VAC Control Board Connectivity and Replacement
This article is useful if you are replacing any individual components inside the Value Add Center (VAC) kiosk; or if you're replacing the VAC Control Board itself.
If you're replacing a VAC control board, you will need the Activation Card, for the specific store location, in order to activate the new board to the store (the VAC will display a "Not Activated" message on it's display in these cases)
VAC4 (Black) Control Board on Touch screen VACs
The connections to the board are as follows:
Figure 1: VAC4 board connections for VAC's with a touch screen and Asahi-Seiko Card Dispenser
Connection Number / VAC Board Label | Description |
1 - "AUX1" | This Ethernet Port is for PINpad terminal Ethernet connections. - For PAX A35/S300 terminals, this is the ethernet cable connected to the RED plug from the terminal - For Stripe/Veriphone terminals, this is the ethernet cable connected to the PINpad terminal's Ethernet Hub: |
2 - "LAN" | This Ethernet Port is for the store's Main Internet Connection This connects to your local wired internet (some VACs have a black ethernet extension cable attached to this connector for convenience) |
3 - "BA" | Bill Acceptor's MDB Connector This provides power and data communication for an attached Bill Acceptor |
4 - "READER1" | The VAC's Main RFID/NFC Card Reader1 Board This is for the RFID/NFC Card Reader Board that's mounted behind the VAC's card holder. This reader faces the front of the kiosk (behind blue plate) and reads laundry cards placed into the VAC's card holder |
5 - "READER2 DISPENSER" | The Card Dispenser's RFID/NFC Card Reader2 Board This RFID/NFC Card Reader Board is mounted to the front of an attached Card Dispenser. This reader reads/writes to Laundry Cards that are vended from the Card Dispenser. |
6 - "HDMI" | HDMI Connection (for Touch Screen VACs Only) For VAC's without a Touch Screen Monitor, they use connection 12 - LCD instead |
7 - "WNC" | The VAC's WNC (Wireless network controller) Connection This is the controller that establishes the VAC's dedicated Zigbee Network for wireless Card Reader communication |
8 - "CARD DISPENSER" | Card Dispenser's Power/Data connection - For Asahi-Seiko Card Dispensers (Silver colour), this is a power and data connection - For SyncoTek Card Dispensers (Black colour), this is a power connection (they use the AUX3 port for data communication) |
9 | 24Vdc power for VAC Control Board This will be a barrel plug for VAC Control Board power |
10 - "AUX3" | RS232 Serial Port connector for various serial communication devices IF used, this port is typically only used for 1 of 2 things: - Card Dispenser data connection for SyncoTek Card Dispensers (Black coloured dispensers) - Serial data connector for Receipt printer's using the serial cable instead of a USB cable |
11 - "J18" | USB Ports for various USB communication devices Each VAC board will have 2 to 4 USB Ports, and either port can be used for any USB communication devices These ports are typically used for: - Touch Monitor USB connection for Touch Inputs - KP-210 Printers use USB connection for data communication These ports should NOT be used to POWER USB devices |
12 - "LCD" | LCD Display connector (for NON-Touch Screen VACs ONLY) For VAC's with a Touch Screen Monitor, they use connection 6 -HDMI instead |
13 - "J2" | Alternate Power connection for KP-210 Reciept Printer Hidden in the above picture, there is an optional power header that may be used for Receipt Printer Power, as opposed to using an external power supply that plugs into the VAC's power strip: |
14 - "NEW CARD", "ENTER", "SELECT" | Input Buttons (For Non-Touch Screen VACs ONLY) These VACs will have 1 to 3 buttons used to operate the kiosk, and these buttons plug into the following headers on the left side of the board: - NEW CARD header is for the New Card button - ENTER header is for the Enter button - SELECT header is for the Value button |
VAC Control Board Replacement
It is recommended that you take a picture of how your current VAC control board is connected, before doing the replacement, just so you have a picture to reference.
There are 2 different types of VAC control boards:
Both VAC control board types have their mounting screws in the exact same position.
Note: If replacing a 1st generation "VAC3" board, see the section at bottom of this article
(you will be removing the network switch/TP-Link Router, and the monitor controller box)
Step 1. Remove power from the VAC and then unplug all connectors plugged into the original VAC control board.
Step 2. There are 4 Philips screws that need to be removed in order to unmount the original VAC control board:
Step 3. Install the replacement VAC control board using the same 4 Philips screws, and reconnect all of the VAC control board connections in the exact same spots they were connected to on the original VAC Control board.
Note: if you've installed a VAC4 board to replace a VAC3 board, review the section at the bottom of this article
Step 4. Power the VAC back ON and wait for the system to boot back up. Once booted, the VAC will be in a deactivated state.
Use the Activation Card, for this specific store location, to activate the new VAC Control Board to this store location:
The VAC will then activated itself to the store, and the Activation Card can be removed from the VAC's card holder
Step 5. You will need to log onto the Laundro Portal to configure the settings of the new VAC Control Board.
See this article for VAC configuration setting information: Configuring Settings in the Value Add Center
Note: If the new VAC Control Board is replacing a board that's been reporting as Offline for an extended period of time, it's likely that the new VAC board will automatically copy the settings that the original VAC control board was using.
However it is always strongly recommended that you double check all settings to confirm the new board's settings are correct
However it is always strongly recommended that you double check all settings to confirm the new board's settings are correct
Step 6. There may be some additional internal VAC Control Board settings that need to be configured by our support team directly.
Once the new VAC Control Board has been installed and Activated, get in touch with our support team so we can ensure the internal VAC settings are correct for your store location.
Replacing a VAC3 Control Board with a VAC4 Control Board
READ THIS if you're replacing a VAC3 (Green/Blue) control board with a VAC4(black) control board!!!!!
VAC kiosks with touch screens that use VAC3 (Green/Blue) control boards use a Network Switch (or TP-Link Router) and a Monitor Controller device.
These two items are NO LONGER NEEDED when replacing the board with a VAC4 (Black) control board; the touch monitor connections (HDMI and USB) will now connect DIRECTLY to the VAC4 board. So:
These two items are NO LONGER NEEDED when replacing the board with a VAC4 (Black) control board; the touch monitor connections (HDMI and USB) will now connect DIRECTLY to the VAC4 board. So:
1. Disconnect all connections from both the Network Switch/TP-Link Router and the Monitor controller (see Figure 2 below)
2. Connect the HDMI cable from the monitor to the VAC4 board directly (see Figure 1 above - 1st picture in article)
3. Connect the USB cable from the monitor to the VAC4 board directly (see Figure 1 above - 1st picture in article)
4. Connect the ethernet cable from the PINpad terminal to the AUX1 ethernet connector on the VAC4 board (see Figure 1 above - 1st picture in article)
5. You can completely remove the Monitor Controller and Network Switch/TP-Link Router (including their associated power adapters) from the VAC.