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Plunger Kit V2 problems - big time lag, nudge function


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#1 klonoa

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Posted 25 June 2014 - 12:21 PM

Hi.

 

Some months ago, I received the digital plunger V1 Kit, which worked some days quite well (except nudge function),

But than, it stopped working, and now it has been swapped to a new V2 Kit.

 

But this makes me crazy, cant get it working correctly:

 

I connected an USB cable to PC, it installed USB drivers automatically, new plunger was installed now.

So I started VP, and tested.

Flipper Button worked a few seconds, and then they started to work very slowly. They have quite a big time lag.

Which means:

When I press button short (as usual at playing games), the plunger Kit doesn´t recognize.

Only if I push button almost 1 second, it will be recognized. When I take away my finger now, the

button still is at "on" for almost a second again, and releases than.

Plungering ball by analog plunger isn´t working also quite slow now.

 

I tried different USB connectors in my PC, but at all others (6) I got an error message, that installing was not correctly, and USB hardware connected isn't working.

Only in my extra USB card (that I needed for Russels dmd board) the plunger Kit will be recognized and installed.

And works - more or less.

 

Any idea anybody? Noah - can you help me?

 

After I did some windows updates (system is Win7 64) and restart,

the kit worked fast (as it should) for 3-5 seconds, and now it is very slow again.

Can´t get it working fast again :(

 

But: When it was working fast, the nudging option made me crazy. Was nudging and

tilting all the way.

But now, it stopped nudging, and whole function is very slow, so it is not usable :(

 

One more thing: there are two cable packs on the board.

Both have one black cable, titled with "common ground" and "ground".

Do I have to connect them both to ground? Or only one?

 

Thanks

HP

 



#2 Noah Fentz

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Posted 25 June 2014 - 04:30 PM

Hi klonoa,

 

Please unplug the kit, unplug the plunger, and plug the kit back in. Now test the buttons and nudge.

 

I have had one other report of this, and it appeared to be the IR sensor board wreaking havoc. Let me know the result, and I'll send you out a new sensor board.

 

As for the ground question, you can run them all to common, or you can split it off between two sides and bring them together.

 

Thank you.

 

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#3 SJB

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Posted 25 June 2014 - 08:11 PM

Hy Noah,

 

i´ve got the same problems with my two V2 kits.

 

I will try your advice tomorrow.



#4 klonoa

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Posted 25 June 2014 - 08:12 PM

Hello Noah,
Thanks a lot for your fast answer!
Hm, dont know, what the snsor board is...
But if I disconnect the usb cable, then the plunger cable, and reconnect, the buttons work fast for a few seconds again.
But it the same, if I only disconnect the usb cable, and reconnect it: kit is working for a few seconds, except the plunger, and the nudge function. BUT: sometimes, in this few seconds, the nudge function is working very sensitive, and tilts the game, before i start.
Strange.

What I found out now: my tables are controlled by b2s.server. If I put the script back to vpinmame.controller, so there is no ledwiz action, the flipperfingers work fast as they should, the plunger works also, and the nudge function is also working (less sensitive, but works).
So it is related to the LEDWiz action?
Maybe the USB of my USB card delivers not enough power? Russels DMD board is connected also to this card...
Remember, all my other USB ports of the mainboard dont like the plunger, so they dont install the driver.

Should I go for a USB Hub, that has a separate power supply, and connect it to the USB ports of my card?
Or what do you suggest?

Ah, one more thing I recognized: when the kit becomes so slow in gameplay, and I exit vp, and check in the gamecontroller setup of windows, thelunger kit works still slow: all the buttons lag, the plunger has no action, and the nudge cross is also very slow. Until I reconnect USB connector..

Thanks,
HP

#5 Noah Fentz

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Posted 25 June 2014 - 09:42 PM

Sounds like there could be a conflict there, especially if you're running a lot off the same USB. Are you running LEDWiz in your cabs, SBJ?

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#6 klonoa

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Posted 25 June 2014 - 10:02 PM

At the moment I run only Russels DMD board and the plunger kit at one USB card. Maybe the power consumption is not the problem, as separat USB cards deliver much current usually. Would like to test on my other USB connectiors, but on those the plunger kit will not installed correctly, because of the drivers. Windows searches for it, writes in a small window " installed succesfully", followed by an error window, that tells, there is a problem with.
Bad :(

But lets see, what infos SJB has...

HP

#7 BigBoss

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Posted 25 June 2014 - 11:41 PM

For test purposes, try running with the fewest possible things connected to USB. For example, if you can have only the plunger kit connected, no ledwiz, nothing else that's best. Report back

#8 klonoa

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Posted 29 June 2014 - 08:33 PM

Hi.
I drive russels Dmd board, the plunger kit, a wlan stick and the ledwiz on my different USB boards.
If I disconnect the ledwiz, and the wlan stick, there is still the same problem :(
The dmd board i cant disconnect, because vp crashes in that case.

