Updating bill validators to accept the new bills

[Hawk Daddy]

What is needed to do this and how much does it cost?

Hawk

[BrentRadio]

It depends on the model you have, and I think it's expensive either way.

[Ken Layton]

Yes, it depends on the brand and model. Sometimes the date of manufacture is important too.

Here are the various methods manufacturers use:

Flash programming from a Palm Pilot

Eprom chip change (unplug the old chip and plug in a new chip)

Replacement circuit board (unplug old circuit board and plug in new circuit board)

Modification kit (which may require soldering, cutting foil traces, adding parts)

Of course some makes and models are NOT upgradeable.


CashCode brand bill acceptors are the cheapest & easiest to upgrade---just a simple chip change for $30.

[Hawk Daddy]

The model I have is a Mars Electronics, model number VFM4-R1.  Anybody know where I can get a chip for it?

Hawk

[Ken Layton]

You have a great bill acceptor, however, an update is gonna cost ya. Mars officially no longer supports this model, but a third party vendor does with a complete replacement circuit board. Visit here:

http://www.pyramid5.com/vfm.html

Complete plug 'n play installation. Just unplug the old Mars board and plug this one in instead. The replacement comes with the latest chip for the latest currency. If an upgrade is needed in the future it's just a simple $15 chip change you can do yourself.

I know, some people may say this is kinda pricey, but Mars bill acceptors are the very best out there. The most reliable, best running, longest lasting, and impossible to cheat/string. In my opinion this upgrade is worth every penny.

If you've ever priced a new Mars bill acceptor, you'll see what I mean. This retrofit board is well worth it.

[Hawk Daddy]

Man for a few bucks more I can get a new bill validatior all together.  I might just wait and do that, cause it's not that big of an issue.

Hawk

[Ken Layton]

Yeh, but you wouldn't have a Mars bill acceptor.

[Hawk Daddy]

But I would have a working one.  I'll trade you mine for one of your updated bill acceptors how does that sound?

Hawk