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[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Cat + PC Engine Duo = Bad]

Now I've tried power the motor and it spins as it should. However I've discovered that I do not seem to get more than 0.03V on the appropriate lines going to the motor and it also doesn't fluctuate when I try to run it. That might instead mean it's the BA6290A chip (IC108) that's faulty. When measuring the chip it does seem to receive the proper voltage but it doesn't output on the proper pins.

Just to be sure I also measured the lines going to the motor that moves the lens assembly (sled?) back and forth and that shows a marked difference despite being connected to the same chip. Higher voltage and fluctuates when it is supposed to receive commands.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Cat + PC Engine Duo = Bad]

While I haven't been able to power the disc motor separately yet, I did do something else. Since I have two Duos, and the other works as intended I figured I could swap the entire CD-drive unit between the consoles and eliminate a lot of troubleshooting in one go. If the 'Good' drive worked in the 'bad' Duo, I would immediately know that it's not something on the motherboard of the 'bad' Duo that's broken but instead the fault lies with the CD-drive. As it turns out it does, which makes the possibility of a broken spin motor far more likely.

However during the swapping I noticed a new problem, separate from the motor issue. The supposedly properly working CD-drive unit no longer plays any CD-audio tracks, no matter if it's mounted on the 'bad' or 'good' Duo. Any other audio works fine.

*Edit* Just read one of the repair guides and the sound issue is most likely capacitor related.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Cat + PC Engine Duo = Bad]

The console starts up to the normal Super CD ROM 2 system boot screen. However when I put in a disc and press the run button, the CD drive doesn't spin up and after a short while I get an error message 'Please set disc.' The laser itself does start up as I can see the red light from it but again, the drive doesn't spin so it doesn't seem to matter much. I can't tell whether the lens can focus or not.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Cat + PC Engine Duo = Bad]

I've only just finished repairing my GT and I'm already looking into another console. This time it's one of my PC Engine Duo consoles. As the thread title suggests it had a close encounter with my cat many years ago where she managed to make the unit take a nasty fall. The Hucard slot still works fine but the CD player refuses to read disks. Could it be as simple as the reader being out of alignment or should I just replace the entire thing?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Need help with repairing a PC Engine GT]

And it's alive! Oh the repair certainly wasn't easy and it is pretty damn ugly in places so I doubt it will survive another repair. However that's not important, it's back from the grave! Thanks for the help you guys and I'll probably be back later with a pair of PC Engine Duos that needs servicing.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Need help with repairing a PC Engine GT]

It's great to hear that you have an expert on hand when you need it. I suppose he would know how to remove those blobs I mentioned earlier.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Need help with repairing a PC Engine GT]

Has anybody here done a recap using tantalum capacitors (instead of the oil-based ones) ?
Theoretically, they should have a better lifetime - and if/when they do fail, they wouldn't leak anything out causing other issues on the board...

I've been thinking along similar lines. Basically I was wondering why no one has come up with better capacitors, as they should have changed and evolved over the years just like every other type of tech. If these tantalum capacitors are better how come no seem to be using them? Or are they just that much more expensive?

Anyway, back to my GT, something that stands out on the circuit board are several areas covered with a grey or white blob of... something. I'm assuming it's there to protect delicate parts of the board but it's seriously hindering my soldering efforts in places. Any suggestions what it is and how I can remove it?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Need help with repairing a PC Engine GT]

So I've started replacing some caps and the machine works again (yeah!). However I immediately discovered that the sound is gone as well (booh!). This unit truly need a full recap. I have ordered new soldering stuff, particularly a better soldering iron so I should be able to save this unit.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Need help with repairing a PC Engine GT]

It is as I feared then. I have some basic soldering skills but this might be beyond my expertise. Everything is so tiny! Also, the caps I have are way bigger, anyone know if it's possible to get a similar type to the ones used in the machine?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Need help with repairing a PC Engine GT]

I recently went through my entire collection of consoles and computers to see what worked or not. Unfortunately my PC Engine GT is one of the casualties of time. As I understand it, the problem is not uncommon. The machine powers up but only shows a black screen with the backlight on. No amount of jiggling with the Hucard gets a response. I've taken apart the system and found at least two capacitors that seem iffy. While these probably need replacement, and indeed the rest as well, are they the direct culprit for the problem I'm experiencing?

Here's a link to some pictures of the two caps that I'm talking about.



https://imgur.com/a/6OJ3ZZi

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Have my cat wrecked a PC Engine Duo?]

I've tried to pick it apart and look for any internal cracked solder points but I couldn't find any. I've also tried turning what I believe regulates the voltage to the unit but that doesn't do anything. I do get another message now, after I put in a CD and press the run button it states that I should wait a moment and after a moment has passed the unit complains that I haven't but in any CD. So it looks like I'm in the market for a PC-Engine Duo CD-Unit. Anyone know where I might get one?

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Have my cat wrecked a PC Engine Duo?]

No that's without a doubt not the problem. The switch that detects whether or not the CD door is closed works just fine. In fact, that was the first thing I checked.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Have my cat wrecked a PC Engine Duo?]

Gotta remember to check in here sometimes...

While the thought has occured to me, I still don't think that is the problem. The actual CD unit doesn't have much in the way of soldering points (at least visible to me that is) and as I've already stated, everything works, just not together as it supposed to.

How do I know this? Well I found a small button on the side of the unit and it seems to activate some preset program for the CD-unit to follow. First it moves the lasersled to the outmost position it can reach and then the laser moves up and down in its place a couple of times. Finally the disc spins upp like crazy and after a while the machine states that I need to put in a PC-Engine CD-Rom2.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Have my cat wrecked a PC Engine Duo?]

Is there truly not even one person here that has the slightest clue as to what might have happened to my PC Engine? I would really like some help with this.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Have my cat wrecked a PC Engine Duo?]

I am posting this in the right section now so please, if you've read it already, don't regard it as spam.

My recently purchased PC Engine Duo R just doesn't work as it's supposed to anymore. It all started with me picking it apart to clean it. Since I collect videogameunits this is fairly standard for me and I have probably done this 60 or more times. This time was slightly different though. My crazy ass cat just had to run past my workingplace one time too many and the CD-unit had a close encounter with the floor.

I shrugged and picked it up but now that I've reassembled the unit, the CD wont work. More specifically it doesn't spinn CDs when I activate it. I have checked every part that I can and everything does work, the sled, the laser, the motor that spins the disc, everything works, just not together as they are supposed to. The question is then, have my cat wrecked the entire unit or is it just something simple like the laser being knocked out of alignment? I would really like an answer to this.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Have my cat wrecked a DuoR?]

In my haste to get some help I apparently posted this in the wrong section. Sorry about that.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Have my cat wrecked a DuoR?]

My recently purchased PC Engine Duo R just doesn't work as it's supposed to anymore. It all started with me picking it apart to clean it. Since I collect videogameunits this is fairly standard for me and I have probably done this 60 or more times. This time was slightly different though. My crazy ass cat just had to run past my workingplace one time too many and the CD-unit had a close encounter with the floor.

I shrugged and picked it up but now that I've reassembled the unit, the CD wont work. More specifically it doesn't spinn CDs when I activate it. I have checked every part that I can and everything does work, the sled, the laser, the motor that spins the disc, everything works, just not together as they are supposed to. The question is then, have my cat wrecked the entire unit or is it just something simple like the laser being knocked out of alignment? I would really like an answer to this.