Just bought a pc engine duo r from Japan

[Projekt Pat]

I think I got a decent deal. $220 shipped but it doesn't have the cables or controller. I have a turbografx so I think that the controller will work fine but even if it doesnt' I'm going to Japan in a few weeks I'll pick one up then.

Is there anything I should know? I'm a little worried about hardware problems, specifically the laser for the cd drive. I have a lot of bad luck with lasers from the 90s (Sega CD).

Can someone point me in the direction of a cheap power brick for this thing?

[Keith Courage]

The issue that DUO-R systems have is the ports need re-soldering because the connections get cracked over time. So the AV port, Power jack, and controller port should have the pins re-soldered. Other then that those systems are very reliable.

[MisterCrash]

The TurboGrafx pad has a slightly bigger connector than the Duo or PC Engine pads, so you will need to pick up a new pad for your system.

As for the power adapter, the US Duo adapter outputs DC 10V, with 1000 mA power draw. I don't know if the Duo-R is different than this, but I suspect they are the same. However, the SuperGrafx power adapter inverts polarity, so I could be wrong.

[Keith Courage]

He got a DUO-R. That uses a 9V 1000MA adapter with a 3.5mm x 1.35mm tip. + center for the tip.

[MNKyDeth]

One thing I have noticed with the original power adapters is none of the ones I have ever seen run at their rated voltages. Even with a new cap put in them.

TurboDuo / PC Engine Duo always put out almost exactly 16v
PC Engine Duo-R almost always put out 14.5v

I have found using CCTV power supplies are the best and usually much cheaper solution than using an original power supply. Going to cheap on the supply can cause cd-rom reading issues I have also found. The cd-rom issues usually arise with the cheap 9v 1500ma ones.


Remember the 7805's take any voltage and reduce the voltage to 5v. So the higher the volts the more heat is output into the system. So I have been sticking to 12v cctv ones if I get a system that does not have a power supply.

For a Duo-R
power supply = http://www.ebay.com/itm/Power-Supply-DC-12V-5000mA-REGULATED-UL-2-1mm-5-5mm-DC12V5000mA-/231423906054?hash=item35e1f09106

adapter =  http://www.ebay.com/itm/10x-DC-Power-3-5mm-x-1-35mm-Male-Plug-To-5-5x2-1mm-Female-Jack-Adapter-Connector-/252439063719?hash=item3ac68a6ca7:g:~NgAAOSwNuxXb7Xw

Less voltage then the original power supply so it will run cooler and plenty of current so there are no cd-rom issues. You can get cheaper ones, 3000ma etc I just make sure to get regulated supplies or ones marked as such for my own personal preference.


I make A/V cables
http://www.ebay.com/itm/162365179524?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649

At that point it's just a matter of finding a proper controller that fits your needs the best.

[Projekt Pat]

The issue that DUO-R systems have is the ports need re-soldering because the connections get cracked over time. So the AV port, Power jack, and controller port should have the pins re-soldered. Other then that those systems are very reliable.

Are there any videos or anything that show how to do this? Maybe someone in the central florida area who does it?

[SignOfZeta]

One thing I have noticed with the original power adapters is none of the ones I have ever seen run at their rated voltages. Even with a new cap put in them.

TurboDuo / PC Engine Duo always put out almost exactly 16v
PC Engine Duo-R almost always put out 14.5v

I have found using CCTV power supplies are the best and usually much cheaper solution than using an original power supply. Going to cheap on the supply can cause cd-rom reading issues I have also found. The cd-rom issues usually arise with the cheap 9v 1500ma ones.


Remember the 7805's take any voltage and reduce the voltage to 5v. So the higher the volts the more heat is output into the system. So I have been sticking to 12v cctv ones if I get a system that does not have a power supply.

For a Duo-R
power supply = http://www.ebay.com/itm/Power-Supply-DC-12V-5000mA-REGULATED-UL-2-1mm-5-5mm-DC12V5000mA-/231423906054?hash=item35e1f09106

adapter =  http://www.ebay.com/itm/10x-DC-Power-3-5mm-x-1-35mm-Male-Plug-To-5-5x2-1mm-Female-Jack-Adapter-Connector-/252439063719?hash=item3ac68a6ca7:g:~NgAAOSwNuxXb7Xw

Less voltage then the original power supply so it will run cooler and plenty of current so there are no cd-rom issues. You can get cheaper ones, 3000ma etc I just make sure to get regulated supplies or ones marked as such for my own personal preference.


I make A/V cables
http://www.ebay.com/itm/162365179524?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649

At that point it's just a matter of finding a proper controller that fits your needs the best.

Why are you telling people to buy a 12V power supply for a 9V device and then saying it will run "cooler"? Is this thing selectable or did you post the wrong link or something?

A better supply than the original is not hard to find because everything is IC based now instead of transformer based.  9V 1000mA. If it's not a complete POS then this is all you'll need.

[mickcris]

The originals are unregulated.  They should read close to what they state on them if you test the voltage under load.

[MNKyDeth]

Why are you telling people to buy a 12V power supply for a 9V device and then saying it will run "cooler"? Is this thing selectable or did you post the wrong link or something?

A better supply than the original is not hard to find because everything is IC based now instead of transformer based.  9V 1000mA. If it's not a complete POS then this is all you'll need.

Even when using the original power supplies as mickcris stated will show a lower voltage when under load. So I went through the 4 PAD-129's and one PAD-130 I have sitting here and tested each one under load using a HuCard and then reading a game disc.

The lowest voltage I saw out of the 5 original supplies while reading a cd-rom game disc was 11.75v. The lowest voltage I saw with the 5 original power supplies while having a HuCard in the system was 12.25v

This tells me the 12v regulated supply will be about the same as an original supply rated at 9v.
So yes, I was wrong to say it would run cooler, but I was right to recommend a quality regulated 12v supply.

The 9v supplies I have and tested work in these systems just fine with original cd-rom game discs. As soon as I try a burned game these 9v supplies no longer allow the system to read discs. Simply swapping the 9v supply out for an original or one of these 12v supplies allows the burned discs to be read. I have not found any exceptions to my testing.

The 9v supplies are good as long as you don't want to use burned discs.

[SignOfZeta]

Trying to read a CD-R consumes 3V off the top? In this system? That's nuts for more reasons than I care to type. What are your current consumption numbers?

I have a Radio Shack 9V 1500mA power supply I've been using for ten years. I've had zero issues with anything, even while playing a CD-R with five controllers in.

[Projekt Pat]

I have a 12v 5a power supply. Will that be sufficient?

[SignOfZeta]

It will easily run four Duos at once.

[Projekt Pat]

Well I'm asking because apparently the fuse in my sega cd blew from using the wrong power supply.

[mickcris]

Just make sure it's center positive.  Probably used the wrong polarity on your sega cd

[Projekt Pat]

no idea what that means


I used a sega model 1 ac adapter that the dumbass store I bought the cd from gave me. Apparently there's a history of that causing the fuses to blow.