N64 intermittent (very strange) power issue

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Sardine said:
have you tried just unplugging and plugging back in ?? do you HAVE to remove and re-fit the fuse ??

If its the latter cut of the plug and fit a new one ?
Click to expand...

I've tried unplugging without remove/fit fuse and it does not work.

I have not tried replacing the plug but i don't see how the plug would have anything to do with it ? Correct me if i'm wrong though.
 
^^ beacuse you have to remove the fuse.

this should have NO bearing on the issue if you have replaced the fuse.

all you are doing taking the fuse out is causing an open circuit from the LIVE pin to the fuse terminal a distance of 2 inches. if unplugging and plugging back in after a while does NOT work but fiddling with the fuse DOES then replace the plug to remove any probability the actual plug/fuse holder is at issue.

<< electrician. remove any doubt.

---------- Post added at 10:30 ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 ----------

and cheapest option like 99p or whatever (B&Q)
 
can you take the power supply apart for inspection?


while its off of course.
 
If i don't remove the fuse it needs more time before i can plug it in, say 2 minutes and it dies after about 2 or 3 seconds.

If i remove the fuse it takes maybe 15 seconds and then i plug it in and it lasts 1min to 20 minutes.
 
Sardine said:
^^ beacuse you have to remove the fuse.

this should have NO bearing on the issue if you have replaced the fuse.

all you are doing taking the fuse out is causing an open circuit from the LIVE pin to the fuse terminal a distance of 2 inches. if unplugging and plugging back in after a while does NOT work but fiddling with the fuse DOES then replace the plug to remove any probability the actual plug/fuse holder is at issue.

<< electrician. remove any doubt.

---------- Post added at 10:30 ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 ----------

and cheapest option like 99p or whatever (B&Q)
Click to expand...



yes,first port of call.replace the plug:)
cheapest option and simplest first.


second thing i would do after that is open the power supply for inspection,check for dry joints bad caps continuity etc.
third thing after that ,check the n64 itself power switch regulators micro fractures etc.

work from the power supply first.
 
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:picard

because of the constant ?

EVERY time you remove the fuse 15 seconds it works when plugged back in 1-20 minutes

EVERY time you just unplug it you have to wait at least 2 minutes before it will work again ??

then its the PLUG, unless your timings are a bit more fluctual there is a constant and a cause can be replicated.

change the plug, it will cost you pennies and take about 10 minutes or less.

---------- Post added at 10:46 ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 ----------

even if its not the plug its still pennies and rules it out.
 
I've replaced the plug and the problem still persists

---------- Post added at 12:20 ---------- Previous post was at 12:02 ----------

It did it again... I started playing Golden Eye and after about 15 minutes the power went off.. I'm going to give it 2 minutes unplugged without removing the fuse and try again.

---------- Post added at 12:26 ---------- Previous post was at 12:20 ----------

Ok gave it 3 minutes off and unplugged.

Did NOT remove fuse.

Plugged in again after 3 minutes and it switched on and lasted two minutes before switching off.

---------- Post added at 12:30 ---------- Previous post was at 12:26 ----------

Now tried 15 seconds without fuse and it did not run.

Took fuse out again and left 30 seconds.

Put fuse back and plugged in and it lasted about 40 seconds and died again.

NOTE: When unplugged i keep the power switch on the console in the ON position. If i keep it on OFF and then switch on it seems to work even less frequently. Also pulling out the fuse and putting it back does seem to increase the chances that the N64 will power on and faster. I know it makes NO SENSE at all.

I will take the PSU apart and post a pic maybe it will help you guys tell me what to look for.
 
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now you have ruled out the plug and can stop looking at the fuse, the timings with the fuse and unplugging it where just coincidental.

now its sound like a dry joint hopefully on the PSU psb, now to check this.

you need a multimeter set to DC voltage.

check all the pins on the output on the psu after you unplug it for 5 minutes so its working again.


Power Supply @N64
Pin Name Direction Description
1 GRND Ground
2 Vcc 3.3V 2.7A
3 Vcc 3.3V 2.7A
4 GRND Ground
5 GRND Ground
6 Vcc 12V 0,8A

check they match.

1:- then use the n64
2:- when the power dies DO NOT UNPLUG IT, (in its case not open as in below photos)
3:- remove PSU from N64 and check voltages as fast as you can, if all voltages are OK reconnect the PSU to N64 and confirm it does NOT work,
4:- If the N64 works again then keep repeating until either one of the voltages is missing/low or the N64 does not work when PSU is working,

this will rule out N64 or PSU issue and point to which is the issue.

