Discussion:
6/1/94 Series III Rockola Bubbler with S-5Control system and a overnight Memory probl
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JeffP
2014-09-04 00:11:50 UTC
Permalink
6/1/94 Series III Rockola Bubbler with S-5Control system and a overnigh
Memory problem - Ni-Cd vs Lithium
Hi,

I just picked up a nice Rockola CD-8 Bubbler with black components of
of Craigslist.

The elderly gentleman that sold it to me said that he bought it new i
the 1970’s (LOL) and had it at his summer lake house until jus
recently.

All lights and bubblers worked great and that’s about it… He said tha
in the many years he owned it, aside from having a battery replaced, h
never had any work done to it. It was mainly used it as a night light i
the family room.

He was firm with his asking price of $400.00 and since the cabinet wa
really nice, the original shipping bolts were never removed and it ha
about 30 CD’s included in it, I jumped at the opportunity to buy it.

At that time I knew it was a Series III Bubbler based on the Craigslis
photograph showing a rectangular keyboard and the manual thumb wheel fo
the pages. It was also missing the RMC icon to the right of the Rockol
name plate that’s found on the newer models so I knew it was an earl
Rockola machine after the AMI Rowe guts period.

When I got the machine home I found out that the AGC 8/10 fuse on th
Mechanism Control PCB was blown. I replaced that fuse and the machin
started mapping all the CD’s.

It was extremely dirty and gummed up…. I used the CD mapping routin
process to aid me while I lubed everything up. I also cleaned the C
player’s lens and the cue tip was the dirtiest that I had ever seen.

When I realized it was on coin play, I put 4 quarters in it to get
total of 3 plays in the window and low and behold it selected and playe
really well…

My problem now is that it will not retain the Free Play 99 status afte
the machine is turned off for the evening.

I removed in my opinion a non original Panasonic 3.6 Volt 110 mAh Ni-C
AA size battery from the rear of the Control Unit PCB.

I soldered 2 leads to the existing Battery tabs on the rear of the PC
so that I can have a remote AA size Battery holder outside of th
Control Center PCB.

I purchased a 3.6 Volt TADIRAN High Energy Lithium Battery and put it i
the new battery holder that is now velcro’d to the inside rear of th
cabinet and set the machine to Free Play 99.

I then turned the machine on and off a few times and the Free Play 9
status stayed… However the next morning the memory was lost again… an
it defaulted back to coin play.

The new Lithium battery still registers 3.6 volts…. The terminals on th
Battery holder read 0 when the machine is off and read .25 to .33 whe
the machine is turned on.

So here are my questions:

My manual says it takes a Lithium Battery, When exactly was th
changeover, the cabinet say that this machine was manufactured 6/1/94?

Do I have a machine that needs a NiCd battery that recharges (found o
pre 1995 machines) or do I have a machine that uses a Lithium batter
that does not get recharged (found on S-5 machines and up)?

I understand that if I have a Ni-Cd machine, I need a 3.6 volts, 500
700MAH, AA size type battery

Could the non-original Panasonic 3.6 Volt 110 mAh Ni-Cd have not worke
due to only having 110 mAh’s instead of the required 500 – 700 mAh’s?

If the new Lithium battery still registers 3.6 volts why didn’t it sav
the memory?

Jeorge over at Rockola was pretty positive that it should take a Lithiu
battery too, but that did not work?

In addition, I can’t find a Ni-Cd AA battery locally for sale to see i
that’s the problem , so before I order one online, I thought that
should send this out to the group for some feedback.

Or do you think I possibly could have some other problem that is no
allowing the memory to be held overnight etc…

Thanks in advance for any and all help…

Jeff P.

P.S. I will be making another batch of 1954 Seeburg HF100R Cabine
Restoration Veneer kits that will be available around the holidays i
anyone is interested.


Specs:
Antique Apparatus/Rock-Ola - CD8 Bubbler

Serial # 562318

Manufactured 6/1/94

Black Control Center that has a RED sticker on the cover that say
57000-1A System 5A Control Unit
The PCB inside the Control Center has a white sticker on it that says
PCB Assy #57001-A, If you remove that sticker, printed on the board
underneath it, it says 56215-A.

Black 280 Watt Amp 56180-1A

Black Power Distr. 56205-A, the Rectifier PCB in it says 56257-1A

It has a Philips CDM-4 Industrial CD player

Mech Control PCB Assy P/N 56995-A

Black CD Mech Control Assy 57066-A Interface 9404002423
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JeffP
JeffP
2014-09-05 16:45:46 UTC
Permalink
Update,,,,, I remotely mounted a AA size battery holder off of th
rear of the PCB and put a 3.6 v Lithium battery in it and the memory wa
saved overnight...

My first battery tray I installed had a factory defect in it that di
not allow it to make a good connection to the battery which added muc
time to my troubleshooting of this matter

All is good now except the fact that I did remove a Panasonic AA siz
Ni-Cd battery from the rear of the PCB and replaced it with a remotel
mounted AA size Lithium...

Could this previously installed Panasonic Lithium battery ever hav
worked for the previous owner if this PCB does not have chargin
capabilities

Do Ni-Cd batteries come charged prior to installing them? If they do
how long would an initial charge last in a jukebox when all it's use
for is to hold its memory

I just wish some one could chime in here and tell me for sure That
6/1/94 first generation S-5 Rockola needs a Lithium over a Ni-Cd.... O
vise versa

I know Charlie Maier is probably reading this post fom heaven righ
about now And wishing he could answer this on for me

In addition, does anyone know how long it would take for a Lithiu
battery to blow up if it's being charged like a Ni-Cd.... I guess tim
will tell. At least it's remotely mounted and won't damage the PCB if o
when it leaks

Thanks in advance for any and all help&#8230

Jeff P

Specs:
Antique Apparatus/Rock-Ola - CD8 Bubble

Serial # 56231

Manufactured 6/1/9

Black Control Center that has a RED sticker on the cover that say
57000-1A System 5A Control Unit

The PCB inside the Control Center has a white sticker on it that say
PCB Assy #57001-A, If you remove that sticker, printed on the boar
underneath it, it says 56215-A

Black 280 Watt Amp 56180-1

Black Power Distr. 56205-A, the Rectifier PCB in it says 56257-1

It has a Philips CDM-4 Industrial CD playe

Mech Control PCB Assy P/N 56995-

Black CD Mech Control Assy 57066-A Interface 940400242


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JeffP
JeffP
2014-09-05 19:48:05 UTC
Permalink
Latest update:

My Lithium 3.6 V AA battery went from 3.66 v to 4.24 v in a matter of
few hours....

So I guess my PCB is charging this battery leading me to beleive that
need the Ni-Cd 3.6 V battery....

Thanks Ron.... Now I'm off to find/buy a 3.6 v Ni-Cd cordless phon
battery at Radio Shack LO


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JeffP
j***@gmail.com
2018-10-09 17:31:45 UTC
Permalink
Hey jeff, i know its been 4 years, but if you still have this machine can you please email me at ***@yahoo.com I have this same machine and have a few questions for you. Thanks.
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