Gottlieb System 3


Note: This page is a work in progress. Please help get it to a completed state by adding any useful information to it.

1 Introduction

Put system info here

Gottlieb System 3 Board Set - Alphanumeric Display

Gottlieb System 3 Board Set - Dot Matrix Display

2 Game Listing

2.1 Alpha-Numeric

2.2 Dot Matrix

3 Technical Info

3.3 The Wire Coloring Code

3.4 Connector Designations

3.5 Switch Matrix

3.6 Lamp Matrix

3.7 Power Supply

3.8 CPU Board

3.9 Driver Board

3.10 Sound Boards

3.11 Display Boards

3.11.1 Dot Matrix Display Controller Board

3.12 Solenoids and Relays

3.13 Flippers

{WIP} Like all the other solenoids used in a System 3 game, Gottlieb beefed the power up to 48VDC versus the 24VDC of former Gottlieb platforms. Equally, the flipper assembly was completely redesigned with a more "modern" flipper bat, and completely different mechanicals. Parts for the System 3 flippers are not backward compatible with any previous Gottlieb platforms. This is partially due to the flipper coil having a larger "footprint" than older flipper coils.

GTB Sys3 used a slightly different approach to enable the flippers. Well, slightly different from other manufacturers, but the same as all previous GTB systems. The difference being that GTB did not use an encapsulated flipper relay on a circuit board. Instead, an open cage relay was used. Power to the flippers is enabled by a single switch on the game over (Q) relay. The same switch powers other coils on the playfield. The Q relay is typically located on the bottom of the cab on the right between the transformer panel and the "power box". The other relays used for tilt (T) and lampbox GI illumination (A) are normally banked with the Q relay. Like any other relay or coil, the Q relay is enabled by a MOSFET on the driver board.

Another thing new to System 3 is the used of a flipper sensor board. The purpose of the sensor board is to determine whether a flipper coil was enabled via the flipper cabinet switch, convert the 48v signal to a manageable voltage for the switch matrix via an opto coupler, and then send the signal back to the switch matrix. Gottlieb games had no way of determining this distinction before, unless a secondary switch from the switch matrix was placed on the switch stack with the flipper EOS switch. The flipper sensor board inputs are wired with 48v, and the left and right flipper coils' lug with the non-banded side of the diode. The flipper cabinet switches are wired to this same flipper coil lug, and when closed, complete the circuit to ground.

4 Problems and Solutions

4.1 Ground Updates

Even though Gottlieb got most everything else right with the System 3 platform, it was plagued with ground issues just like every other Gottlieb platform. The System 3 ground connection at the transformer panel are very similar to System 80B. Therefore, the ground updates are equally similar.

4.2 Power Problems

Power issues start with the +5vdc power supply. A simple fix is to replace the 500 ohm 1 watt pot used to adjust the +5vdc. The original factory pot was a not a sealed pot. Dirt, dust and contaminants can get into the pot and foul it. The result is either dead spots on the pot, or total failure.

4.3 MPU boot issues

A very common issue with the System 3 platform is a message displayed on the DMD upon turning the power on. It can be common to see a "Check U3 error" upon attempted booting of the CPU. In most cases, this message is essentially telling the user that the lithium battery on the CPU board has failed.

4.3.1 Relocating the battery from the MPU board

4.3.2 Repairing Alkaline Corrosion

4.3.3 Connecting a logic probe to the MPU

4.3.4 Using a PC Power Supply For Bench Testing

4.4 Game resets

4.5 Solenoid problems

4.6 Lamp problems

If your game is burning up lots of lamps quickly, check your voltage setting underneath the playfield. A setting of 110v can cause bulbs to burn out too quickly, 120v fixes the issue.

4.7 Switch problems

4.8 Display problems

4.9 Sound problems

4.10 Flipper problems

Flipper flutter--Check the EOS switch to verify that the wires don't have a cold solder joint issue. Flipper weakness--The EOS switch and flipper button switches can cause issues if they're not clean and adjusted properly. Replacing the EOS switches can improve strength dramatically.

4.11 Pop bumper problems

5 Repair Logs

Did you do a repair? Log it here as a possible solution for others.