Kategorie: Sega

Mods and Repair for Sega Consoles

  • FRAM Mod for Sega Saturn

    The internal BackupRam is battery powered via a changeable CR2032.

    With this mod the Backup will never get lost during battery failure.

    You have to replace IC 8 (here a PAL Board 837-12135 PX PD SATURN MAIN VA PAL SD)

    with a RAMTRON FM1808-70S and lift Pin 22 and Pin 28. Solder the wires to the lifted pins

    Pin 22 to GND
    Pin 28 to 5V

    and you are done 🙂

    fram_pal_RAMTRON FM1808-70S

    fram_pal_RAMTRON FM1808-70S zoom

  • Dreamcast battery replacement with socket

    Easy going remove the old soldered Battery and replace it with a socket and one ML2032 Battery

     

    dcbat (2)

    desoldering

    dc_bat2

    final

    dc_bat3

    some charging (only put the dreamcast on) and you are ready to go

     

  • Sega Nomad recap

    Caps of the Sega Nomad needed to be exchanged. We used ceramics instead

    look here before

    nomad_startup_1

    nomad_startup_2

    nomad_startup_3

    and after

    nomad_after_recap_1

     

  • Sega Master System 1 switchless mod

    Today I have to make a switchless mod for the good old Mastersystem in its original form.

    No problem for me, after changing sebs code for Mastersystems few months ago.

    After opening you have to go under the mainboard and cut 3 wires of the mainboard

    master_backsite_layout_cutting_web

    The parts site is holding the pic as usual

    I am using the same code I done for the mastersytem2

    master_1_parts_site_wiring_web

    You have to remove the original 5mm LED and replace it with a RGB-Led with common plus like this one.

    master_1_rgb_led_wiring_web

    The resistors of the LED: 220Ohm. You can use higher ones, if the light is to bright.

    Usage:

    You can change the Modes via pressing the reset Button of the Mastersystem
    If you press the reset button very short -> The Sega Console will do a reset

    If you press the reset button longer the Led toggles between red and green.

    If you let the button go at red the Mastersystem is set to 60Hz

    If you let the button go at green the Mastersystem is set to 50Hz

    Video:

  • Sega Mega Drive 1 switchles mod

    Today I got a PAL SMD1 Console. I tried sebs code as several times before to make a switchless mod.

    You have to cut 3 circuits and need a 3mm Duo-Led for displaying.

    smd1_switchless

  • Saturn switchless Mod VA0 PAL Mainboard

    today I done the switchless mod for a PAL Mainboard.
    Its the third different mainboard i looked at.

    Mainboard PC BD SATURN MAIN VA0 Pal

    sat_VA0_pal_1

    At the solder Side you will find some Jumper from JP 6 to JP 13

    cut the three circuits at Jumper JP7,JP10,JP12 for Language preparation

    sat_VA0_pal_3

    remove Jumper 2 (50Hz, 60Hz switching)

    Wire PIC like shown at the picture:

    sat_VA0_pal_2

    For make the Reset Button work, you have to cut this circuit on the parts site of the mainboard:

    sat_VA0_pal_4

    Remove the LED PCB. It holds a 5x2mm square LED.

    Replace it by a Duo LED and use some glue

    Left red wire, middle GROUND (take it from the mainboard), right green wire.

    sat_VA0_pal_5

    sat_VA0_pal_6

  • Sega Master System II switchless Mod

    Today I modded a Sega Master System II.

    You can change between 50/60Hz via the „Pause“ Button.

    The normal function of the pause is still working if you press it a very short time.

    For working with sebs switchless mod, I done some modification on the code.

    Here you can download the code:  switchless MasterSystem Code

    a) make use of common anode RGB-LEDs for brighter Leds

    b) reduce the code to two modes 50 and 60Hz.

    Here you can see the solder site of the SMS2 Unit. You have to cut the Pause Button Signal:

    sms_2

    for making 50 and 60 Hz switching work you have to cut Pin 57 of

    Sega IC 315-5246 (64 Pins):

    sms2_3

    Here you can see the wiring of the PIC16F630

    sms2_4

    For Displaying the LED I put it under the Pause Button.

