17 replies to this topic

[Powerus]

Hello,
I upgraded my pincab from a v2 to a v3 plunger kit from virtuapin

I like the massive upgrade to the nudges and the software but for some reason, my plunger disconnects as soon as I start a table or even simply VPX.

I'm on VPX 62 (latest)

Anybody knows why?
Video of the problem: https://youtu.be/NAI3YT-eqB4

 

I thought it was related to parasites from my PC when the load rose so I printed a box for the KL25 and shielded it with aluminium tape made to shield guitars (and grounded it)

It didn't fix anything and by the look of it, I think it's more software than hardware related.
 

What do you think?

[ludovids]

Lots of info in this forum on this subject to search for. I came to the conclusion that the sensor in the plunger is very sensitive to electrical interference. You could try replacing the USB cable with one that has Ferrite chokes, or wrap the plunger connection wires with metal shielding.

[Powerus]

I'm very sceptical about that electrical interference issue in my case.
 

I'm going to use the same aluminium shielding I used for my box to wrap the whole sensor, connector and wires with it.
Pretty sure it's not going to fix anything. But can't be 100% without trying.

 

I've read the topics talking about it before posting this one because in my case it really looks like a software issue.

I already thought about replacing the wires with a CAT7a double shielded network cable, but that's a lot of work.

I'll be back in 1h with the verdict 

 

Verdict: it's a lot WORSE! Now that everything is shielded and grounded my board gets disconnected all the time.

Without starting anything, just staying on the desktop.

The USB cable already has a ferrite choke.

Edited by Powerus, 04 October 2021 - 12:55 PM.

[garnel]

I had frequent, spurious disconnects after installing my new plunger. Originally, I was using a USB 3.0 hub inside the cab - when I plugged the Virtuapin USB connector directly into a motherboard USB 3.0 port, the disconnects were reduced, but still happened. I tried a different brand USB hub (this one powered) and it behaved exactly the same as the first hub - plunger kept disconnecting.

Next I replaced the vendor supplied USB cable and plugged it directly into the motherboard USB port.  This resolved my plunger disconnect issues. I've used it this way for a week now and only had one disconnect so far. I use VPX 10.7 primarily.

 

Just curious - is anyone else using a USB hub have a similar experience?

Edited by garnel, 04 October 2021 - 04:23 PM.

[Powerus]

I've tried this too.
Directly in the motherboard 3.0 and 2.0 ports, non powered HUB, and super high quality 3.0 powered HUB...

No change at all. I'm going mad and I'm super close to ask a refund.

 

It's a shame because the nudges look better than my old v2 kit.

 

I ordered a super heavy duty cable on amazon and should get it tomorrow but I have really low hope.

 

I spent literally all weekend on it, all weekend +today since I work at night. I'm exhausted and I think I tried everything except the refund.

 

 

I noticed one last thing just an hour ago while trying to play (without plunger obviously), I had stuttering and low framerate on ghostbuster.

 

I went in afterburner and my CPU was at 90-100% use on all threads!!! That could cause a crash of the controller.

But the thing is, I have thousands of hours of play on this pincab, probably 50 on Ghostbusters and NEVER had any stuttering or low framerate. That's the last nail in the coffin.

I pulled the plug and now I'm pissed, can't sleep, shaking.

 

Updating VPX may have caused the CPU usage madness but it's irreversible because when I go back to my backup, the settings from the new one are saved.

I didn't play for long before updating VPX but during the few games I played with it, I had no disconnect and a working plunger.

 

I'm going back on it, can't sleep anyway until it works.

 

Uhh:

http://www.digitalpi...-High-CPU-Usage

 

But why did it work for months?????????

Edited by Powerus, 04 October 2021 - 04:46 PM.

[garnel]

Something I found on the web to try:

"Virtuapin Plunger disconnects may be caused by auto calibrate being enabled". Try unchecking it.

Something else to try - I have tilt disabled.

[Bushav]

I would make a suggestion but out of respect to this site’s owner I’ll refrain. Sorry your struggling with this issue.

[Powerus]

The CPU usage is back to normal (I didn't change anything). I probably had the virtuapin app running in the background. This thing uses 25% of my CPU for some reason.

 

What is your suggestion Bushav? You can send in private.

 

What do you you mean tilt disabled? Like the nudges or simulated TILT? I'm using a mechanical TILT.

[garnel]

I set the Tilt Settings on the left hand side of the Virtuapin Control Panel as follows:

Nudge Threshold - 20000

Led Nudge Threshold - 20000

Tilt Calibration Retry - 5

Tilt Calibration Sample - 5

Tilt Running Sample Factor - 0

Tilt Multiplier - 256

Tilt Life - 0

The Mute Tilt During Plunge Box is checked.

I still have the Auto Calibrate enabled.

 

Probably not relevant, but I'm using an IPAC2 instead of the Virtuapin board for my switches.

 

Hope something here helps.

 

I'm NOT using a mechanical tilt - just the Virtuapin accelerometer on the plunger board. I had to set the thresholds super high to disable the accelerometer. When I did this - the spurious resets stopped happening. This along with replacing the USB cable and plugging it directly into the motherboard instead of the USB Hub.

[Noah Fentz]

 

Hello,
I upgraded my pincab from a v2 to a v3 plunger kit from virtuapin

I like the massive upgrade to the nudges and the software but for some reason, my plunger disconnects as soon as I start a table or even simply VPX.

