Sinco

Questions came up on the Slot Tech forum a few years ago.

Let me know what you get out of the Sencore class, please. I admit I have been skeptical. It sounded to me like we were paying a high price to sit through a commercial on how to use their test equipment

There were good and bad reviews of the course, even the bad reviews. They admit that they did learn something – so it was not a total waste for them.

I was not sure what to expect. I thought they might have Price Tags on the equipment, etc. But it was nothing like that.

Fact is, it was a very informative and well-organized 3-day event and with very good and knowledgeable Instructors Don Multerer & Ray Holdren

I'm sorry - I just don't see how anyone can say it's half Sales pitch - In the class I took they even said (you could use similar equipment if you have it in the shop.)

About the only thing I heard (That would be very Hard to consider a sales Pitch) was at the beginning of the class. Where they introduced themselves and the Company, it was short and then, the people in the class introduced themselves. Fact Is- it’s a very good class - regardless of your technical ability!

Some said the Instructor was easily side tracked? No, not really – they did tell a few jokes from time to time but that was also a way to wake up some people and it was a short break from the instructions.

Even when something major happened – 3 laptop computers stolen during lunch; there was not much lost time – they recovered and moved on with the course. I would have to recommend this Class to anyone that wants to learn.

(Regardless of your technical abilities – you could not expect to jump right into troubleshooting the LCD Monitors.) You may or may not have the same type of test equipment in your shop. So you have an O-Scope in your shop, was it the same Make and Model?

Everyone knows regardless of what type of equipment you have, be it an O-Scope or a common VCR machine, things change from model to model. So yes you have to take time and learn how to use their test equipment.

Don’t want to smoke anything!!!! So yes – Equipment Familiarization!

LCD Color Monitor Tech-Trainer	Resistor Dummy Load
PR570	SC3100
PSL60	VP401

I have also heard someone complain that they use Sencore equipment. Would anyone expect them to buy some other equipment (Waste money) like that when they already make test equipment?

The name of the game is Safety – regardless if you’re working on a CRT or LCD Monitor. Yes the LCD monitors use Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL). Many Slot Techs have been replacing some of the common bulbs on the Slot Machines with Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps and if your lucky, you have not been (zapped) by one yet (YET).

They will wake you up……

The Course was Familiarization – Theory – and Hands-on training -Troubleshooting. All equally important.

Some have complained it was not real world training. The Inverter board on the Trainer was under this

(Yes, this did not have real world test points) on this, In the real world you would be lucky to have test points labeled, or have schematics.

That is where the Familiarization & Theory was important.

If you understand the theory and are a bit familiar with the board, you would not be totally lost if you had to work on a board that was made by someone else.

You would know the circuit, and know how to break it down to test the real world test points (IC leg – Leg or solder joint of a cap, transistor Etc.)

They did go the extra mile – we were given a board like the inverter board, and you broke it down (Theory) and were able to test different section of the board using the real world test points and used the Resistor Dummy Load.

Some complained they used Trouble Switches.

Trouble Switches – By flipping a switch you simulate a problem. Back in the days of Electro – Mechanical Slots, the instructor would have you leave the room – and he would cause a problem in the game. You had to find and fix the problem.

No difference – the switches just make it faster.

You still have to troubleshoot the problem. And sure some people work faster then others. They did go over what everyone got; guess it was a way for the instructors to know that everyone was on the same page.

We disassembled the LCD display a lot further then I would ever do in the shop. This is good information to know.

They gave out a lot of (Extra) information on LCD’s. The book alone has so much information in it, and they were always handing out more.

This Sencore class is well worth the cost, and I would recommend the course to anyone that has to work with or around the LCD Monitors, regardless of who made them.

TECH FEST 16

TechFest – I must say I have never heard any thing negative, except many said they wish they could have been sent to one.

“I wanted to go. But my boss said they could only pay for one person to go.” Or “found out too late”

I almost made it last year. (Almost)

This Year I made it to, TechFest

1) How Monitors Work - Part 1 Theory of Operation - Beginning level

Presented by Slot Tech Magazine publisher Randy Fromm

I now know why I have never heard any negative comments about Tech Fest. All I can say is WOW.

Randy, as funny, energetic, and has an enthusiastic way of teaching that consistently kept the class alive, Just sitting down and it felt like just minutes later we were taking a break, “Where did the time go”.

He made the class very enjoyable and much easier to absorb the information. His enthusiasm is phenomenal.

2) MEI - BV troubleshooting and repair

David Oldham

3) Future Logic Printers

David Oldham

4) How Monitors Work - Part 2
Narrow down the Problem - Intermediate Level

5) Presentation on CCFL Replacement Procedures

6) Choosing and Using Sophisticated Test Equipment
Presented by Sencore

7) 3M Touchsystems - Touchscreen Technology

8) Ceronix

Troy Nofziger

9) Transact Technologies

Russ Wige

10) JCM Bill Validators

Jack Geller

All of the instructors were excellent, had great tips and advice and was very knowledgeable. Lectures were clear, loaded with information, and enthusiastically presented.

I would like to thank Randy Fromm for making this unbelievable training event available to Slot Technicians. Bringing the best of the best, knowledgeable Instructors together to one place.

In short this event was incredible (Truly excellent) – This was one of the best Lifelong Learning courses I've taken. If you have not been to a TechFest you should plan to attend the next one, if you have been, go again.

For myself a lot of it was review, but I did learn a lot.

Thank you too all of the instructors

Robert E. Sult AOS
Slot Technician / Bench Technician

www.myslotnotes.com

Don Multerer & Ray Holdren

Regardless of your technical abilities – you could not expect to jump right into troubleshooting the LCD Color Monitors.

This was the class room

This Sencore class is well worth the cost, and I would recommend the course to anyone that has to work with or around the LCD Color Monitors regardless of who made them.

Thank you Sencore

For providing this course and having very good and knowledgeable Instructors.

Where else can you learn Troubleshooting, and go beyond and learn how it truly works.

The Photos below was taken in my shop –



	Yes this one will not work

Playing with Light -



On the Williams - this is the worst connector I have ever seen	And you must be careful- some of the ones I find have been damaged

Go and Learn