Help! Convert 240V machine to 120V?

[DaveyC]

Hi,

I recently acquired 2 machines - a blue Thunderbirds and another with a baseball player on it. I have no knowledge of how these things work but am thrilled to find this site! I dowloaded the pdfs before messing with the machines today. That kept me from taking them to a locksmith first!

I plugged them in and pressed the power button on each machine. Both came on for a split second but then immediately shut down.

The baseball player machine has 2 6 amp fuses. I confirmed that one of these blew and the single 15 amp fuse blew in the Thunderbirds machine. There was no burnt electrical smell or pop, they just immediately turned off.

There is a post-it note on one of the machines that says "240V". I am by no means electrical savvy. Does this mean they need to be converted somehow? I hope I didn't ruin them

Pardon me if there's a sticky or FAQ for how to do this, (please point me there if so) but how do I convert them to run on normal US household electric receptacle?

Thanks very much for any help!

[Peteybob]

Hello DaveyC and welcome to the group!

Sorry I can’t help much because I’m not so familiar with 120V/240V settings. I do have a Thunderbirds3 (blue machine) and it does have a 24VAC transformer in it to convert the power needs from that used in Japan. Do you know if these were operational stateside before you got them? There could be a switch for the voltage regulator or you may need a transformer added, replaced, or rewired for your household current.

Can you post some pictures so others can see more about what you have? Any power supplies with or without additional transformers? Pictures are always welcomed.

[Drunkenclam]

Never seen or heard of a 240v machine only 24 or 100.
Locate the machines data plate and that will tell you the machines true voltage before any step down/step up transformers fitted by others. Don't forget to send pictures.

[pachiwall]

Welcome to Pachitalk! From Japan they run on 100 volts AC. The circuits inside run off of 24 volts AC. Usually there is a power supply that steps down the line power to the correct voltage and sends it to all the proper locations needed. I'm guessing that someone replaced it with something that uses 240 VAC If you can post a picture, that would be helpful. It doesn't seem like 120 volts would blow a fuse if it needs 240 VAC.
IF it needs a new power supply, they can sometimes be found. If it will work on 240 VAC, and you can't find the correct power supply to run it on 120 VAC, then you can get a step up transformer. I got one on eBay for about $50 to test and try to fix a Rotomint...a German slot machine.

[DaveyC]

IMG_3799.JPGIMG_3797.JPGIMG_3795.JPGIMG_3793.JPGIMG_3792.JPG

Pardon the sideways pics. Hopefully they are adequate. Please let me know if any better angles will help. Both plugs look the same. Both units powered up then cutoff immediately. Thanks so much everyone.

[DaveyC]

Hi PB, I don't think these were, because when I plugged them up they came on and then boom, nothing. Just posted a reply to everyone with pics. Hoping this will help. They look pretty stock to me, but what do I know ha!

[Drunkenclam]

That says 24v not 240

[DaveyC]

Never seen or heard of a 240v machine only 24 or 100.
Locate the machines data plate and that will tell you the machines true voltage before any step down/step up transformers fitted by others. Don't forget to send pictures.

Hey DC thanks for your reply! where do I find the data plate?

[DaveyC]

That says 24v not 240

Yeah, that's just the plug in case that helped. It was just a yellow post-it note with "240v" written in pen. I could take a picture but that's literally it.

[DaveyC]

Welcome to Pachitalk! From Japan they run on 100 volts AC. The circuits inside run off of 24 volts AC. Usually there is a power supply that steps down the line power to the correct voltage and sends it to all the proper locations needed. I'm guessing that someone replaced it with something that uses 240 VAC If you can post a picture, that would be helpful. It doesn't seem like 120 volts would blow a fuse if it needs 240 VAC.
IF it needs a new power supply, they can sometimes be found. If it will work on 240 VAC, and you can't find the correct power supply to run it on 120 VAC, then you can get a step up transformer. I got one on eBay for about $50 to test and try to fix a Rotomint...a German slot machine.

Thanks for your reply. If this is a stock from Japan with nothing done to it, should it just work with no problem when you plug it in?

[Drunkenclam]

Follow the 24v lead.

Data plates are normally on the side or back. In Japanese. Machine name. Voltage. Power rating. Serial number. Etc

[DaveyC]

Follow the 24v lead.

Data plates are normally on the side or back. In Japanese. Machine name. Voltage. Power rating. Serial number. Etc

Thanks here is one for the baseball player machine. I couldn't find one on the Thunderbirds game.IMG_3801.JPG

[Peteybob]

Does your Thunderbirds machine (or the other one) have an additional power block/transformer like the one in the lower right corner of my picture?

Tbirds Power Supply.jpg

[DaveyC]

Does your Thunderbirds machine (or the other one) have an additional power block/transformer like the one in the lower right corner of my picture?

Tbirds Power Supply.jpg

Neither has an additional power block/transformer. I made sure to thoroughly look through both moreso than the pics show.. IMG_3804.JPGIMG_3806.JPG

[pachiwall]

24 volt AC...looKS like a 24 volt transformer (like the one in Peteybob's pic) will be needed. 110 volts into the transformer, 24 volts to the existing power supply. Easy fix, as long as the fuse blew quickly enough and no damage was done.
I have never had, or even seen a machine with a 24 volt cord. I have heard of them...and they have the same size and shape as Japan's 100 volt cord, and USA 110 volt plug. Plugging them into the wrong voltage is common.
I have noticed that all machines with the Japanese 100 volt plug never have a 3rd prong for ground. Do they not use grounded plugs in Japan?

[Peteybob]

Well I’m sorry to say that you will need something to change the household current (110V/120V) into the needed 24VAC. At least for the Thunderbirds machine in comparison to mine. I don’t know if any Pachislo power supplies have a switchable regulator inside. I use to have some back in the PC building days. Here is a transformer that I bought a couple of years ago. A bit pricey but it had what I wanted at the time and still runs great today.

https://blackhawksupply.com/collecti...cts/tr150va002

I only know little enough to be dangerous and only experiment on my own goods. It has been a long time since and I don’t want to start fires or blow up someone else’s machine. Perhaps others can offer suggestions and solutions???

[Peteybob]

IMG_3792.JPG

I have never had, or even seen a machine with a 24 volt cord. I have heard of them...and they have the same size and shape as Japan's 100 volt cord, and USA 110 volt plug. Plugging them into the wrong voltage is common.

I had 2 machines with the label still attached to the cord. Looks like the original cord was basically cut and reused after splicing in a transformer. I think it was just the easiest thing to do for the importer and it kept down the costs. But they still left the tag on because......

[Drunkenclam]

I have 2 pachislos. Both with the same 2 pin plug. 1 is 100v. The other is 24v

[DaveyC]

Thanks everyone for your help!

[Moparformances]

looks like your getting the best help we have



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