Popped some caps in this bitch's ass.

[Desh]

I know this is pretty much everyday life around here but, I thought I'd share my PCE Duo story.  A couple of months ago I won an auction for a PCE Duo with box.  I got it pretty cheap since it was listed with a broken CD drive.  Well, I finally got this thing yesterday and plugged it in to see what it would do.  To my surprise, it fired right up and read discs with ease.  Yay!  The bad news is there was no audio.  I knew the likely culprit and I was prepared with a cap kit from console5 (really cool guy runs it and is only an hour and a half from me so it ships overnight normally).



I opened her up and immediately noticed a problem.



After a few hours of labor to replace caps and, repair damaged areas due to caps that have been leaking since 1996, I got this.  (I don't mind saving these old caps so I have snacks on hand for Joe Redifer).



And another after re-assembly and time to OBEY!



I honestly thought this was going to be a royal pain but, compared to the TurboExpress and CD dock I recapped, these DUO's are a cakewalk.

I do have one question regarding the O.E. power supply.  It is rated at 50 or 60hz but  at 100V as they use in the land of the rising sun.  I have been using it to test operation but I'm worried the extra output of my 120V (128V actual) outlet will eventually stress the voltage regulator with extended usage.  What are you guys using?  I suppose I could try and hunt down a U.S. DUO power supply (preferred but probably expensive) and I believe I read in a thread somewhere that some of you were using a power supply RadioShack carries.

[NightWolve]

One thing I would comment on is that I wouldn't have tried to get the new caps soldered in all vertical like that. Horizontal-wise you could see if they ever leaked again down the road and it'd be easier to once again remove them if need be. This is an Express repaired by BlueBMW:



Also, you were probably better off buying general capacitor kits for that $13.95+S/H you spent with console5.com - you would've had plenty left over for other jobs instead of only being given exactly the caps that you need.

Anyway, good to see another unit restored to working order DIY-style.

[Necromancer]

I use the original power supply with my RX.  I'm sure the wall wart runs a bit hotter than it would it Japan, but I ain't worried about it.

[SephirothTNH]

This is an Express repaired by BlueBMW:

Is that your Express Nightwolve?  Those things can be pretty pricey.

@Desh  Like Necromancer I too have been using the original power supply for my Duo.  I'm not too worried about it either. 

I'll be doing the caps in my DUO soon.

[NightWolve]

Is that your Express Nightwolve?  Those things can be pretty pricey.

Nope, that was one of his customers. I learned enough about it from here (thesteve and others) to do it myself. I made a thread and video for it... Both of which kinda suck, didn't get to record actual soldering, but oh well.

http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=11660.0

I bought mine in the 90's for the $99 deal after TTi was going out of business. Glad I didn't get the tuner which was going for the same rate as well. Anyway, don't do what I did. Back then, I was really set on using the exact type of capacitors and the cap specific order cost me $11+... One general capacitor kit would've had everything needed for an Express, but too bad. For the Duo, you might need to buy two of the $9.99 ones that go on eBay, but you'll have so many left over for other possible jobs is the plus.