Car Wash Blog / Self Serve Industry Blog and Forum
I just so happen to have a spare BC-200 in my basement that I got from my Dad instead of him THROWING IT AWAY (Which is what I would like to do!). So I took the front skin off and installed it at the carwash. I have some more work to do like installing the high security plate that I purchased from Kleen-Rite ,which I hope they have in stock or it will take them FOREVER! Have you noticed that Kleen-Rite seems to backorder more stuff now like Procon pumps and Hydrominder tips?
I was checking out my Dad’s Standard changer install today. (He took the changer out of his Moody carwash.) It replaced an equally worn Rowe changer like the changer in the right picture. He gave me his spare Rowe BC-200 changer so now I have 5 Rowe changers! Yea! I need to sell one to Greg.
I have been talking to Rowe about fixing my Rowe BC-200 changer problems. Tom emailed me about testing my power supply and seemed to think that the changers problems where caused by the power supply. He said that the power supply is suppose to output 14.4 volts on pin 1 (purple wire) on the 13 pin connector (the name is J2020 or P202). I tested 3 power supply today and all were different.
#1 was 14.7 to 14.8 volts, #2 was 12.0 volts, #3 was 14.6 to 14.7 volts
I am not really sure if the 14.6 is within the correct range but all 3 are not 14.4, I will let you know the outcome. Also Tom informed my that Rowe has an exchange program for their power supplies, for $105 they will exchange out your power supply with a working power supply. This is really a great service but I really hope I do not have to use it.
I had a coin jam in my Rowe C-10RL that I was testing (error message “Er 8”).
Pictures of the coin hopper motors and coin chute.
I still got the “Er 8” error after clearing the coin jam so the instructions say it could be paper or something blocking the led or sensor. The left side looked fine so I attached everthing and reset the changer and got “Er 9” which means the same thing only the right side. Everything looks clean and fine but I guess I will be replacing a sensor because the led works fine.
After talking to Tom Kozlik from Rowe International he recommended Bsca’s Changer Service & Sales. They seem very knowledgeable and Jeff is a great guy. But Jeff seems to be having a problems with the Rowe tech.
I have a Rowe C-10RL that I want to install a Coinco in. The Coinco is a MAG50 24 volt and my Rowe CCC should support any MDB it is a 45085902. If anyone has gotten this to work please let me know?
Rowe sent me the incorrect wire harnesses. These are the harnesses that I am suppose to plug into the Coinco. (45108203, 45108204) Not really sure what bill acceptor these are really for?
Do you own a Rowe changer? Have you updated to the new $5 bill yet? If you haven’t then you are as bad as I am. But, I got a couple NEXGEN $5 bill upgrades from Rowe International. It came with some instructions and was pretty easy. The hardest part was staying in the equipment room since it is really hot here in Alabama.
1) Remove all the chips and the 3 stickers from the bag. 2) Turn the machine off then on again if it says “FAST PAY” then you need to find another HowTo somewhere else, this is only for the “DOUBLE DUMP”. 3) Turn the power off then remove the CCC from the machine. 4) Get the board out of the plastic housing. (The third picture red arrow shows what you will be removing.)
The (yellow arrow) shows the black piece that will be removed from the (red arrow) blue piece. The second picture shows the new board on the left and the old board on the right. 5) (Last picture) Gently remove the Eprom chip for “FAST PAY”. I used a screwdriver and was very careful but……
I kind of messed up the FP chip. 6) Now you need to install the “DDUMP V1.0” eprom. This is actually the hardest part and I actually was careful with the pins being lined up correctly. 7) Next flip over the board and install the “DOUBLE DUMP” sticker.
8 ) Now line up the piggy back board with the main ccc board like shown. Skip step nine! 9) Next get a hammer and tap the small board into the ccc board use some force so it will be a snug fit. 10) Put the plastic housing back on and Install the “65082522” sticker and you can see the DD sticker on the left side.
11) Turn the unit on and watch all the updating on the ccc. Then you should get the Night Rider Kit Car lights (the okay light). 12) Test and enjoy! Everything worked great and it was actually very easy to do just skip step 9 unless you want to just purchase a new ccc.
I received my ba-50 bill acceptors back from Rowe today and was very impressed how good they look. If you own Rowe changers, I would recommend checking out other repair techs, which might be able to help with reliability issues. While talking with Tom Kozlik from Rowe he explained that the key is to find a reliable repair tech. He recommended DFW Changer Service in Dallas area 214-354-0664 or Baca Changer Service in Denver Co. 720-855-8351. I got the new blue belts and I will keep you updated with how well they work. I also receive some “NEXGEN” chips so that I can accept the new $5. I really appreciate all the help that Tom gave me and I believe that maybe I will start liking my Rowe changers. I am keeping my fingers crossed.
If you own a Rowe changer you should read Tom Kozlik comment about my Mars bill acceptor post. http://cwguy.com/?p=2603 It is an interesting read and Tom is going to help me get my BA-50s squared away and make sure I update my changer to the “Nexgen” software. I will definitely keep everyone updated and write a review when I get the new “blue” belts and the “Nexgen” software. Thanks for you help Tom.
1. For the last several years, Rowe has been field testing concepts and ideas to improve the performance of the BA-50 suggested by operators in the field. One of those suggestions, improving the lower belts, dramatically improves the duty cycle of the BA-50. The improvedblue belts( part number 35082008) were implemented earlier this month in production and can now be purchased as a service part.
2. The new Nexgen $5 software that handles the new five dollar bill introduced earlier this year also improves the performance of the BA-50s. Technicians have found that by installing the new NEXGEN $5 software, a number of BA-50 error codes occur less frequently. In addition, the NEXGEN $5 software vastly improved the Bill B Check function.
3. Last year Rowe announced and began shipping Mars kits that are easily field installed into BC1200 and BC1400/2800 changers. These kits can be purchased from your local Rowe distributor.
Thank you for your business and please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Tom Kozlik, Vice President-Major Account
I guess it had to happen? My Mars bill acceptor wanted to go on a road trip, so it ate its belts. It might be jealous of my Rowe International BA-50 bill acceptors which get to go on a trip to the repair man every year.
So I have owned car washes for around 4 years and had one real Mars bill acceptor problem (I own 2). But my Rowe BA-50 (own 5) breaks an average of once a year and probably have cost me $800 over the last 4 years? You know I hate my Rowe changers even more now. I also need to fix 2 more of my BA-50 bill acceptors now.
Summary: I love MEI Mars bill acceptors and I HATE Rowe BA-50 bill acceptors.
One of the reps in the Rowe International booth, at the ICA Meeting, told me this tip. Not really sure if it is true, but I guess I need to find a new service tech. The belts on the underside of the BA50 bill acceptor should be green. If the belts are black that means that the belts are not Rowe belts. It sounds good because I have some with black and some with green.