MPU5 fault - staus light flashes 2 red, 12 green - ideas?!
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- Member
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Mehhhhh
Pm your initial fault and ill help you, it looks like your trying hard to get the machine sorted
hats off

"Technician Not Magician"
Thanks! Full story as follows:
Machine is stored in a conservatory, which can be very cold during winter.
A few months back the machine started intermitantly turning on. The front lights would come on, but there would be no power to the board. This was, i assumed, a psu on its way out.
The psu is still dodgy, but when it does power the board (and when a working psu is installed) the status light flashes 2x red and 12xgreen. The machine alarm also sounds, but ive unplugged the speaker.
Following advice from others on here, I removed the battery on the mpu5 board, and repaced it with originally a different size 3v battery, which didnt work. I then ordered the renata 3v, which also isnt working.
As i attachved the battery using just tape, the connection may not be great, but i thought it should be ok. Just in case, ive ordered a solder iron, and will affix the battery properly when it arrives.
From here Im now stuck
I will post an update when ive soldered the battery......fingers crossed!
Machine is stored in a conservatory, which can be very cold during winter.
A few months back the machine started intermitantly turning on. The front lights would come on, but there would be no power to the board. This was, i assumed, a psu on its way out.
The psu is still dodgy, but when it does power the board (and when a working psu is installed) the status light flashes 2x red and 12xgreen. The machine alarm also sounds, but ive unplugged the speaker.
Following advice from others on here, I removed the battery on the mpu5 board, and repaced it with originally a different size 3v battery, which didnt work. I then ordered the renata 3v, which also isnt working.
As i attachved the battery using just tape, the connection may not be great, but i thought it should be ok. Just in case, ive ordered a solder iron, and will affix the battery properly when it arrives.
From here Im now stuck

I will post an update when ive soldered the battery......fingers crossed!
I feel fortunate to be able to type this message with full sight...
The solder iron arrived this morning, and so I proceeded to try to solder the new battery in. However, the solder didnt want to affix to the board connections, only the battery - very frustrating. So, i decided to apply enough solder to force the two to bond.....BANG!
The battery exploded, sending its contents, and the solder, in all directions.
Thankfully, my unprotected eyes were not harmed. The only harm was to the solder & acid covered wall and table, a few blisters on my hand from sizzling acid, and I assume the mpu5 board, now covered in battery acid and solder, is also dead.
Im certainly not going to be trying this soldering of a battery lark again - and i advise others in my inexperienced position not to either!
As a result, i now need a new mpu5 board, to go with the mpu5 psu needed.
If anyone has both to sell, pm me the details and price (inc delivery), and perhaps we can strike a deal.
Thanks.
The solder iron arrived this morning, and so I proceeded to try to solder the new battery in. However, the solder didnt want to affix to the board connections, only the battery - very frustrating. So, i decided to apply enough solder to force the two to bond.....BANG!
The battery exploded, sending its contents, and the solder, in all directions.
Thankfully, my unprotected eyes were not harmed. The only harm was to the solder & acid covered wall and table, a few blisters on my hand from sizzling acid, and I assume the mpu5 board, now covered in battery acid and solder, is also dead.
Im certainly not going to be trying this soldering of a battery lark again - and i advise others in my inexperienced position not to either!
As a result, i now need a new mpu5 board, to go with the mpu5 psu needed.
If anyone has both to sell, pm me the details and price (inc delivery), and perhaps we can strike a deal.
Thanks.
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- Location: Durham.north east england
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Very happy you were not hurt but, Count yourself very lucky you came away without serious injury.Inexperienced buyers please take note of what can happen when trying to repair a machine
Most of the tech problems posted on this site are not the everyday quick fix.
Time and time again people are buying second hand machines with major faults, the buyer not having any tech knowledge of the machine they are purchasing, only to get the machine home to find it does not work correctly when they plug it in.
A lot of the serious faults described could be caused from failure of a number of the machines vital components, including wiring as some older machines are modified conversions.
Without actually seeing the machine in fault, giving the correct diagnosis and instruction to the novice is not the most easy task,and may result with the owner causing more damage than they started with.
Engineers have to gain the relevant training and qualify to repair these machines but, cannot in some cases help as the novice machine owner would not know what to look for.
When buying a second hand machine try at least to see it demonstrated in a working condition and ask the previous owner for instruction regarding filling it with cash and how to empty it.
Dont be fobbed off with "it only needs a couple of bulbs and it will be fine" sales pitch.
Beware that a lot of machines sold on such as ebay are sold with no fault descriptions and as is condition, the seller is getting rid because of the machines failure and will probably cost you more to repair than the machine is actually worth.The machines not a bargain if it dont work!!!
Unless you have any machine knowledge or know an engineer, then the best place to buy your machine would be from a reputable supplier where a possible warranty or service backup is offered.That way you will recieve a machine in excellent working condition and no headaches like the postings on this technical area.
batt
bloody hell-im a fruty tech and ive never known a battery to actually explode whilst soldering----- i was feeling sick just thinking of the injury you could have getting off that------- wasent still plugged in was it?----
Re: batt
No, the whole mpu5 was on a workbench (dining table) while i was trying to fix it. Never again. I have since noticed splodges of solder have forged with the ceiling......just hope the landlord doesnt see it also.brian wrote:bloody hell-im a fruty tech and ive never known a battery to actually explode whilst soldering----- i was feeling sick just thinking of the injury you could have getting off that------- wasent still plugged in was it?----
Since my last post, i purchased an mpu5 and psu on ebay. After installing the new mpu5, i then plugged in the new psu and switched it on - the psu then crackled, popped and gave off sparks. "great". Am now waiting to hear back from the seller to resolve this.
Thankfully, the new dodgy psu didnt fry my new mpu5 board, as having taken the psu out of my 'crazy cobra', i installed it in this machine and all is now fixed

The next step is getting another mpu5 PSU, so i can have both machines on at once.
Its been an eventful journey, but next time i think i'll put all risks aside. Its really not worth risking any injury to get a fruit machine working!
Thanks all for your tips & advice along the way.
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PSU Wanted - BARCREST GREEN LABEL
I am looking for a fully working GREEN Label power supply for my Barcrest fruit machine.
If anyone has one can you give me a price inc delivery.
Thanks
Rob
p.s. I have tones of parts for fruit amchines but no green labels. We can come to an arrangement if you want.
If anyone has one can you give me a price inc delivery.
Thanks
Rob
p.s. I have tones of parts for fruit amchines but no green labels. We can come to an arrangement if you want.
The Green Label power supplies fitted to early Barcrest MPU5 machines were prone to fuseholder failure.
I've read the full thread and am amazed that you went through the hassle of replacing the battery on the MPU5, as they are generally very good batteries and was almost certainly not the fault in this instance. Hey Ho, we live and learn.
Take a look at the fuseholders on your PSU as these break very easily, with the threaded insert coming out of the holder along with the fuse.
If this has happened to one, or more of them, then they're relatively easy to replace (compared to doing a battery on the MPU5) and can literally be done for pennies.
I've read the full thread and am amazed that you went through the hassle of replacing the battery on the MPU5, as they are generally very good batteries and was almost certainly not the fault in this instance. Hey Ho, we live and learn.
Take a look at the fuseholders on your PSU as these break very easily, with the threaded insert coming out of the holder along with the fuse.
If this has happened to one, or more of them, then they're relatively easy to replace (compared to doing a battery on the MPU5) and can literally be done for pennies.