Author Topic: Checking power on standard PC-Engine?  (Read 460 times)

StriderSubzero

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Checking power on standard PC-Engine?
« on: April 12, 2017, 03:31:46 AM »
I bought a PC-Engine (the standard white one) on eBay and the seller claimed that it worked fine. It didn't come with an AC adapter so I used the Genesis model 1 adapter, as it seems compatible. However, I'm not able to get any response from it over RF or by stripping an AV cable and matching it up using the pin schematic I see online. Since there's no LED, I'm not able to tell if it's even getting power. What should I check to verify it's getting power?

NichlasEk

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Re: Checking power on standard PC-Engine?
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2017, 06:21:25 AM »
Isn that the reversed polarity? I think i used a mega drive supply once but built a polarity adapter. Havent dubbeled checked tho.


StriderSubzero

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Re: Checking power on standard PC-Engine?
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2017, 07:27:02 AM »
I don't have it in front of me but the polarity matched as I recall. I also tried a generic power adapter and I know the polarity matched on that, but it also didn't work.

mickcris

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Re: Checking power on standard PC-Engine?
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2017, 11:22:31 AM »
were you tuning into channel 95 or 96?  The Genesis 1 cable is correct.

http://www.retrofixes.com/2014/05/hook-up-famicom-to-american-televisions.html

you can check power by measuring at the voltage regulator inside the console.  output pin would be 5v.
https://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Components/LM7805.pdf


Ergot_Cholera

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Re: Checking power on standard PC-Engine?
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2017, 01:01:00 AM »
Also check for continuity across the fuse.

StriderSubzero

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Re: Checking power on standard PC-Engine?
« Reply #5 on: April 13, 2017, 01:19:38 AM »
were you tuning into channel 95 or 96?  The Genesis 1 cable is correct.

Thanks for your help. I tried all the channels in the 90s, as well as everything below that.

Quote
you can check power by measuring at the voltage regulator inside the console.  output pin would be 5v.

I will test the voltage regulator once I find it and update back.

As another update, I took it apart and tested the fuse. My multimeter shot quickly up to around 22 (ohms I guess?) and then fell back to "0.L." The fuse itself looks maybe a little bit cloudy?
It's very hard to get to as it's under some type of metal structure and beside another component. It's a glass cylinder like a normal fuse, which somewhat surprised me, because all the fuses in video game stuff I've messed with before were a tiny cylinder on 2 long leads. Pico I think that's called?

This is a 1 amp fuse, correct? I wasn't able to find a tutorial or much info online about replacing this fuse. Is there some trick to it? There's not much room as it's under and beside other tight components.

StriderSubzero

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Re: Checking power on standard PC-Engine?
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2017, 04:53:52 AM »
Okay, I replaced the fuse with a 1A 250v pigtail fuse I got from eBay. No luck. I measured across the voltage regulator and it appears to be fine.

The fuse I took out is definitely fried though, it's black on the bottom and there's no continuity across it. There is continuity across the new one; I checked it.

I tried the RF and and AV like before. I'm getting nothing. Extremely frustrated.

Keith Courage

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Re: Checking power on standard PC-Engine?
« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2017, 06:55:31 AM »
channels 95 and 96 are for the RF connection. If you are not getting any picture maybe your RF cable is bad? also, does the RF Port feel loose? Lots of these RF connections go bad over time. The system might benefit from a composite video AV modification or a cheap external booster.

another thing to check using your multi-meter would be the 7805 voltage regulator it should have 5 volts on the output. 
« Last Edit: April 22, 2017, 06:57:03 AM by Keith Courage »

StriderSubzero

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Re: Checking power on standard PC-Engine?
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2017, 08:58:07 AM »
Okay, weirdly, the AC adapter seems to have crapped out at some point as well, so I hooked up a new one.

It didn't work at first, so I left it on and walked away for awhile. When I came back, it was playing. Now it appears to be working. ???

Thanks everyone.