It seems, as it has nothing to do with the combination of the USB components.

Noah, you still think, it can be this sensor board?
Did you test the V2 Kits you sent out to SJB maybe?

Thanks,
HP

#9 Noah Fentz

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Posted 29 June 2014 - 09:19 PM

Hi.
I drive russels Dmd board, the plunger kit, a wlan stick and the ledwiz on my different USB boards.
If I disconnect the ledwiz, and the wlan stick, there is still the same problem :(
The dmd board i cant disconnect, because vp crashes in that case.

It seems, as it has nothing to do with the combination of the USB components.

Noah, you still think, it can be this sensor board?
Did you test the V2 Kits you sent out to SJB maybe?

Thanks,
HP

To conform, unplug the plunger, before turning on your PC. Then try with plunger again.

The results should speak for themselves.

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#10 klonoa

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Posted 30 June 2014 - 07:31 PM

Hi.
Ok,
I unplugged plunger,
Before I turned on PC.
Without plunger, VP works perfectly.
Then, I connect the plunger,
And now, I have the problem again: flippers and all other buttons react very slow, unplayable :(
If the results speak for themself : what do they speak?
Hp

#11 Noah Fentz

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Posted 30 June 2014 - 08:06 PM

The results tell me the IR sensor in the tube is the issue. I'll send you out a new one, and you just unclip the end, remove the old one, insert the new one, and clip it back together.

 

:)

 

Please send me an email, with your order number, to service @ virtuapin.net.

 

My apologies for the inconvenience.


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#12 klonoa

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Posted 01 July 2014 - 11:02 AM

Hello Noah,

sent you the order number and address to your email address.

Please confirm, if you received.

Sensor board is on stock? So I should receive in some weeks finally?

 

Thank you,

HP



#13 klonoa

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Posted 02 July 2014 - 09:09 AM

Noah, did you receive my mail? With the order number?



#14 klonoa

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Posted 03 July 2014 - 12:19 PM

Noah?



#15 Noah Fentz

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Posted 03 July 2014 - 02:34 PM

I replied to your email ...

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#16 klonoa

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Posted 03 July 2014 - 08:07 PM

Hello Noah,
You did?
Didnt receive your mail...
So, is everything ok? You got my adress, and the order number, so you will send away the sensor board?
Thx

#17 Noah Fentz

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Posted 03 July 2014 - 08:45 PM

Everything's just fine.

 

I'm awaiting a new batch of sensors, so It'll be some time next week.

 

Thank you.


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#18 BlackPredator72

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 06:32 PM

I have almost the same issue. My Plunger Kit v1 was replaced for a v2. Then I still had problems and Noah send me a new IR plunger board.

I have the new IR plunger board replaced and everything works…. I thought.

Cause when I play for a while, suddenly something happens and then the plunger doesn’t work anymore and the flippers have a delay of a few seconds.

When I look at Devices and Printers under VirtuaPin Controller I see that the plunger bar (Z Axis) is full, like it’s pulled at max.

 

I have to disconnect the USB from the Controller Board (USB to PC), connect it again and then it works for some time.

Buttons react normal, plunger is working (plunger bar is empty and comes full when I pull the plunger).

But after a while, suddenly something happens and .....


43327.png?1581090420

 


#19 Noah Fentz

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Posted 12 September 2014 - 11:14 PM

Sorry to hear you're still having some problems. It sounds like it may be a dip in power to the USB port?

If they lose power, even briefly, they need to be recalibrated.

I've found a few motherboards have issues, unless certain USB options are set in the bios. Full initialization, being one of them. Some motherboards can't run them at all with these new power savings 'features'. They try to run USB devices on 3.5v nowadays.

If you have a powered USB port handy, I would appreciate it if you could try it in your cabinet and let me know the results.


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#20 BlackPredator72

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Posted 16 September 2014 - 08:35 AM

I bought a Sitecom CN-050 powered USB 2.0 hub and connected the Virtuakit to one of the 4 ports.

Also checked the BIOS settings but there are no power saving settings.

Then I played some tables and boom after 5 minutes the problem is still there.

Also tried some other USB ports (from the hub and from the PC) and instead of delay in flippers and no working plunger, I got a total blackout of the kit so nothing works anymore.

I have to disconnect the mini usb from the board, wait a littlebit, reconnect it and then it works again.

 

But then I tried to rename the plugins folder (DirectOutput) and it seems that I can play pinball for a very long time. I'll have to test it some more if this is the problem.

 

Also trying to connect the LedWiz (which is connected to the Virtual Output Kit) to the powered USB hub. Maybe this one takes to much power ?


Edited by BlackPredator72, 16 September 2014 - 08:43 AM.

43327.png?1581090420