PCEngineFans.com - The PC Engine and TurboGrafx-16 Community Forum
NEC TG-16/TE/TurboDuo => TG/PCE Repair/Mod Discussion => Topic started by: IrishNinja on July 17, 2013, 08:45:13 PM
-
howdy all! glad to finally get to join you guys =;
right, so - i recently bought a PCE Duo R off a popular ebay seller who mods them for RGB & replaces the lens, was quite happy with my purchase but i had to wait on a PS1 AC adapter (couldn't find my genny model 2), just got everything sorted & plugged it into my XRGB mini only to get
Please set disc!
..regardless of trying legit discs, burns or music CD's. obviously, I was pretty let down but i wanna make this work without having to send it back to japan, as it looks like a great unit otherwise. i emailed the seller to verify the power unit was right, and he replied with:
"Please try to adjust VR102(#1)."
http://homepage3.nifty.com/moremaco/slv.htm
which is a bit more invasive than i usually get, so i'm having a buddy who's more comfortable with this stuff help out tomorrow, hopefully. is anyone else familiar with this error/fix? i searched and found only one unanswered thread, was curious if either 1) there might be a less invasive answer or more likely 2) someone could provide something a bit more specific regarding those steps, as I'd hate to have it opened & get it wrong. Much love in advance for any help offered!
-
I assume we are talking about doujindance, or however you spell that. Man, that bites if so. Someone here should be able to get it going, as adjusting the pots isn't that difficult... I guess its entirely possible it could have shifted during shipping though. Is it even trying to spin up when you press RUN?
-
haha yeah you got it...good guy, and i like his work, just bummed at the moment!
it sound like it, yeah. it takes more than a few seconds and distinctly sounds like a disc is being spun, but comes back with that error. i suppose once i get the case off i can verify that, stupid question but do i need any specialty tools or will standard flat/phillips head screwdrivers do, you think? reassuring to hear that adjusting ports (that seems to be what his linked guide is about) isn't a big deal, though.
-
To adjust the pots, you are gonna need a small flat head. Before doing it though, I would get with one of the guys here. Keith Courage comes to mind, as well as thesteve.
-
.... was quite happy with my purchase but i had to wait on a PS1 AC adapter (couldn't find my genny model 2)
You're using a PS1 power supply with your Duo? What does it output? A quick googlering says it's 7.5V and the Duo-R wants 9V.
-
.... was quite happy with my purchase but i had to wait on a PS1 AC adapter (couldn't find my genny model 2)
You're using a PS1 power supply with your Duo? What does it output? A quick googlering says it's 7.5V and the Duo-R wants 9V.
yeah, seller said this when i bought it:
If you have to spare, I recommend to use PSone AC adapter(DC7.5 2.0A).
and these are the specs for the adapter:
Original Sony OEM Power Adapter
Model # SCPH-113 (also 121?)
Input AC 120V
Output DC 7.5V, 3.0A
you guys think that might be the issue? retrogamecave's duo R AC does indeed put out 9v, perhaps i was misinformed?
maybe i should PM Keith Courage/thesteve...
-
I would def double check with Kieth and theSteve. But I am almost sure that in a discussion I had with theSteve where someone was in need of an extra adapter to test something he said never to use adapters with 7.5v. Don't hold me to that though.
-
crap...are there any other common adapters that put out 9v that i could test? might just order the retro game cave one tonight but it's gonna take a while to get here either way.
-
if you don't want to wait then go pick up an AC adapter from Radio Shack. if it works then you can decide either keep it or return it since you have the receipt and then buy a cheaper one.
-
just go to radio shack & pick up a 9v AC, that should do it? might do that this weekend then, but since it looks like Vigilante & a few other hu-cards just showed: if they load & play just fine but CD's don't, should i assume it's not the power unit?
-
just to confirm: Blazing Lazers works fine; unless the voltage can specifically keep CD's from loading, i'm not sure it's just the AC
-
System needs 9v. You are putting unnecessary wear and tear on the moving parts by not supplying enough juice to it..it's trying to work, but can't with the sub-standard psu. I would HIGHLY advise not using it at ALL anymore until you get a proper psu. Also, for the record, I am going to assume that you shelled out at least a couple hundred for a modded system from DJ. That's not something you want to play guessing games with. Too little or too much input *will* damage your unit, there is no 'maybe' grey area here.
-
ah, i was misinformed then - thank you for your reply, whisper. i will not again use it until either ordering the retro game cave adapter or buying a generic 9v from local radio shack. hopefully this alleviates the inability to play CD games?
also: would this one work? http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=13384949&kw=9v%20ac%20adapter&origkw=9+volt+AC+adapter&sr=1
-
The other thing I am confused about...
My Duo-R, after taking a quick look at the oem psu, outputs 9v/1a. Are you looking for 2+ amps due to the internal rgb mod needing it due to a higher power draw? I have to admit that here I am a bit out of my element as I am not entirely sure what the amperage demands are from the installed rgb amps that these mods have. I just want to make sure that you do in fact need the higher amperage before you go frying your sexy system though...2 or 3 amps is a huge diff over 1, and as I said, the oem ac adapter only outputs 1.
