Where to put it?

I am getting ready to put a free vend switch on my USS-96.  Where are the best places that you have seen them installed?  I am currently planning on putting it behind the bottle opener.  I would like it hidden.

Thanks

[dr galaga]

I'm just thinking out loud here:
I've noticed that a lot of people like to use the bottle opener even if they have screw off tops (younger people find it neat and the older people find it nostalgic).  Will the switch interfere with the bottle opening?  What if the switch gets wet from a bottle of coke squirting?

Never thought of that.  For the time being it would not be a problem as I am only going to have cans in it, but if I ever went to bottles that could be a problem.

[sodaworks]

I would put a  spring loaded switch inside the bottle door that would actuate when the bottle door is opened. '>

[BryanH]

The neatest idea I've heard was to gerry-rig the coin return lever to trip the switch.  Not sure how it was done but it would certainly be hidden and wouldn't be busted by people using the bottle opener.

Quote (hartlenb @ Aug. 02 2005,4:17)

The neatest idea I've heard was to gerry-rig the coin return lever to trip the switch.  Not sure how it was done but it would certainly be hidden and wouldn't be busted by people using the bottle opener.

I've seen that on a machine as well. But I didn't rig it myself.

[dr galaga]

Quote (hartlenb @ Aug. 02 2005,5:17)

The neatest idea I've heard was to gerry-rig the coin return lever to trip the switch.  Not sure how it was done but it would certainly be hidden.

Didn't someone post pictures of this?  Seems like it was held in place with plastic wire ties or something.  '>

[johnieG]

Do you mean like this?  
On machines with adult beverages in them I include a keyed lock out (electrical switch) switch, & disable the coinmech, this way the little 'buggers can't get themselves (& me!) into trouble.  :'>   PS if you mount the switch in the bottle opener area, it will get mighty sticky sooner or later from a well-shakened (not stirred) Coke & fail. also the switch has line voltage across the pins & a wet area isn't advisable.

[johnieG]

and this?

[BryanH]

I don't remember a picture... As this one, as described, was completely hidden inside the coin door.  When you toggled the Coin return lever (on the outside), the inside of the lever not only depressed the coin mech's return it also hit the free vend button.

Johnie - can you post or explain what you do to include a keyed lock out (electrical switch) switch?

[Jim]

I searched and searched and only found the reference from "glassbottlesrule"...
What I found is a switch would be mounted in a fashion to allow the coin return level to activate the momentary switch for a free vend.

The switch would still be wired according to JohnieG's directions at: Free Play Switch: Once Again

[dr galaga]

Quote (Jim @ Aug. 03 2005,8:57)

What I found is a switch would be mounted in a fashion to allow the coin return level to activate the momentary switch for a free vend.

Did that one include a picture?  If so, do you have the link?

[glassbottlesrule]

Here's a couple pictures of how I do it.  the only problem is you have to hack a coin mech up pretty darn bad to do it.  I completelytake of the slug rejector lever with my dremal.  I mount a momentary switch on the mech itself positioned so the coin reject lever of the machine will hit it when depressed.  I use my multi-meter to find the wires on the jones plug and wire it up.  The pull switch on the side is wired up to the correct change only light.  I've done it the other ways be could not stand the look of the wires sticking out of the jones plug socket.  Even though you have to scrap a junk mech this way,  I like how clean it looks in a machine.

[glassbottlesrule]

Here's another pic beings as I cannot figure out how to put more then 1 pic in a reply

I like those ideas and actually have an extra coin mech laying around.  I also like the key switch and just picked one up last night off of ebay.  This is going into work and with their vendor contracts they told me that I could not accept coins.  

Here is the plan.  I have removed the coin entry and coinmech and will place the key switch and free vend button in sheet metal over where the coin entry was.  I like the fact that this is not putting holes in the machine and when it gets back home I will be able to change the locations.  I may go with the switch in the coin mech though as I already have an extra laying around.

Thanks for the pics Johnnie and GlassBottle.

[dr galaga]

spider: sounds interesting, make sure you give us pics!

glassbottlesrule: neat idea.  I guess that's one good think about the plastic coin mechs!  Also, you can only attach  one picture per post.  The way that people put more than one picture in a post is when they use the "Image" button to insert  the pictures.  When you use this method, you have to have the pictures on the web (have a web address, like http://soda-machines.com/iB_html/uploads/post-13-57879-IMG_0095.JPG ).

[sodaworks]

Nice, I like it. glassbottlesrule

[glassbottlesrule]

Thanks,  I have never bothered to register for any sort of image-hosting account,  can anyone recommend one?

What is the pull switch on the side for?  Is it for the lights?

[dr galaga]

Quote (glassbottlesrule @ Aug. 04 2005,2:09)

Thanks,  I have never bothered to register for any sort of image-hosting account,  can anyone recommend one?

Usually your Internet Service Provider gives you (free) space.  I throw things on one of my Comcast accounts (they offer so much space per email account).  It's actually pretty easy.  Who do you get your Internet service from?

[glassbottlesrule]

The pull switch is for the correct change only light.  I use sbc-yahoo.

[dr galaga]

Log in at http://www.sbc-yahoo.net/ .  Looks like you have photo storage with it and I don't see anything about how much web space you have.  I can only see their sales pitch (since I'm not a member and can't log in) but I'm sure you get all the options once you do sign in.