Hence, if

1:- all the voltages are correct but N64 does not work then its N64
2:- One of the voltages is not correct after N64 dies then its PSU
 
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---------- Post added at 12:40 ---------- Previous post was at 12:40 ----------

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---------- Post added at 12:52 ---------- Previous post was at 12:40 ----------

Problem is the prongs of my multimeter are too thick to fit in the tiny holes on the plug of the power lead.

---------- Post added at 12:55 ---------- Previous post was at 12:52 ----------
Sardine said:
now you have ruled out the plug and can stop looking at the fuse, the timings with the fuse and unplugging it where just coincidental.

now its sound like a dry joint hopefully on the PSU psb, now to check this.

you need a multimeter set to DC voltage.

check all the pins on the output on the psu after you unplug it for 5 minutes so its working again.


Power Supply @N64
Pin Name Direction Description
1 GRND Ground
2 Vcc 3.3V 2.7A
3 Vcc 3.3V 2.7A
4 GRND Ground
5 GRND Ground
6 Vcc 12V 0,8A

check they match.

1:- then use the n64
2:- when the power dies DO NOT UNPLUG IT, (in its case not open as in below photos)
3:- remove PSU from N64 and check voltages as fast as you can, if all voltages are OK reconnect the PSU to N64 and confirm it does NOT work,
4:- If the N64 works again then keep repeating until either one of the voltages is missing/low or the N64 does not work when PSU is working,

this will rule out N64 or PSU issue and point to which is the issue.

Hence, if

1:- all the voltages are correct but N64 does not work then its N64
2:- One of the voltages is not correct after N64 dies then its PSU
Click to expand...

Thanks, i tried but the prongs of the multimeter are too thick to fit in the socket to test. Damn nintendo and their non-standard crap.
 
use croc clips (normally come with a good meter) and some thin wire ?
 
Sardine said:
use croc clips (normally come with a good meter) and some thin wire ?
Click to expand...

Damn i'll have to wait till Monday as I don't have any croc clips.

Well I could tape some wire to the prongs. I'll have a go.

---------- Post added at 13:21 ---------- Previous post was at 13:01 ----------

Ok tested...

The one that is meant to be 12V is 10.98v and the 3.3v ones are reading 3.53v. That is when the PSU has been unplugged for a bit and then plugged in, console tested working, unplugged again and read the voltages.

When it died about 10 minutes later i checked and ALL voltages again and the result for all was 0v.

So its the PSU... But why would it work, die and need to be unplugged ?

---------- Post added at 13:28 ---------- Previous post was at 13:21 ----------

I noticed, again could be coincidence that the switch on the console needs to be on the ON position before plugging the PSU into the wall socket again or else it won't power up.

Once it powers up it can be switched off and on again whilst the PSU is still feeding it power.
 
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it might be overheating.
part of the power supply has failed,mains end as all the voltages go.(not the cable,its switchmode)


just get another power supply and forget this one.


still could be the n64 though.
 
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roy_bates said:
it might be overheating.
part of the power supply has failed,mains end as all the voltages go.(not the cable,its switchmode)


just get another power supply and forget this one.


still could be the n64 though.
Click to expand...

Can't it be repaired ?

---------- Post added at 13:48 ---------- Previous post was at 13:46 ----------

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-NEW...Games_Cables_and_Adaptors&hash=item35cd55c2da

This looks cheap and cheerful. Brand new third party 100-250v from China.

What do you think ?
 
I bought the brand new chinese one. I'm sure the technology in it and quality is better than a genuine used one which was built in the late 1990's and has been used for countless hours of gameplay.

Till it arrives from China and even for the sake of a project do you think there is anything i can do to fix my current power supply ? Maybe look for something or additional diagnosis?
 
if you dont know anything about electronics or have any test gear it would be a waist of time.

it might cost what you just paid for the new one in parts to fix the old one.
 
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If you're not completely confident and competent with electronics then PSU repair is not the place to be starting. The psu is the bit than can go the most horribly wrong and it shouldn't really be tinkered with by amateurs. Seriously just use a replacement:thumbsup:.
 
Well i ordered it. Funny thing is i ordered it and paid and now i'm using the N64 for the last 1 hour and it has been working fine without switching off.

Well i doubt the PSU fixed itself, unless maybe it was giving problems because it has been in storage. In any case the replacement was cheap enough.
 
dougal said:
Well i ordered it. Funny thing is i ordered it and paid and now i'm using the N64 for the last 1 hour and it has been working fine without switching off.

Well i doubt the PSU fixed itself, unless maybe it was giving problems because it has been in storage. In any case the replacement was cheap enough.
Click to expand...

tbh it's much better to have a replacement even if this fault went away as you never know when it'll be back and maybe it'll get worse and take the N64 with it. It'll be money well spent I'm sure:)
 
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