Rowe AMI CD 100A Board Error

I'm new to the forum and the brand new owner of a used Rowe AMI cd 100A which I think I got for a steal but am having issues with it's operation. I have and read the manuals and have gone through and found and cleared all the errors. I also found on my ccc that the battery was low, error code, and replaced the battery. The issue I'm having is the board error on the mcc comes on every time I turn on the unit in either service or normal. It flashes at first, then goes out, then turns on constantly. I can get the mechanism arm grab a CD and place it on the player to work if I move the cam off the inner contacts but it immediately picks up the CD again and puts it back on the carousel. I also am not able to get the carousel to move at all. HELP!

Hi Alz,
Welcome---
I don't know where "to start"--so I'll kind of "ramble on", with MY opinion here--
First, you should have axked, before "stealing" this phonograph !
I doubt, that the phono you have is still much like it was on the day it came off the production line, unless, it got set aside, and used as a parts "dump". Rowe offered MANY "up-dates" after that model was made, and we will need to determine which ones were installed, and which were not.
First thing to look at is the "power supply". This will require you to remove it from the cabinet, and see which PCB is installed. If it is the "original analog" type, is it up-dated--you can tell by the last two digits of the part number printed on the board.
The last version, was a "switcher type" board. You can easily determine if it has been installed as the two transistors on the power supply chassis, will not be connected (or will have been removed-totally).
Either way, at the time you have this unit removed, I think it is wise to remove the board, clean ALL of the "headers", on it, remove and clean/reform, ALL of the pins in the connecting plugs. It's common for the pins to become intermittent, if not done.
At that point, the next thing I would do, is check the CCC. An "updated" CCC will be marked as a -02 (last two digits, on the silk screen, outside on the plastic, if "someone done it rite"! ) Also, you will need to check the "software version", of the main chip installed. This can be done electronically--see the Service Manual--
Next, you will need to check the MCC, and player, itself to see which model/version is installed. The MCC can also be electronically checked, but the player can not. You must either know what the different players look like or you can check the model/part number of the MCC to determine which player should be installed. (If you give me that number, I can tell).
Once you have that all figured out, I suspect either that you do have a "bad" MCC, or a combination of things, causing the problem. If you can narrow it down further, from the above, I can probably help further--
Ron Rich

OK I took some stuff apart and have attached photos so you can see what I have.






I did a version check on the CCC and it came back at 21 which i would assume would be 2.1. The MCC came back at 77.

Thanks for the response and help so far!

PS....I didn't steal it but I did buy it at a thrift store and I'm not sure they knew what they had.

Hi ALZ,
Well,I did not say you stole it--you used the word "steal" above--
I don't know what to tell you,except I am pretty sure it was a "parts dumper"--EVERYTHING in it needs updating--and then it MAY work--Problem is, there are no parts available for those items any longer--If I were you, and wanted to get it going, you might try to locate another MCC, plug it in and go form there--problem's going to be in finding that style MCC, in working order---
That's a model CDM -3 Player and the MCC required to operate a CDM-3.
The power supply, may or may not be an up-dated version--I would need to see the other side to determine this--updates are easy--cheap, but not good enough to use with a CDM-12, or later, Pro Player--
Ron Rich

Reading what you had to say.....maybe they saw me coming!

So if I had a few extra bucks in my pocket what would be the things to upgrade to get this baby running? I assume if I upgrade the CD Player than the MCC and CCC need to be upgraded to accomodate as well? Does that mean I'd need a new power supply as well?

Hi Alz,
I "kinda think so---"
Shoot a photo of the mechanism, and one of the other side of the power supply bd.
The real problem here is the CD player--if bad, no new parts have been available, for at least 20 years. I MAY still have a working MCC--need to look on the shelf (my test rig has one that works, well enough to test with--DAC is failing when hot, which is a common problem, on those)--can update the PS board, if needed, to work well with that player, but it will not be adequate, if the player is up-dated. CCC is no problem to up-grade--
Ron Rich

I'll do that when I get home after work.

I really wanted a jukebox for my 45's but when I came across this one I couldn't pass it up. I don't mind having to pump a few more bucks into this thing but want something reliable when it's done. My little girl's wedding is coming up and we're having an engagement party for her this summer and it would be cool to put it on free play and let everyone pick whatever songs they want.

I appreciate your responses and thank you for all your assitance in this!!!!!!!

So I just saw on ebay that there is a - Rowe AMI CD jukebox Philips CDM12.4 Pro player motor optical pickup laser NEW for $14 buy it now. Is this something i should invest in?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rowe-AMI-CD-juk ... 2c7e6064a5

Nope--you have a CDM-3--won't fit !
Ron Rich

Hello Alz,

Ron is correct.
The System you have is a CDM-3 Laser and associated decoder and mechanism control. To change it to a CDM-12 or CDPRO would cost you $300 to $500 plus the power supply would have to be changed from the original 8 volt supply to a 9volt supply, the plugs on the loom would need to be replaced, as well as the mechanism control unit and the laser head. If the carousel or basket on your mechanism is not the open style type you would also need to change that (it came as a kit many years ago, basket, gripper bow assembly etc). This was to prevent damage to the CD's.

As Ron says try for a replacement CCC or send the CCC, Mechanism control/decoder and laser for testing to a Rowe Ami specalist.
If you can not sort anything out in the USA you are welcomed to contact me off of list.

Regards
Alan

Alan Hood
ami-man
UK

Rowe makes a conversion kit (# 66505907) to update that old mechanism. It is quite involved as quite a few assemblies are completely replaced as shown in the instructions here:

http://arcarc.xmission.com/PDF_Jukebox/ ... 505907.pdf

I've seen this kit sell as high as $800, but the average price is $600.

OK, Photo of the CCC Board


Power Supply Board


Photos of Mechanism

"alz" a personal suggestion is to consider replacing the entire CD mech-control comp with this:

http://www.cdadapter.com/cd100mp.htm

The flash based model looks to be a good choice. While this does still require a working PSU, CCC and amp, you are freed from the expense of repairing-modding the Cd mech. Ripping a full machine's worth of music to MP3 is a chore, but you can build your own 'albums" and incorporate any MP3 files from any source.

The CD is all but obsolete for jukebox use. It was never an ideal medium for the sort of environment a commercial phono exists in.

Rob/NYC

Thanks Rob-NYC. As I'm in the process of ripping a lot of my vinyl collection to mp3 this may be the right answer for me. I'm not a big electronics guy from way back but the option looks easy enough. Are you using this now? If so, I'd like to know your take on it? I'd like to get the most songs that I could on it so I guess I'd need a bigger hard drive. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!