[BryanH]

Here's a consolidated set on Q's and A's from this thread:

Quote (johnieG @ Aug. 02 2005,7:15)

On machines with adult beverages in them I include a keyed lock out (electrical switch) switch, & disable the coinmech, this way the little 'buggers can't get themselves (& me!) into trouble.

JohnieG - I still don't understand what the keyed lock out is or does?  Can you (or someone else that understands) shed some light?

Quote (glassbottlesrule @ Aug. 04 2005,5:17)

The pull switch on the side is wired up to the correct change only light.

GBR - what do you use the switch for if you have free vend hooked up?  Are you turning the correct change on all the time to get people to trigger the free vend through the correct change lever?  or something else?

Quote (glassbottlesrule @ Aug. 04 2005,11:09)

Thanks,  I have never bothered to register for any sort of image-hosting account,  can anyone recommend one?

GBR - here's a couple I've found with tons of free space... TekCities and/or 1WebSpace.

The keyed switch is just an on/off switch with key.  The key is removable in the on and off position and when off breaks the circuit so that the free vend is disabled.

I will post a picture later this week when I am finished with mine.  '>

[dr galaga]

Quote (spider @ Aug. 09 2005,12:15)

The keyed switch is just an on/off switch with key.  The key is removable in the on and off position and when off breaks the circuit so that the free vend is disabled.

The switch is probably hooked up in series with the vend solenoid.  With the key turned off (breaks the electrical circuit), the machiney will go no vendy! Plus with a key, there is no way for someone to turn the vending back on (unlesss they have the correct key)!  '>

[glassbottlesrule]

I just like the looks of the correct change only light.  On one of my vendo's there is a black strip that runs the whole length of the coin door.  The change light is in side of it and cannot be seen unless on.

It is installed and working.  Here is a picture of the machine with the switch and keyed switch just below it.  I removed the coin entry and installed the diamond plate aluminum.  If the key is not on, it will not vend.

Here is a close up of it.  Thanks to all that suggested locations.  Thanks Johnnie for the free vend diagram that you have posted.  Here to all of you.  

[johnieG]

Very nice job! You guys figured out correctly, the keyed electrical switch is wired in series with the "free-play" switch. which will allow the owner control over his/her "Adult" beverage machine,
 
on an other note, I found that by cutting (narrowing)
down a Cavalier USS-96 coke sign insert, (as shown on spiders machine with the black frame) that I got it to fit nicely into my CS-96s sign frame...I took off 1/4" on each side /edge, & left the length alone. sorry I didn't reply earlier than I did, but looks like you figured out on your own! here here!  '>

[BryanH]

Johnie / Jed - thanks.  I like the idea of the keyed switch.  Anything special about them?  Can you get them at HD, Lowes or Ace?

[johnieG]

I found mine at the local Radioshack store, in with the home & automobile burglar alarms, it has an ACE (round) key/lock & two terminal pin for the wiring on the back, it required a 1/2" hole, and it was rated for 120 Volts A.C. 3 amps.

Since then I've seen them automotive supply shops, such as PEP Boys, Murrays, Autozone. etc. but make sure it's rated for 120 volts A.C., or you could be "asking for it".

I've salvaged some mini Ace type switches off of old computer cases too, (they used to be used to "lock" the motherboard, so it wouldn't bootup) the problem with these are that nobody ever keeps the key!!! but again, always check for the correct voltage rating on the switch(es) for the application it's being used for..safety first!

You wouldn't want to damage your machine by frying the door harness & not to mention the shock/fire hazard.. :'>

[MoonDawg]

Jonnie, the keyed switch is a great idea. For can drop machines could just the adult beverage columns be locked, leaving only soda available?

[glassbottlesrule]

I don't see why you couldn't wire up a key switch  in series with the vend motor of the column you wish to put the adult beverage in.  The only problem I see is you would have to use a seperate switch for each colum you wish to lock.

[johnieG]

Quote (MoonDawg @ Aug. 14 2005,12:32)

Jonnie, the keyed switch is a great idea. For can drop machines could just the adult beverage columns be locked, leaving only soda available?

Yes, you could do so for multi-vend machines, as mentioned in the above post, you could lock out any column you wish , but instead of one switch on each vend motors hot lead, you can sepperate the commons (neutral/returns) for each coulmn you wish to designate as "adults only" with the keyed switch, to a common lead thru the switch, then back to the original neutral point....

You know, another approach I did was to purchase a standard plastic "outside" wire box, and a blank cover plate.  I then drilled a hole in the cover plate, mounted the switch, put magnet stickers on the back, and stuck it to a flat surface just above the coin drop slot.  On my machine, I figured the free play switch was a temporary installation, and I didn't want to drill or mar the machine in any way.  This way, all I need to do to undo it is to carefully snip the wire inside the machine, pull the extra wire out of the key slot, and reinstall the coin mech.  I used standard spade fittings, purchased at Radio Shack, to plug into the jones plug inside machine.  I also labeled each wire that goes to a spade fitting with the number of the plug it should go into.

I like the idea of the key lock -- I think I'll visit radio shack this weekend and add that to my box as a neighborhood rodent control option!  '>

I agree with you Mike.  I did not want to drill my machine as this was temporary.  The six bolts that I used go through the same holes that the coin entry used.  So when I am ready I can pull the plate off put the coin entry back on and put the coin mech back in and be in original condition.