Slot Tech Magazine 1944 Falmouth Dr. El Cajon, CA. 92020 tel.619.838.7111 fax.619.593.6132 slot-techs.com

Sycuan Casino-El Cajon (San Diego) California

Come spend five days with Slot Tech Magazine’s Randy Fromm.You don’t have to be a genius to fix power supplies and LCD monitors.No previous electronics experience required.

This is a “fast-track” class for slot techs who want to learn the quick andeasy way to fix monitors and power supplies without having to learn a lot ofelectronic theory or mathematics.

It’s usually pretty easy to fix casino electronics There are three parts to a successful repair: 1. Find the bad part(s) and remove them 2. Obtain replacement or substitution component(s) 3. Install the part(s)

The Parts

There is no single trick to repair but it’s not usually too difficult once youlearn a few basics. During the class we will really stress component iden-tification and testing so you’ll learn how to find most bad parts (resistors,capacitors, transistors, etc.) yourself. This is an important part of the class.You absolutely must know what the parts are and how to test them to see ifthey are good or bad. Each student will receive his/her own digital multim-eter as part of their classroom materials package. We’ll spend two fulldays on this.

However, as slot techs we have one super advantage over other electronictechnicians in that we are all working on more-or-less the same equipmentand, if you are seeing some sort of fault, chances are really good thatsomeone else has seen the fault as well. If we haven’t already written aboutit in Slot Tech Magazine, someone else may have written about it in one ofthe slot tech forums. If not, you can post the question yourself and it willundoubtedly be answered within a day, likely within hours. You can contactme for advice or you can even contact the manufacturers directly with yourquestions so help is always available and figuring out which part(s) to re-place is usually not an issue.

During the class, you’ll learn the easy way to locate and purchase replace-ment components at reasonable prices. You’ll learn how to make substitu-tions too, when the exact replacement component is unavailable.

Regional Slot Tech Training Class Five-Day Class-March 18-22, 2013

Previous class at Sycuan, San Diego.

Sacramento, CA

Lemoore, CA

Component Removal and Replacement

All this doesn’t amount to a hill of beans if you can’t removeand replace the components without butchering the printedcircuit board. That’s why we spend a few precious hours ina hands-on soldering lab. If you cannot solder properly, youare useless as an electronic technician. Worse than use-less, you can cause hundreds or thousands of dollars worthof damage and/or lost revenue if you’re not careful.

On the other hand, even if you are terrible at troubleshoot-ing, if you can remove and replace components with skilland accuracy, you will still be enormously useful to the slotdepartment. Someone else can tell you which part(s) toreplace. It’s up to you to effect the actual repair and that iswhere it really counts. The “understanding” part of the re-pair can come later or not at all!

At one recent class, I had a young student that was abso-lutely terrible at everything I tried to teach him. He couldn’tremember the names of the components, let alone how totest them. He sure didn’t understand anything about com-ponent specifications. I’m not altogether certain that he couldread. And yet, during the hands-on repair lab, we turned tohim time after time to perform the actual repairs (replacingresistors, capacitors and transistors but also multi-pin de-vices like integrated circuits as well) because he could sol-der like crazy! He was fast. He was accurate. That makeshim valuable.

During the class, I will cover the theory of operation of powersupplies, digital electronics and LCD monitors as it is veryinteresting how this stuff works. But knowing how it worksand fixing it are often two different things and the name ofthis five-day class is repair. Do you really care how some-thing works if all your boss wants is to get it fixed? Your jobis not to prove to others how smart you are. Your job is to fixsomething as quickly and accurately as possible and moveon to the next job assignment.

With that in mind, I will also show you the most commonfailures in power supplies and LCD monitors so you canrepair them quickly and easily without having to spend timetroubleshooting. I can (and will) show you some tricks thatwill allow you to make repairs in minutes that would other-wise take an hour or more. One of these tricks is so trickythat I will totally deny that you ever learned this trick fromme. Seriously. You’ll see what I mean if you attend the class.No recording devices allowed!

Trinidad!

Iowa!

Day 1-Beginning Electronics forSlot Machine Technicians

Let's face it. When it comes to fixing slot machines, there'sa lot of stuff that you just don't need to know. Why try tolearn electronics from an engineering standpoint (the waythey teach in college and technical schools) when all youneed is enough electronics training to fix things?

This segment assumes that you have no previous elec-tronics training and takes you through a simple, NO MATHlook at electronic components, electronic circuits, sche-matic diagrams and more! Understanding electronicsis easy when you learn the basics of how circuits andcomponents operate.

