Water Damage to Mars bill validators in IVS Vacs

[DavidM]

Has anyone else experienced problems with bill validator failures in IVS combo vacs? We have had 2 of our 6 fail (about $180 each to repair) over the course of 4 years. I don't know how the water is getting in to cause the damage.

We have no problems in our bays with water damage, only the vacs and the vacs appear to be sealed better.

David

 

[Doug P.]

I purchased 9 new IVS Combo Vacs about 4 years ago. We have had 2 or 3 problems with the validators. I don't know if water was the cause or not. I believe the failure rate I have experienced is about as good as it gets. Of course I am comparing it to trying to keep 15 HVX validators running in the mid to late 90's. What we have had a problem with in the last year are the pumps for the fragrance and the shampooers. They have been very expensive to repair.

Doug P.

 

[jprb]

We purchased two IVS vacs last year. One of the validators failed within the first week or two. It was replaced under warranty.

I saw no evidence of water in or around the validator. Were yours wet? I thought maybe it was just an electronic glitch.

jprb

 

[DavidM]

The first one failed within the warranty time but because of evidence of moisture inside it was not covered under warranty. That one was sent to IVS. At the time I was somewhat skeptical because there was no reason for it to have been wet. The vacs are outside in a typical SS installation. They should be designed to withstand rain.

The second one was outside of the warranty period. I sent this one to a service center and the tech informed that the screws were badly corroded and when he opened it uo there was corrosion on the control board. It was clear to him that there it had gotten wet.

We have the same validator in 10 SS bays and have not had any failures over the same period.

Its hardly fair to compare MEI to Hamilton's mess with the HVX Never owned a Hamilton but I have heard the stories.

David

 

[lag]

David... We too have had a number of validators go bad in our IVS combos. After looking it over I began to think it was actually coming from the top of the vac where the pump,and solenoids are.Because solenoids,and pumps seem to always spring a leak,I think it is coming in the top of the vault where the validator sits (the vaults we have are not welded completly around all seams).

About a month or so ago,we sealed the vaults with silicone. I do not know if it will help or not,but just a idea.

I complained about the o-rings swelling up in the solenoids, the pumps,and validators,at a show once and was told "never heard of that happening".

As with alot of equipment, we have to find the flaws,ourselfs,and remady them the best we can. Good luck

 

[MEP001]

Are these validators "upstackers?"

We have them in our bays, and one day when I was cleaning one I saw water stains on the board behind the plastic bezel. I drilled a 1/2" hole in the bottom of the cover so if any water at all gets in through the bill opening it runs straight out the bottom. A friend has a single truck bay with a Mars, replaced the validator and it failed a few days later from water. He drilled a hole in the replacement at my suggestion, and it's still working a year later.

 

[JMMUSTANG]

I started using the new Coinco Vantage acceptors about a month ago.
So far I've replaced 5 Mars units because of not working when they got wet. It's been a problem for several years. I would send them in to get fixed, pay whatever they wanted and then they would do the same thing again later.
The new Coinco units have been working great so far.
They sealed the boards from moisture.
If the insert where the bill goes through gets wet, the acceptor will reject the bill 2-3 times to get the acceptor dry and then it will accept the bill. I shot water into the unit with the gun and after rejecting the bill a few times it accepted it.
I've had no stringing problems which the old ones were known for.
In the bays I had them programmed to accept $1, 5 & 10's, not just $1 & 5.

 

[washnvac]

Another thought, I took the lower housing apart on my coincos and covered the entire bottom of the circuit board with die electric grease. This prevents any moisture from getting to it. This solved my problem. It was the same issue you guys are talking about; everytime it went for service (about 4-6 months) they would say it was not covered by warranty because of moisture. My thought was: I bought this for outside, shouldn't it be designed for outside? Apparantly not. Anyhow, I have not had an issue for 2 years plus by loading them with the die electric goo.