Wondermega Model One, Games Freezing...

I'm getting a bit concerned about my wondermga (Victor, Model 1).

A few times while playing Phantasy Star II, Ps IV (both Md JP versions), and Monster World IV after a few hrs the game froze, and now sometimes (only sometimes) it doesn't detect a cartridge, tuning the console off and then back on seems to work and the game does "load up". (I felt the console and it did feel very hot to the touch so maybe an over-heating issue?)

I am concerned that something inside might need replacing (capacitors or something? Any one here that has a Wondermega model 1 ever encounter these issues?

 

Start with cartridge slot cleaning, then check for cold solder joints, then 7805 and its radiator, and finally check the caps.

 

open it up and see whats getting hot

 

I'm wary of opening up the case and such, I am not knowledgeable in electronics and such and I don't want to accidentally damage anything from opening it up and taking things apart.
I'm not as brave as this guy


I think it might be poor ventilation, since i have the console sitting on a thick carpet. It's the megadrive portion of the console to the the area above the power buttons and right above the cartridge slot that gets kinda hot after about an hour or two. Looking at the air vents on the bottom of the console there seems to be some kind of metal casing in that section of the console.

 

Do you have the original ac adapter? Please don't tell me you are using a Sega Gen/MD2 MK-2103 power supply instead .

 

the ac adapter says "Victor AC Adapter Model AA-S95"

 

Great! yes that's the original one. I'd say clean the cartridge connector. You'll be surprised of the things that can get stuck/trapped in there (specially hair and lint).

I have the Sega Wondermega system counterpart. I've taken it apart once, it can definitely be a little tedious.

 

yeah, it looks clean. it's just the area above the two buttons and the area bellow the "wonder mega" label are getting a tad hot after the console being powered on for a couple hours.

I am very wary of opening up my Wondermega too see if the capacitors are ok or have puffed tops, or to see what's near the cartridge pin rack that's generating all the heat, maybe it's the chips on the board radiating all the heat into the metal rf shield or heated air building up due bad air flow from the console sitting on top of the carpeted floor...

 

no one has any idea why those two spots (which seem to match up with those large chips on the board) seems to put out *a lot* of heat. Would letting the console be powered on for 4 hrs or more cause such a heat up? weak capacitors? over-clocked chips?

 

Just looking at Luke's video, it looks like there are 4 heatsinks on that side of the board (just like a typical layout for a Genesis Model 1, Model 2, and heck - Super Nintendo). So that probably means there are 4 voltage regulators. A linear regulator by nature is not very efficient and the wasted power is given off as heat. Naturally, you have what appears to be (if only seeing it for a split second in a video) *4* of them right next to each other. So it isn't surprising at all that you have a lot of heat over there.

I have an X'Eye around here somewhere, but that and the second Wondermega most likely addressed this as part of their redesign. I wouldn't be surprised if one of those regulators is exclusively used by the power door left/shut motor on the Model 1. Eliminating that feature would cut down on power needs.

I don't have any data on the Wondermega - It is rare and highly sought after, and isn't typically a "let's tear this down and work on it!" system. Luke's video shows that there are a lot of parts to it, so you probably don't want to dive into on your own unless you are confident you could put it back together.

It is completely possible that the high heat output in that system and that the capacitors (already quite old) have aged rapidly, but it could also be that the beastie just runs hot and that is that. If you want to check the caps, you are going to have to open it up. Are there vents all along the left side of it? (I sure hope so) Do they appear to be free of debris? The thing is only passively cooled, but blockage can certainly play a big part in it overheating.

TL;DR - Clean the cart connector on your games & system, check the ventilation, and provided that you are feeling adventurous, pop it open to make sure it is clean inside & check the caps while you are in there.

 

Sorry for adding myself in this thread, but wht is this 44X CD driver with SNES-looking controller port please ?

 

See this thread (my post near the bottom) : http://assemblergames.com/l/threads/obscure-hardware-snes-clone-super-prosystem-16.59543/page-2

 

I'm seriously considering getting some kind of small, external cooling fan I could set up to sit to the side of my Wondermega where it's vents are. I pray that the capacitors aren't wearing out. I have no experience in electronics and I am not sure whom I'd send it to for repair ( well maybe Lukemorse1, if I can get in contact with him)

Can anyone recommend me a good, *Very small*, low-cost cooling fan? >_>

 

Perhaps you can get away with a small 5V fan, but you do realize around the areas you think is getting hot there is a line of four heatsinks right? So its going to get hot there regardless.

 

yes. I know.
but it's concerning when I'm playing Monster World IV or Phantasy Star II for a few hours and then randomly the game freezes. It very very rarely happens. I've moved the console to were there's better air flow for the vent to let out heat, so it hasn't happened again, so far.

I checked the contacts on my carts and in the cart slot, and they look clean. I pray that the capacitors inside are "ok"...

 

Thank you