Technical and Repair Assistance

[ericj]

Could you post some pics of the Power Supply / RF board?
You could have a cold solder joint, blown capacitor, voltage regulator, or something else.

[a121729243]

After I test the Famicom in the office with engineer staff today, the conclusion is, the power supply and those chips on the main board are probably fine. We can find the 5V voltage all around those chips. So the problem is maybe in either the soket or on the RF module.
Here are some pictures of this Famicom:


The back side of the RF/Power board, and no such a RF fuse found on it


The main board of this Famicom, everything on it looks fine and clean


The front view of the RF/Power board, fine and clean as well

According to the suggestions I find  from here, I just tested this console again.
There are two testing setups I've tried:
1. Famicom (RF output) ->TV directly using VHF input by original Nintendo RF switch set, and;
2. Famicom (RF output) -> Sony VCR machine using VHF input->TV by AV output/input.

By using another Famicom which is in good working condition, I can have game running perfectly on my TV (Sony KLV S32-A10 Flat Screen LCD) on channel 13, (works fine in both 2 setups).
But the "problem Famicom", I find it can barely show the very "fuzzy" game image on channel 95 & 96, depending on which selection I pick on the CH1/CH2 switch. And the game music is not very good but accetpable ....

Below is the game image I have on channel 95 / 96:




Any suggestions?

[133MHz]

That looks like a cartridge slot or logic problem. Try cleaning the cartridge slot thoroughly, and check out its solder points on the bottom.

[a121729243]

Thank you for your quick reply again!!
Now my question is, why this "fuzzy" image not showing up on channel 13?

[Ken Tama]

I have a question.  Hopefully it hasnt been posted,  I did a search and didnt find too much.  I live in the USA so I know our power requirements are slightly different from Japan.   Since Japan is a little different  will plugging my Famicom and Famicom Disk System into my power supply fry anything?  I would guess it wouldnt, or it would take a really long time to do anything.  Has anyone in the United States had a problem with the voltage frying anything, and if so what did it do to your Famicom or Disk System?  Im just a little paranoid and dont know if I need to by a Voltage Converter.  Any help would be appreciated.

[UglyJoe]

I live in the USA so I know our power requirements are slightly different from Japan.   Since Japan is a little different  will plugging my Famicom and Famicom Disk System into my power supply fry anything?

As long as you use the Famciom's AC Adapter (or compatible -- ask before you try it!), you'll be fine.  Step-down converters certainly won't do any harm, but you should be ok without one.

[Lorfarius]

I have a question.  Hopefully it hasnt been posted,  I did a search and didnt find too much.  I live in the USA so I know our power requirements are slightly different from Japan.   Since Japan is a little different  will plugging my Famicom and Famicom Disk System into my power supply fry anything?  I would guess it wouldnt, or it would take a really long time to do anything.  Has anyone in the United States had a problem with the voltage frying anything, and if so what did it do to your Famicom or Disk System?  Im just a little paranoid and dont know if I need to by a Voltage Converter.  Any help would be appreciated.

I have a US power convertor (I live in the UK) and it works just fine with the Japanese famicom.

[Ken Tama]

With my Famicom I use the official Japanese adapter.  With the Disk system (which I havent received from ebay)  I bought one of these. 

http://cgi.ebay.com/110V-220V-AC-FOR-FAMICOM-DISK-MEGA-DRIVE-PC-ENGINE_W0QQitemZ230302658409QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVideo_Games_Accessories?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

Do you think i should try it with that adapter, or just stick with the batteries?  Ohh that also brings up another question.  How many hours do the batteries usually last in a disk system?

[Lorfarius]

You should be fine with that.

[levon2807]

Hi all!

Sorry to make my first post a tech question but I think I've fried my Famicom 

Basically I traded some games for a Famicom which came with everything but an AC adaptor.

I opened up the box and pulled everything out and the RF switches all looked strange and complex. Having a few retro consoles I thought I'd try one of the others cables (as they all usually interchange nicely)...so firstly, I hooked it up with a Master System RF cable and a Genesis ac adaptor...what I got with this was a black screen every so often when tuning the TV in which would change to white when I switched the machine off...success?

Now, what I should have done was taken out the master system RF and put in the N64 or Gamecube one but I stupidly put in a NES AC adaptor thinking it might be a power issue....

Now I don't get a black screen anywhere...at all....

Fried? What can I do?

[manuel]

Never use an NES AC adaptor with your Famicom.

Quote taken from
http://www.famicomworld.com/Workshop/Famicom_AC_Adaptor.htm

I don't mean to be rude, but this question has already been asked -and answered!- (probably several times) on this forum, as well as over the internet. Using the search function really proves to be useful from time to time.

Apart from that, welcome to the boards.
I hope you stay longer?

[levon2807]

I don't want to be rude but that hasn't helpped whatsoever. If you read my post you'll see I realised I shouldn't have used an NES adaptor...what I was asking about was whether the famicom was a lost cause or not, if it could be fixed and what to do next?

Your answer was like going to the doctor with a broken leg from a skateboarding accident and the doctor saying "You shouldn't skateboard and have accidents"

[wolf9545]

If you have some basic understanding on how to use a multimeter you can test the voltage regulator and the fuse (if it has one).  You might be lucky like I was and have just a blown fuse.  If you go back a few pages on this post you will see my posts about the fuse.

[Lorfarius]

Yep multimeter is the way forward

[levon2807]

Ok, cool, thanks guys!  I have a volt meter for my arcade cab so I'll use it when I get home...