Mega CD switched off....?

[Danorak]

Hey guys.

I'm going to pick sombodies brains here. We've got a Sega Mega Drive I, and attached to that is the Mega CD. Now, the Mega CD has been working fine, no problem.

However, I went to play it today, it came on for about 3 seconds (the LED's lit up as they should) and then it just went off. I did wonder if it was the power supply, so tried the power supply on the Megadrive, and the MD powered up as it should.

I separated it from the MD, made sure the contacts were ok etc, put it all back together: nothing. Dead!

Is this a common issue with the Mega CD? To be honest, i'm not that fussed as I never play it, we bought it second hand and the Mega CD was attached to it.

Is it an easy fix or is it just dead? The manual say's not to swap the power adaptors over MD>MCD and vice versa, but it didn't seem to matter eitherway before.

The only annoying thing really is that it broke with the Sega Classics CD in there, and I don't want to break it up to get the CD out!

Any pointers welcomed...
Dan

[Team Andromeda]

Don't panic, It happens a lot (yes its a common problem) . Keep trying (and keep separating the Mega Drive and Mega CD) and it soon power back up

[Danorak]

Cheers for the info. I'll give it a go during the week (it's all packed up) and come back if it doesn't work!

Dan

[Danorak]

I couldn't resist giving it a go, so I set it all up and tried. I disconnected and reconnected it a couple dozen times but still no life.

Is it normal to do it loads of times before it comes back to life or is this pointing to something more serious?

[dosucol]

One last thing,it could be the mcd's internal fuse .Which is a well known fault that is easily fixed .You get the coloured lights on the front flash ,then nothing else.

I bought a knackered mcd with the same fault,cost me next to nothing and 99p to fix it .If it is the internal fuse ,you will need a 1.5 amp pico/micro fuse ,fast blow.

[Team Andromeda]

Is it normal to do it loads of times before it comes back to life or is this pointing to something more serious?

No its quite normal and happens a lot after long periods of non use . Like what been said you might need to change the Fuse as well (very easy and I had to a similar job with my PS2)

[Danorak]

I think that sounds more plausible. Are there any good guides online for this process? and any pointers as to where I can get this fuse from?

[rewindbits]

I think that sounds more plausible. Are there any good guides online for this process? and any pointers as to where I can get this fuse from?

For testing purposes in a pinch (only!) you can short across the fuse, and see if the mega cd powers up. You can do this by just twisting it. But seriously don't play it like that. Even though my test mega CD has been like that for a couple years and is still fine, I wouldn't recommend it. I'm sure someone will rightly point out that the fuse is there for a reason, and shorting it may damage the console if the problem is "up stream", so it's your choice whether to try it.

The thing about fuses - any fuse will do if the spec is right and you can make it fit. As mentioned by dosucol above, if he's correct, 1.5A fast blow. I cant remember, is S the code for fast blow? I know T is the code for "time delay" aka slow blow.
Maplin is the best bet, probably not cheapest but definitely easiest.

[Danorak]

Thanks for the info guys. I've been trawling the Maplin website for ages now, but there is alot of technical info on several products on there, and to be honest, it's gone over my head a bit. Here is a link to my search results:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/search?criteria=1.5a+fast+blow (I selected 'Components' from the little results box).

Do any of these look like the thing I may need? Or could somebody find me the right one (sounds cheeky to ask, but i'm not sure whats right and what isn't!).

TIA,
Dan

[dosucol]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2x-Micro-Pico-Fuse-Quick-Fast-Blow-1-5A-Axial-1-5-/110533568792?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item19bc506918

The fuse is there to prevent higher voltages/curents from damaging components which can't handle the higher rated volts etc .So it blows,instead of the hardware.

It's also going to help from a health and safety aspect,as if more volts /current is let through than the hardware can handle ,it might not just damage the machine,but a fire could be the outcome.

So stick to the proper fuse and be safe!

[Danorak]

Thankyou very much for that, much appreciated. The route I was going looking for the fuse i'd never have found it

I've ordered a pair of those so hopefully they'll be here for the weekend and I can have a go at repairing it. I'll let you know how I get on...

[dosucol]

I might have a safe method for attaching the new fuse,without having to solder anything.If it works,i'll send it to you and all you will have to do is snip off the old fuse (the coloured fuse part)and leave the wires that are soldered to the mega cd's pcb .This new fuse and these terminals i'll use, just have to be slid over the old fuse's wires.

I'll video the method, and you can have it for nothing,no p&p ,completely free.That's if it works .

[dosucol]

[ninjabearhug]

That's a pretty novel method of replacing a fuse! I have two MCD1's that need sorting out ATM but I just can't be bothered. They do seem to blow fuses for no reason whatsoever those things too, especially if you leave them plugged in but not powered on, very strange...

[Danorak]

I might have a safe method for attaching the new fuse,without having to solder anything.If it works,i'll send it to you and all you will have to do is snip off the old fuse (the coloured fuse part)and leave the wires that are soldered to the mega cd's pcb .This new fuse and these terminals i'll use, just have to be slid over the old fuse's wires.

I'll video the method, and you can have it for nothing,no p&p ,completely free.That's if it works .

That would be awesome! Looks like a doddle on your video too. I'll give it the weekend because I've received the new fuse through the post. I'll let you know how I get on. If I fix it I guess I won't need your mod, but I may have to copy it....