Using a Digital MultimeterThe DMM is the single most important piece of testequipment you can use. The program shows you how touse the meter to make the tests and measurements nec-essary for fixing reel slots, video slots and other types ofgaming machines.

Electronic ComponentsAll of the individual components used in gaming ma-chines are introduced. Parts such as resistors, potenti-ometers and capacitors are covered individually. Stu-dents learn how the components function in the circuitsand how to test them for proper operation using the digi-tal multimeter and ESR meter.

Schematic DiagramsSchematic diagrams are the blueprints for electronic cir-cuits. Learning to interpret schematic diagrams is a natu-ral part of the Casino School. The schematic symbolsare used throughout the course and students becomefamiliar with schematic diagrams throughout the class.

Day 2-Diodes, Transistors & Other SemiconductorsHands-on Transistor Testing Lab

Semiconductors are the basis for just about everythingin today's gaming equipment. Semiconductor failures ofall types are among the most common of problems youwill encounter when fixing power supplies and monitors.

This part of the school takes a look at all of the differenttypes of semiconductors commonly seen in gaming ma-chines. We'll take a look at the operation of each com-ponent, along with testing procedures to determine if thepart is good or bad. Students will have ample opportuni-ties to practice their testing skills during the hands-ontransistor lab. Replacement components will also be dis-cussed. Never get stuck for a replacement part again!

Day 3-Morning Session-Soldering

Component removal and replacement is a better termfor this segment. Good soldering technique takes prac-tice but there are some tricks that can really help speedthings along and minimize the chance of damage to thePCB. During this short segment, each student will beprovided with their own soldering iron, solder, desolderingsupplies and a fun project kit they will assemble. Thisequipment will be theirs to keep.

Day 3-Afternoon Session-Power Supplies(continues Thursday morining session)

Power supplies are at the heart of all electronic systemsand power supply failure is common in all of them. Slotmachines are certainly not immune. It is not uncommonfor a slot machine to have a half dozen power supplies

Class Schedule

Mississippi!

working together. This module covers all types of powersupplies, including linear power supplies and theSwitched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS) found in virtuallyeverything in a modern casino.

Day 4-Afternoon Session-LCD Monitor Repair

LCD Monitor repair is generally pretty easy thanks totheir modular design. This segment covers the theory ofoperation of LCD monitors. There will be a presentationon the repair techniques including CCFL testing and re-placement.

Day 5-Introduction to Digital Electronics

I really enjoy working on digital electronics. You will toobecause it’s easy to understand and really fun to playwith. The flip side is that you must have extremely goodsoldering skills. While it is generally pretty easy to repairthings like broken traces and lifted solder pads on asimple PCB like a power supply, self-inflicted board dam-age on something like a CPU can be a costly mistake.

This class is not a detailed look at microprocessor tech-nology and it is not an “advanced” class that assumesany previous knowledge of electronics. It’s just an addi-tional peek into the next logical step in your career as aslot tech. Following your successes in repairing powersupplies and LCD monitors, it is logical to move to on to

Class will be held March 18-22, 2013Class times: 9:00 am to 4:00 pmClass will be held in the dedicated trainingfacility behind the main casino.Sycuan Casino5469 Casino WayEl Cajon, CA 92019(619) 445-6002

digital repair (no pun intended).

Cost of the Program

Tuition is $1295/personIncludes Digital MultimeterSoldering iron, tools and soldering suppliesSample componentsTextbook

Students are responsible for their own meals and lodging.The venue is far from the San DIego Airport and far fromanything else so you will need a car for sure if you’reflying in.

If you’re interested, contact Randy Fromm right away.It’s first-come, first-served and there are a limited numberof places available in the class.

Randy FrommSlot Tech Magazine1944 Falmouth Dr.El Cajon, CA 92020-2827mobile.619.838.7111 - Enter this number into yourmobile phone NOW so you can contact me during theclass.

You can fax a PO to 619.593.6132 and I’ll invoice you.Be sure to include the student’s name.

Slot Tech Magazine1944 Falmouth Dr.El Cajon, CA 92020-2827tel.619.838.7111fax.619.593.6132e-mail training@slot-techs.com

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Enrollment fee is $1295.00 per person. Payment by credit card or checkpayable to Slot Tech Magazine. Purchase orders will be invoiced.

Enrollment Form

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Please complete this enrollment form and return it to Slot Tech Magazine as soon aspossible. Enrollment is limited.

Class will be held March 18-22, 2013 at:Sycuan Casino5469 Casino WayEl Cajon, CA 92019(619) 445-6002

Please invoice me. PO # ___________________________