multiple acceptors + hoppers, battery backedup RAM

[Hanzy]

I got a few questions.

For our application we need to connect 2 cctalk coin acceptors and 2 cctalk hoppers.
We need to control the inhibits and the routing of the coin acceptors independent of each other.
And we need to keep track of the amount of money inserted for each coin acceptor.
The hoppers also need to be controlled independent.

Is this possible? and how?
(maybe by using 'WriteInterfaceBlock' / 'ReadInterfaceBlock')

Is there a possibility to use battery backed up RAM to store some game variables (~2 kbyte)?
I could use 'E2PromWrite' / 'E2PromRead' but 256 byte is not enough and i need to write a lot of times it will probably destroy the EEPROM
In the technical manual i read there is an option for batteries and a 25K log.
If we can use battery backed up RAM, it will save us a lot of money because now we need an UPS only because we write to the harddisk.



Thanks . . .

Hans

[davebush]

The API is designed around the idea of a single set of peripherals, but can be "bent" to achieve what you are after.

Acceptors

You can ignore the actual return from CurrentValue (but possible use it to monitor for changes) and merely look at the coin details in the two AcceptorBlocks. This shows the value and count of each coin, making it relatively easy to see how much has been inserted into each acceptor. The UnitAddress field will allow you to distinguish between acceptors (but see below.)

Dispensers

You can connect dispensers to "random" addresses and then change the default "value" payout system into a "coin count" payout by doing the following:

1/ Keep all dispenser inhibited until you wish to do a payout.
2/ Clear the inhibit on the dispenser you wish to use.
3/ Multiply the number of coins you want to dispense by the Value field for the dispenser.
4/ Call Payout for the result.
5/ Restore the inhibit.

Connections

There remains the problem of wanting two acceptors. The default address for a cctalk coin acceptor is 2 - and that is the only address checked by the standard build. If you do go ahead with this plan I can produce a "special" firmware build which checks a 2nd address. To do this you'd have to e-mail me and tell me which firmware release you're using and which address you are planning to put the acceptor on. (You also have the problem of setting up the 2nd acceptor to use this address.)

RAM

So far as RAM goes I have to disappoint you. The batteries were for intended for a "power off" Eprom read-out which was never implemented.

Have you considered a small "pen-drive"?

[majstor]

So far as RAM goes I have to disappoint you. The batteries were for intended for a "power off" Eprom read-out which was never implemented.

Is there any change about this over past years?

[davebush]

No, there has been no change to the memory, and we have no intentions to add memory backed ram.

(I can't see how battery backed ram on a Paylink would actually be any better than a USB pen drive.)