Is my 3DO dead?

I just played on my 3DO for about 15 mins and it went off.

Changed the fuse in the plug but it still won't work.

I've taken the 3.15 amp glass fuse out of the console and it looks ok - I can see a thin metal wire inside. Does this mean it hasn't blown and that something far worse has happened deep inside my 3DO?

I will get a new fuse tomorrow but until then can anyone help?

I'm gutted as I've only owned it a week and its in beautiful condition:crying:

Suggestions would be very much appreciated.

 

Bad caps, capacitors? Sorry but anything beyond changing a fuse has me confused.

 

If the wire is cutted, then yes it has blown. Otherwise the problem is somewhere else. Maybe the power supply unit.

 

No, burned or exploded bits and no smell of burning either. The fuse wire is unbroken.

If it is the power supply - I guess I'll have to get another 3DO cos its built into the console.

 

Is that bad?

Is it time to start typing "3DO console" into ebay? - again! I've only owned it 2 weeks and played for a total of 2 hours!

 

:nod:

I'll get shopping for another 3DO and keep this dead one for spares.

 

Replace the Power supply. There seperate boards and only a few wires plug into it. 30 min job.

 

Specifically what model 3DO is it? The original Panasonic FZ-1 is clunky but all the components are accessible. The FZ-10 fails less often, but requires more disassembly to diagnose properly. If you bought a Goldstar or a Sanyo, then shame on you.

 

which game did you had in, when it happened?

 

Goldstar ok, but what's wrong with the sanyo?

 

It's an FZ-1 so I could swap the power supply over but to do that I'd have to buy another console, which I'll do anyway now.

I was playing Foes of Ali - Clay verses Cooper in 10th round - I was winning on points too

The game is still stuck in the CD tray.

Just replaced fuses, but no luck. It's completely dead.

I do think it is the power supply - is this a common occurance? I've never had another console do this and especially after only 3 hrs non-continuous play!

 

So, whatever happened with this? My 3DO has recently gone dead too. I'd rather not have to buy another unit. I've already opened it up. The fuse that I saw was fine, no exploded or melted bits, though I didn't remove the metal shield over the CD tray or any other components. Help?

Oh, my mine is the Panasonic FZ-1 too.

 

Justbecause something looks okay doesnt mean it is.Get a volt meter and checkthe caps and everything

 

Already checked the fuse with that. Didn't know I should also check the caps.

Somehow, it was accidentally left on for several days...

 

Blown capacitors are sometimes very subtle. Look at the metal top of the capacitor, it will have a pattern of creases on it (for example, a + pattern or K pattern). If the top is domed/not perfectly flat, it's bad.

It's also possible to have bad capacitors that look perfectly normal.

 

From my personal experience (I've owned all models) Goldstar and Sanyo are prone to CD-Rom drive failures due to a stupid design flaw: The CD-ROM decoder board is connected to the drive board through a flat cable and that cable bends every time you eject the drive.

Both Sanyo and Goldstar 3DO units use the Sanyo drive.
The Panasonic units are much, MUCH better.

Now back to the OP problem. All old 3DO units with CD-Tray (Exeption being the Sanyo) use linear power supply with a buck stepdown voltage regulator on the 2nd stage of the supply. If the system isn't powering up anymore there's a good chance that the power transformer has burnt down.

Also another things to check are the power cord and the mechanical power switch which may also have failed.