My Famicom is not very reliable

[slatteew]

Hello everyone,

I have just started collecting Famicom and NES games, mostly only games i like or games from companies i like. I got a Famicom with a composite out (not sure if it was a mod or one of the later ones released by Nintendo) off of Ebay along with a handful of games, starting with my favorite FC/NES developers, Technos Japan, and i have 12 games for it at the moment.

The reliability though, is severely lacking. I have cleaned my games with Q-tips and Isopropyl alcohol, as well as the connector pins on the console with isopropyl alcohol. After inserting a game, i usually get a blue screen. I turn it off and slightly move move the game forward and backward while turning it on and it sometimes makes a few games work. I do not think all the games themselves are busted. Another thing that might be a problem is the power supply. it is not the original power supply. Specs: Input 100-220V AC, 50-60hz. Output 9V DC 1000mAh. I have checked on the specs and the output voltage is a little lacking, but i checked another forum on that and (According to the OP), it should be ok to use. http://www.famicomworld.com/forum...

Anyone have any suggestions of where to trouble shoot? I am not too afraid of opening it up, as i already have to get the dust out of it, and i have dealt with electronics boards before. Thanks.

[fredJ]

From your description, I think you need to clean the games more. Don't be too gentle.

[number47]

Not only games - the cartridge slot gets also corroded.

[P]

Another thing that might be a problem is the power supply. it is not the original power supply. Specs: Input 100-220V AC, 50-60hz. Output 9V DC 1000mAh. I have checked on the specs and the output voltage is a little lacking

That AC-adapter is fine. One volt difference shouldn't matter: http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=6933.0.
Usually the old AC-adapters that come with the Famicom is bad nowadays.

Just cleaning with cotton swabs and isopropyl alcohol is usually not enough with old cartridges like this. You probably need to scrape off some of the oxidated stuff on the pins. I use a fiberglasspen. In the cartridge slot you might need a nail file or something.

[zmaster18]

Use a metal file in the cartridge slot. When you file it down and make it shiny, it will work 100% of the time. Can't recommend it enough! 

[P]

As long as static electricity doesn't kill it...