I'm not freaking giving up on this Genesis. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 05:44:55 am
content: A few days ago I made a post about a faulty controller port on my Sega Mega Drive/ GenesisI posted that it died, It did not, for a short time. Late at night I tried something. I removed the mainboard and powered it on outside the RF Shielding. It worked. But soon after as I was putting it back together I turned it on with only a few screws in for a test. Unfortunate for my genesis the magic smoke out of a small SMD package went away. So I hope I can find what this part is and how to replace it.Right now I am not spending 40 dollars on a new system, and I am determened to fix this unit. I do not care how much effort and time it takes, I am going to fix it.Now, I need some help identifying this thing, I will have pictures in the morning. It's a small four pin SMD package. 5.4 mm x 6.6 mm about in size. It has the markings in this order,either A or R C0 4NA short search of both sets show nothing for RC04N and all I find for ARC04N is hex inverters, which have NOWHERE near the same package as this part.As I said pictures tomorrow, the part was located RIGHT next to the DC in jack, and is easy to see if you have a MODEL 2!!! Genesis/Mega Drive.I will be very appreciative if anyone can come up with something to steer me right by tomorrow, if not pictures will be posted.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 05:57:57 am
content: http://arcade.ym2149.com/megadrive/md2_pcb_partside.jpg?Part CF1?Common mode filter. Not critical to operation (internally, it should be two wires, straight across), but burnout means something else is shorted. Dead regulator, dead ICs... you'll have to probe around. Not a good sign, in any case.Tim

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 02:44:04 pm
content: Well all I know is the RF shielding was shorting out some stuff, and I was trying to fudge around and get it to not make contact. The regulator was also getting hot when the shorts were happening. However this part DID blow. So if something was shorted it was from the RF shielding.And yea it's CF1.

author: mikerj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 02:56:58 pm
content: Full part number appears to be LRCM04R04T though good luck finding a supplier.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 04:15:57 pm
content: Possibly one of these would fit,Digikey Searchor you can just short across the windings with wire jumpers for functional use (but EMI will be out of spec).Tim

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 04:48:58 pm
content: its redundant part, not needed for operation, but it blew because you shorted something important, and that something important is probably also deadfind a hackerspace already, go there during an open day (its FREE) and ask for help

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 04:59:41 pm
content: I honestly don't want to bring it anywhere.Thanks for the advice, I just short the part out?UPDATE: I have poped the cap off of that thing and found a tiny coil. I am currently putting a wire across the leads.UPDATE: I have shorted all the pins out on that package, powered it up and nothing. Nothing got hot, or had any sign of electrical activity.

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2015, 08:51:55 pm
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on August 18, 2015, 04:59:41 pmPlease give up now.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 12:36:04 am
content: Not until I get too tired to try. Any more suggestions are welcome.

author: ovnr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 12:56:45 am
content: How about "Learn a few things about electronics before trying to repair them"?You can't just short random things together and hope to improve your situation.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 01:26:56 am
content: or you can just short across the windings with wire jumpers for functional useI was following a suggestion.Anyways I am not an idiot, I have basic knowledge of how electronics function. I just don't know some stuff, and I am very lost here. This is why I came here, to ask for help in hopes I can fix something.

author: AmmoJammo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 03:39:22 am
content: Sorry, but it seems you don't have a basic understanding.All you did was completely short out the external power supply.It probably still works assuming you didn't leave it plugged in for more than a minute or two.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 03:54:19 am
content: "Short across the windings"means, when you cracked it open, you were physically able to see little wires coming off the pads. If you took the time to inspect it closely, you would've found there were two separate pieces of wire (probably with a break in one or both, hence the failure). Sorting them out would lead you to discover that one wire spans between one pair of pads, and the other between the other pair. Certainly not all four together at once.Tim

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 12:57:59 pm
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on August 19, 2015, 01:26:56 amno, you ARE an idiot by definition, wiki: "someone who acts in a self-defeating or significantly counterproductive way"but its all right, most of us was at some point in our life. The key here is to be honest to yourself, admit you are way over your head and go ask someone to explain basics to you, for example in ... a hackerspace, or makerspace or arduinospace orHam Clubor whatever place with friendly people interested in electronics. You have the the most important thing already - enthusiasm and desire/drive to do something, now its time to meet people that will help you develop that to the next level.This forum section is a wrong place for that, worst case scenario you could try Beginners section.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 03:34:23 pm
content: Well then I will go elsewhere for help.Goodbye.

author: timofonic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2015, 04:40:22 pm
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on August 19, 2015, 03:34:23 pmHey, don't get upset! Some people can be a bit rude with their words.Sometimes I act like an idiot, rude, apathy or stubbornly irrational. That makes me difficult to have a stable social live and incomes. I'm self-improving myself.It's obvious you need to learn a bit more about electronics, I'm in your same situation. Even worse, I'm ADHD and still need to stop procrastinating and move my lazy ass (but prescription drugs are starting to work).I'll publish later some links to forums related to retrocomputing and retrogaming forums that have Hardware repairing sections.Peace and no more shit, guys. Please relax and think about your own faults in the discussion, there have been several mistakes in the involved parts.