Hello, I've snooped around this forum for a great many years but after my beloved Saturn started acting up over the past few days I thought it may be about time to ask for some help here. I have a MK2 EU Saturn of which I got a region switch and 50/60hz switch put in back in 1998. 60hz switch http://img405.imageshack.us/i/dsc01116k.jpg Region switch http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/5639/dsc01111of.jpg Region Settings http://img638.imageshack.us/i/dsc01112bg.jpg Recently a number of errors have began to plague it leaving it almost unplayable. The picture sometimes mildly wobbles and contorts when the console is plugged in, especially when its trying to load disks. The console often crashes when trying to load disks, the console sometimes also crashes at the sega saturn logo at the start when there is no disk in the tray. But a problem I've come across when i went to check on the insides of it seems to be that the inside has been sealed by CEX when I got the conversion done a few years ago as one screw hole underneath the VOID marker seems to be some strange round topped screw. Troublemaker http://img269.imageshack.us/i/dsc01119bz.jpg Also when the console was in its prime the 50/60hz swich could be used at any point when playing and would switch on the fly, it now seems to crash the console if done while the console is turned on, and if it doesn't it takes some time for the picture to reset. Any tips on how to open this up, and past that, what my problems may be and how to fix them? Thanks for any help.
It's possible the PSU capacitors might be getting a bit tired. What I'd do first is take the disc out and just leave it running for roughly three hours straight. Reset (don't power off) the console, and see if there's any improvement. If there is then you'll be looking to do a blanket replacement of all electrolytic capacitors in the PSU. Not sure what type of screw it in there. If it looks like >>this<< then you'll need to purchase a 'gamebit' type screwdriver (usually 4.5mm type).
The screw has no thread on top at all merely a rounded metal top, I managed to open the Saturn and turn the casing around that screw by being a little heavy handed which scared the crap out of me... However your suggestion rings very true... I now remember its almost like my Saturn has to "warm up" if i had played it heavily one day, then the next it would be fine when the previous day it barely worked... And after a few hours of testing and randomly doing things left right and centre its suddenly working even in 60hz mode again now which i'm quite glad about as my copy of Keio Flying Squadron 2 arrived today... However I can tell all is not well, as loading new disk data (especially at the dashboard) makes the screen wobble slightly horizontally almost like an occiliscope or a CRT losing control in one of the axis (i'm on an LCD TV so its not that) I'm somewhat of a novice at electronic work, I've built a few pcs and fixed a few VCRs and done some light soldering in the past but i fear replacing capacitators may be beyond me, I am debating buying a backup saturn and either trying to mod it myself for 50/60hz and multiregiion or paying someone else to do it for me.
I reckon if you can do even basic soldering, then replacing capacitors should be easy enough. It's basically like replacing batteries, only the batteries are soldered in place. The capacitors themselves will have a polarity marking on them + / - along with temperature, microfarad (uF), and voltage rating. For example: 85C 2200uf 16v. Depending on the complexity of the PSU, there's usually several, along with a large one for the mains smoothing - best to safely discharge this by shorting the terminals with a screwdriver. You can get some good quality ones off eBay, I recommend Panasonic or Nichicon for PSU work, with a temperature rating of 105C. The voltage rating can be over, for instance if you replaced a 6.3v capacitor with a 16v one, it would be OK to do so (definitely not vice-versa for obvious reasons). Just make sure the microfarad (uF) rating is identical to the one you're replacing.
Wouldn't it be easier just to buy a cheap Saturn and swapping the PSU out. I did it once with my Saturn. Piece of cake.
In theory, but there are several kinds of PSU, and you don't know what's going to be in there. Easiest answer if you don't fancy the soldering would be to look for another pre-modded Saturn perhaps. That, or get someone to look at yours / mod another one for you.
Yes and there's always the risk that the replacement PSU might end up with the same problem. They're all over ten years old now, so repair is a better long-term solution.
Thankyou very very much everyone, methinks the route i will go is to buy a backup Saturn, (Any tips on where to buy pre-modded ones? as i know ebay are now a bit funny with modified consoles as i haven't seen a modified saturn on there in months) Then I'll either try and fix the psu or (a far better idea) have someone i know who's better at electronics than I am to fix it. While keeping one in reserve for the future. So the AV output problem is probably from the same source? The Av problem isn't too noticeable, but its there...
Its deffinately an electrical disturbance if the screen is bending and the cd drives gettin all screwy.
Once the console is started its fine, so its not the overheating issue you mention, but yeah electric seems to be my enemy here, saying that... having played it a rather absurd amount today its trying its best to convince me that its all better.. As far as where I live, Midlands in the UK... All the good import and modding shops I've known around the midlands in the past 10 years have slowly either began conforming to regular game shops or have disappeared... Thank god for the internet.
Raven Games sell and mod consoles, but they're not cheap. Or you could ask one of us on the forum to do it.
Consolepassion will mod one for you again for a fee. I think it's about £50 for region and speed to be done.
Haha thankyou for the offers, I'll be waiting a little bit as I'm moving about alot, but next time i visit my mates down in london I may have to check in and get a 2nd saturn modded. I think I may have even gone into this shop as it sounds familiar? It near london euston?
I was certainly wrong there... But yet again, thankyou all very much for you help. At the least i'll end up with another modded saturn, at the most i'll end up with one new one and my old one repaired and then happily have a backup.