I'm on VPX 62 (latest)

Anybody knows why?
Video of the problem: https://youtu.be/NAI3YT-eqB4

 

I thought it was related to parasites from my PC when the load rose so I printed a box for the KL25 and shielded it with aluminium tape made to shield guitars (and grounded it)

It didn't fix anything and by the look of it, I think it's more software than hardware related.
 

What do you think?

 

 

I've replied to your emails. My apologies for missing them!

 

We'll get you going.

[garnel]

My plunger has been working about 95% of the time - but would disconnect about 5% of the time. Then I noticed that it disconnected if I stepped away, came back and touched the lockdown bar. My lockdown bar receiver wasn't grounded - so tied it to ground - no more disconnects.

[Powerus]

My plunger has been working about 95% of the time - but would disconnect about 5% of the time. Then I noticed that it disconnected if I stepped away, came back and touched the lockdown bar. My lockdown bar receiver wasn't grounded - so tied it to ground - no more disconnects.

 

I did all my testing with the glass and metal frame removed to access everything. My pincab has the buttons and plunger above the TV screen. It adds a lot of depth and real feel when the glass in on. The wiring and everything is hidden behind 3d printed covers (in PLA).

[garnel]

Regarding plunger disconnects - I did a little experimenting and found that my Virtuapin Plunger board is sensitive to grounding - but so far works ok once any grounding issues are corrected. I'm only using mine for the plunger - my switches are connected to an ipac2.

1. If you have more than one power supply, make sure to tie the grounds together to a common ground point.

2. Even though the Virtuapin and ipac2 get grounds thru the usb connectors, connect all of the pins identified as grounds to your common ground point. Even if you are not using the Virtuapin switch inputs, tie J1 pin 4 and J2 pin 8 to the common ground point.

3. Tie your lockdown bar receiver to ground - really important.

4. Tie your coin door to ground. Make sure you ground the coin door itself - some hinges are glued - not screwed to the frame so are not grounded thru the lockdown bar receiver bolt. You may have to scrape off some paint inside the door to make a good ground point.

Hope this helps someone.

[Powerus]

I'm about to give up.
Even replacing the sensor, wires and board didn't fix my problem.

I replaced countless things in my house and pincab to try to make it work.
 

You wouldn't believe what I was ready to do and the amount of time spent on this. I even ripped off the paneling in the room to replace the wires in the walls and the sockets, just to have better ground conductivity.

Then I linked every metal parts of my cab to the ground and made a triple shielded cable for the sensor IT DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING
 

I paid nearly 200€ in different cables and HUBs and even a pcie USB expansion card. I fixed an old windows tablet just to try my boards on it.

At that point it's either continuing and buying a filtered power supply, digging a hole in front of the game room for another ground plate to completely isolate the cab from everything. OR GIVE UP

Any doubt on the PC inside the cab have been lifted by using the windows tablet. As you can see in this video:

https://youtu.be/hvLOhB8gaIM

 

As you can see, as soon as the PC starts working a little harder than idle (when pinballY starts), the sensor caused multiple disconnections of the board WHILE NOT BEING CONNECTED TO THE PINCAB AT ALL

If the v3 kit works for countless people, good for them. In my house it's never gonna happen.

Now, unless someone has a bright idea that doesn't require another 1000€ and 200 hours of work, I'll give up and find another hobby. At that point, the sight of my pincab starts to disgust me.

Edited by Powerus, 17 November 2021 - 01:34 PM.

[tcadolphs]

I'm having the same issue!

 

My suggestion is to buy a plunger controller from Zeb Boards and no problems ever!!!!

[Noah Fentz]

I'm having the same issue!

 

My suggestion is to buy a plunger controller from Zeb Boards and no problems ever!!!!

 

Thousands of VirtuaPin Plunger Kit customers have also had no problems.

 

Maybe reach out to VirtuaPin, if you are?

[NetwCyberQ]

Ohhhh no! Reading this in my own hunt for answers to the same problem, makes me sad...

 

I tried all the same things, and I too have this issue... Bought a lot of cables, HUBs with and witout powered interface, moved things, tried shielding reinstalling software and so on and so on... Even whent out and bougt another screen, another pc and power supply... 3 month of fail search....

 

I also tried contacting the seller, but never any answer...

 

My plunger worked perfect in the beginning, but suddently this random disconnet happends all the time, buttons freeze, chime (USB removed, USB added) plunger doesnt work, buttons do, and then it stays like that until physical removal and re-inserting the board or you reboot computer... It is really frustrating...

 

Guess its time to throw the towel in the ring...

[Noah Fentz]

Ohhhh no! Reading this in my own hunt for answers to the same problem, makes me sad...

 

I tried all the same things, and I too have this issue... Bought a lot of cables, HUBs with and witout powered interface, moved things, tried shielding reinstalling software and so on and so on... Even whent out and bougt another screen, another pc and power supply... 3 month of fail search....

 

I also tried contacting the seller, but never any answer...

 

My plunger worked perfect in the beginning, but suddently this random disconnet happends all the time, buttons freeze, chime (USB removed, USB added) plunger doesnt work, buttons do, and then it stays like that until physical removal and re-inserting the board or you reboot computer... It is really frustrating...

 

Guess its time to throw the towel in the ring...

 

I just searched your email, and I don't see anything from you. Feel free to reach out to VirtuaPin again. I'm not sure who you are, or what your order number is from your post here.

 

Thank you.