Edit: In regards to your question concerning which to get, I cannot answer if you are in fact needing one that requires a higher power draw, but if you would be good with a stock ac adapter, you would need one that outputs 9 volts and 1000 mA/1A
-
well, no - i was asking because again my PS1 AC puts out 7.5, didn't even think about a possible RGB draw because the seller insisted this would suffice; can anyone link to a proper one from radio shack so i can check if its available nearby? if not ill just get the retro game cave one (http://www.retrogamecave.com/nec-ac_adapter.html) and wait it out i guess...id really just rather know sooner than later if i need to open this up & mess with it to get CD's working!
-
so, a guy on GAF is saying the mega drive 2 AC is the exact same voltage as the stock Duo-R:
INPUT: 100-240V AC
50/60Hz
OUTPUT: 9V DC 1A (1000mA)
really just debating this vs the retro game cave one for shipping waiting times at this point, i guess. ill post back if and when this doesn't resolve the CD loading problem though!
-
I'd be careful using different power supplies. I am not too sure which ones are compatible. If you waited for it to come from Japan, I would think you could wait a few more days for a power supply from Chuck over at retro game cave. He ships fast, and the power supply will be made for your unit.
-
fair point - just ordered from RGC! just wondering if the voltage discrepancy really stands to resolve this issue, hopefully it does but again ill post back if it doesn't just to see who else here has adjusted the post shown in that guide & has pointers.
-
Fix the voltage and see. That is a problem in and of itself at this point. As Bernie said, mixing and matching psu's is never a good idea, ESPECIALLY if they don't match up current.
-
I'm using a Radio Shack 273-318, Enercell 6~12V 2.5A AC Adapter. I run mine at 9V. Higher Amps is okay, just means extra juice when you need it. Higher VOLTS will cause problems. Set the switch right.
Take the console with you to get the correct tip, and double-check the polarity to get it right (I used a meter to check mine)
Total cost was less than $30. They have a cheaper 1.4A one, but I splurged for the extra amperage.
And yes, I've tried to run the cd off of a lower voltage / lower amp supply. Games are fine, but cd player takes that extra bit of power.
-
okay, an update to my doujindace RGB/region modded Duo-R woes:
1) a while back, we discovered it wouldn't read discs unless on a flat surface - anything slightly off and it gives the "please set disc" error or just keeps checking. even with this, it can be temperamental on running them.
2) a few weeks ago i noticed effects (seen as soon as the system starts up) where the screen seems to jump a little bit, randomly too. i moved the cable about & sometimes it goes away but again, seems random. i'd ordered another RGB cable from retro_console_accessories but that one doesn't seem to work at all, in the process of exchanging it.
3) just tonight, when playing Rondo, i had audio going on during levels - just music, not sound effects (particularly a bummer for this masterpiece).
really thinking i should reach out to Keither Courage & get this thing looked at, just wanted to see if anyone else'd had similar issues...i know # 3 isn't uncommon, has anyone run into the first one though? f*ck, i love this thing but i still feel like doujin sent me a lemon.
-
okay, an update to my doujindace RGB/region modded Duo-R woes:
1) a while back, we discovered it wouldn't read discs unless on a flat surface - anything slightly off and it gives the "please set disc" error or just keeps checking. even with this, it can be temperamental on running them.
2) a few weeks ago i noticed effects (seen as soon as the system starts up) where the screen seems to jump a little bit, randomly too. i moved the cable about & sometimes it goes away but again, seems random. i'd ordered another RGB cable from retro_console_accessories but that one doesn't seem to work at all, in the process of exchanging it.
3) just tonight, when playing Rondo, i had audio going on during levels - just music, not sound effects (particularly a bummer for this masterpiece).
really thinking i should reach out to Keither Courage & get this thing looked at, just wanted to see if anyone else'd had similar issues...i know # 3 isn't uncommon, has anyone run into the first one though? f*ck, i love this thing but i still feel like doujin sent me a lemon.
Doujin is a nice guy, but he just doesn't do a really good job. The Duo-R I bought from him had a shit s-video job and the rgb picture is a little off. I've learned to ignore it. Meh. Also, not to mention he had it set in the wrong format when it arrived and the picture was in black and white, so I had to buy a special screwdriver to open it up and flip a switch inside. Double meh.
Probably should try to adjust the picture, but I feel like I'll break something.
-
yeah, ive been feeling that way for a bit now - others seem to have better experiences with their unit from what ive read. really wish i'dve pushed to swap it out when the problems first arose, he was helpful with sending tools & such but it's just not yet a reliable unit.
i believe he said the capacitors were changed out (a modder buddy i think verified this a while back?) but the issue of music dropping, is that often related to them or something else?
-
yeah, ive been feeling that way for a bit now - others seem to have better experiences with their unit from what ive read. really wish i'dve pushed to swap it out when the problems first arose, he was helpful with sending tools & such but it's just not yet a reliable unit.
i believe he said the capacitors were changed out (a modder buddy i think verified this a while back?) but the issue of music dropping, is that often related to them or something else?
First and foremost, I may state that I, Hail, am not one to ask such things. However, from what I've heard, yes, that is an issue associated from (a) bad capacitor(s).
Should totes holler at one of the techs. i.e. Keith. Should.
I myself am thinking of possibly having my baby re-modded to my certain specifications.
-
I have yet to see a DUO-R with bad capacitors. Not saying there aren't any but if there are they are few and far between.
Still sounds like read issues to me. I bet the CD lens just needs some very minor adjustments to be made.