Coin Counters?

[fatfingers]

OK, so I see reference every once in a while to coin counters in other people's posts, but I don't seem to have one so...

• Can they be used with any coin mech?
• Where can I get one (do I need one for each mech???)?

Thanks!

Newbie

[Ken Layton]

Coin counting meters are and have always been an optional accessory on commercial coin operated equipment. Some local/county/state jurisdictions require them when the machine is on location earning money. In general there's just one meter that tallies the total coins deposited through both coin chutes. Some game manufacturers have split the coin chute wiring/circuitry to allow for two meters that can tally the coins through each coin chute seperately. All coin operated equipment distributors carry these meters for sale in their parts departments. Average cost is less than ten dollars per meter.

The most common voltages of meters used in arcade games are:

4.5 VDC
6 VDC
12 VDC

The 4.5 VDC and 6 VDC can be operated off of a +5 volt wire from the power supply (one wire of the meter). The other meter wire must be connected to a meter driver transistor on a game circuit board. Meters are MOMENTARY devices (in other words they get a brief pulse to operate). If connected to steady power they will burn up in minutes.

[fatfingers]

  Thanks for the valuable information, Ken! 

[clhug]

There's really no reason to have one unless you really want that "authenticity" aspect of a MAME cab (and as Ken said, not all original arcade games had them anyway), or just want a way of your own to know approx how many games have been played on your machine (or credits used anyway).  There are also software counters out there.

If you get one, just do a search in this forum on "coin counter" and it'll return several threads.  I just got done wiring one up (the cabinet I bought for MAME had one already so I decided to wire it in) and the results of what I did are posted in another thread that'll turn in the "coin counter" search.  Mine was 12 V and as far as I could find from my own searches was the first time anybody posted any detailed info on getting a 12 V counter to work with a 5 V based system like an I-Pac (which is what I have).

If you buy a coin counter, just buy a 5 V one and it'll be a lot easier to wire up.

[kiddk1]

I have one I never hooked up, I really dont need it in my mame cab, if you want it LMK and we can work something out.

[fatfingers]

I have one I never hooked up, I really dont need it in my mame cab, if you want it LMK and we can work something out.

  I just ordered one like 3 hours ago!

Thanks for the offer though!