6/1/94 Series III Rockola Bubbler with S-5 Control system and a overnight Memory problem - Ni-Cd vs Lithium

Hi,

I just picked up a nice Rockola CD-8 Bubbler with black components off of Craigslist.

My problem is that it will not retain the Free Play 99 status after the machine is turned off for the evening.

in addition.... Total Plays and Total Selections are both zero.... They count up as expected when playing the machine... but when you shut the machine off and turn it back on they are zero again...

I removed in my opinion a non original Panasonic 3.6 Volt 110 mAh Ni-Cd AA size battery from the rear of the Control Unit PCB.

I feel that this Ni-Cd battery in incorrect due to the fact that this machine has a Black Control Center that has a RED sticker on the cover that says 57000-1A System 5A Control Unit usually requiring Lithium batteries...

So here are my questions:

My manual says it takes a Lithium Battery, When exactly was the changeover, the cabinet say that this machine was manufactured 6/1/94?

Do I have a machine that needs a NiCd battery that recharges (found on pre 1995 machines)
or
do I have a machine that uses a Lithium battery that does not get recharged (found on Newer models)?

I understand that if I have a Ni-Cd machine (pre 1995 machines), I need a 3.6 volts, 500 - 700MAH Ni-Cd AA size type battery

Could the non-original Panasonic 3.6 Volt 110 mAh Ni-Cd have not worked due to only having 110 mAh’s instead of the required 500 – 700 mAh’s?

Jeorge over at Rockola was pretty positive that it should take a Lithium battery too, but that did not work?

In addition, I can’t find a Ni-Cd AA battery locally for sale to see if that’s the problem , so before I order one online, I thought that I should send this out to the group for some feedback.

Or do you think I possibly could have some other problem that is not allowing the memory to be held overnight etc…

Thanks in advance for any and all help…

Jeff P.

P.S. I will be making another batch of 1954 Seeburg HF100R Cabinet Restoration Veneer kits that will be available around the holidays if anyone is interested.


Specs:
Antique Apparatus/Rock-Ola - CD8 Bubbler

Serial # 562318

Manufactured 6/1/94

Black Control Center that has a RED sticker on the cover that says 57000-1A System 5A Control Unit

The PCB inside the Control Center has a white sticker on it that says PCB Assy #57001-A, If you remove that sticker, printed on the board underneath it, it says 56215-A.

Black 280 Watt Amp 56180-1A

Black Power Distr. 56205-A, the Rectifier PCB in it says 56257-1A

It has a Philips CDM-4 Industrial CD player

Mech Control PCB Assy P/N 56995-A

Black CD Mech Control Assy 57066-A Interface 9404002423