I just bought an N64 off Ebay, and in the process of testing it, I've managed to fry 2 power supplies. Does anybody have any experience in debugging/repairing them? Or maybe, does anybody know of a common point of failure? I see a fuse, but it seems to be intact. I haven't managed to get it completely apart, because it's held together with double-sided foam tape, and I've been a bit nervous to touch anything, considering the size of those electrolytic caps >_<
Anyway, if it helps, here's what I did, in order:
I started with 2 working N64's, 2 working power cables, and 1 unknown N64
I plugged a working power cable into the unknown N64, no power light, no video output
I plugged the same cable into one of the working N64's, no power light, no video output, cable #1 is dead
Second working cable + second working console powers on fine
Second working cable + first working console powers on fine, first working console didn't get fried
Second working cable + unknown console, no power light, no video output
Second (previously) working cable + 1st working console, no power light, no video output
Second (previously) working cable + 2nd working console, no power light, no video output, cable #2 is dead
I have electronics experience, and I have pretty good tools, I'm just nervous with the high-voltage regions of the board and the big caps, so if anybody has any advice for where to start, that would be really helpful.
Dead N64 PSUs
Moderator:Moderators
-
- Posts:122
- Joined:Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:54 am
- 360 GamerTag:qwertymodo
- Steam ID:qwertymodo
- marshallh
- Moderator
- Posts:2986
- Joined:Sat Sep 10, 2005 2:17 pm
- 360 GamerTag:marshallh
- Location:here and there
- Contact:
Re: Dead N64 PSUs
The PSUs will soft reset themselves in short order usually.
I.e. I plugged in a proto cart with a dead short across 3v3/GND. The n64 LED came on for a fraction of a second. Repeated attempts failed.
I unplugged the adapter and removed the cart causing the short.
Waited 5mins and plugged the brick back in. Worked fine.
I have reset using this method at least 10 times so far.
I.e. I plugged in a proto cart with a dead short across 3v3/GND. The n64 LED came on for a fraction of a second. Repeated attempts failed.
I unplugged the adapter and removed the cart causing the short.
Waited 5mins and plugged the brick back in. Worked fine.
I have reset using this method at least 10 times so far.
-
- Posts:122
- Joined:Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:54 am
- 360 GamerTag:qwertymodo
- Steam ID:qwertymodo
Re: Dead N64 PSUs
Awesome, one of them came back to life. The other one still won't power on, but I had it plugged in this whole time, so I'll unplug it for awhile and check it again. Huge relief, thanks