reset button and I'm good for another week or so.

Sounds like a problem with the Mars kit from Rowe to me.

rzeavy, have you figured any thing out? I'd sure like an answer also.
 
I used some other kit that I got from Wolverine American. It only gets rid of the stacker and bill acceptor. It integrates with the Rowe Electronics. I love it and have converted my other changer. I think I had an error once in 3 months but I don't remember what it was.
 
I converted four to mars with rowe kit and haven't seen that error yet. I did have one computer failure. An area of the board that gives the signal to dump the buckets. I would call either rowe or mars to get a good answer
John
 
Rzeavy,
Have you corrected the problem. Mine are getting worse. Had to reset a changer 12 times yesterday alone. I couldn't leave the carwash. Talked to other operators around me and they all love Rowe's Mars conversion. They haven't had a problem at all. I'm pulling my hair out and am seriously considering converting back to the BA-50 acceptors.

Everyone loves them. I have two at one location and the both suck. What are the chances that I got two that are bad? Pretty small. Could it be dirty power? How do I economically (cheap) check the power quality and clean it if needed?
 
I had the same problem with mine. If my memory serves me, the way to identify problem validators is in the serial number. I think if the third digit in the serial number is a seven, you have a series that had a "bad run" of gears installed. Baca's changers repaired mine under warranty.
 
Also, every time the error occured on my changer, the mars didn't stack the bill. When I would remove the bill box, a bill would fall out. This may be a different problem than what you are having.
 
80% of the time, the bill is rejected, the validator goes backwards and forwards a couple of times and then shuts down. 20% of the time there is a bill that isn't stacked and will fall out when I remove the box.

I think I need to try a new Mars validator and see if that helps.

I will have to check the serial no's and look into the bad gear problem. Thanks for the lead.

When yours was replaced did the problem go away?
 
I had another 115 vac Mars on the shelf for an American changer that I installed while mine was being repaired. That validator has been working trouble free for about ten weeks. The repaired validator is on the shelf now, I am sure it will work fine; I opted to wait until our pollen season is over before I change it out again. I hope this works for you, it cost a a lot of money to change six units for it not to work.
 
Ghetto Wash said:
Rzeavy,
Have you corrected the problem. Mine are getting worse. Had to reset a changer 12 times yesterday alone. I couldn't leave the carwash. Talked to other operators around me and they all love Rowe's Mars conversion. They haven't had a problem at all. I'm pulling my hair out and am seriously considering converting back to the BA-50 acceptors.

Everyone loves them. I have two at one location and the both suck. What are the chances that I got two that are bad? Pretty small. Could it be dirty power? How do I economically (cheap) check the power quality and clean it if needed?
Click to expand...

Ghetto
I was on vacation for the last 3 weeks, but just recently I've heard that row rep. witnessed a duplication of that message and is going to make a chip that will reset the changer to operating mode after the "jam" message.
hope this help.
 
I believe the problem might be the downstack mars bill acceptor. there is slight play in the billbox when locked into position (about 1/16" or so) and in the downstack position is more suseptable to movement upon stacking of a bill. The sensor on the mars sensing the movement of the billbox generates a error which is transmitted to rowe. The problem is that the mars resets itself but rowe requires a manual reset. I believe rowe is working on the problem and that the update fix will be that rowe will just ignore this error. As a temp fix, I used a razorblade (best thing i had at hand) as a shim to stop billbox movement. This has seemed to work thus far.
 
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