    From the top its not so bright but it works:

    sms2_1

    english video

    german Video

  • Worldwide First Sega CD-X, REAL multi-mega switchless mod

    This mod has been a long time in my head and I am happy to make it become real now 🙂

    The Sega CD-X is a little great unit, you can take with you as a CD-Walkman and it includes a complete Sega Genesis and a Sega CD in one unit.

    After done the previous modding of Genesis 2 in combination with Sega CD 2 and 32X I done the same for this little beauty.

    We can offer you the complete modding, at our website: www.wolfsoft.de

    mm1

    The shielding carries GND for the Mainboard. It will not work without it. For testing you can use a wire like the following pictures:

    mm2

    The battery have to be replaced its a solder Version of ML 2016 (3V) Li-AL Rechargeable Batterie.
    Modell: ML2016-LF (Maxell)

    http://datasheet.octopart.com/ML-2016-T25-Maxell-datasheet-558430.pdf

    mm17

    After removing the shielding you can find the jumper for 50/60Hz and the Country Settings

    The default for a europe unit JP3 is set and JP2. You will have to remove any jumper you will find

    at JP1, JP2, JP3, JP4.

    mm3

    Some more Info about the Jumper Area:

    The circuits are going straight to the big SEGA 315-5660 IC

    Pin 46 at Sega 315-5560 -> 50/60Hz switching. GND= 50Hz and 5V = 60Hz (JP3, JP4)

    Pin 107 at Sega 315-5560 -> Country settings. GND= jap. and 5V = engl. (JP1, JP2)

    Now its time to make use of a PIC 16F630 with sebs Code.

    red wire 5V, black wire GND, pink wire 50/60Hz, purple wire country setting

    mm4

    Now we have to take the 2nd Mainboard (CD-Area). We have to mod the Display with two Duo Leds. First you have to remove the shielding.

    mm5

    Desolder the Display Unit.

    mm6

    mm7

    • Remove the two original LEDs.
    • Use some tape and double sided adhesive tape
    • The Center of the 3 pins of the DUO-LED is GND. Solder both to the GND Area of the mainbord
      (I used some fiberglas pencil)
    • make space for the legs of the LED at the PVC of the Disyplay

    mm8

    use four 220Ohm resistors and head shrink tube to avoide short curcuit.

    mm9

    Here you can see the routing of the 4 wires bounded with some tape.

    mm10

    Now it is time to get the „power“ over the reset button. It is placed on the CD-Mainboard. Lucky the Signal is going through the 36 Pin Connector on the left site.

    mm11

    You will have to cut pin 11 at the outersite of the connector.

    PIC Pin 13 grey is connected to the upper site. Its for the Reset switch

    PIC Pin 11 white is connected to the lower site (Reset Sega 315-5660 IC Pin 78)

    mm12

    Rom Part – for playing Cds around the world

    You are in need of a Eprom (27c2004) and burn all 3 bios Version into it. The usa, japanese and pal Version. You can select the different Bios Version via A16 (Pin 38) and A17 (Pin 39) of the Eprom.
    The order is: USA-> JPN -> EUR.

    You can do it by yourself. Take the CD-Bios Versions and make a byteswap each of them.

    The concat the 3 Files via Windows Commandline copy

    copy /B usa.bin + pal.bin + jpn.bin switchless.bin

    The final goal is to get 2 wires from the 16F630 PIC to the Eprom.
    Here we make use of 2 wires from the Sega Expansionport.

    PIC 8 /Eprom 38

    PIC 10 /Eprom 39

    EUR

    0

    1

    JPN

    1

    0

    USA

    0

    0

    First you have to disable to onboard bios. Desolder PIN 2 (CS) of the onboard ROM and lift the pin up. Solder a red wire from the lifted Pin 2 of the ROM to Pin 40 (5V) of the ROM.

    mm13

    Now its time to prepare 38 wires each 5-6 cm and do some soldering 😉

    mm14

    Wire blue and yellow as you see on the picture. This to wires will do the Bios selection:

    mm19

    red and green coming from the 5mm Duo-Leds. Solder both parallel to PIN 5,6 of the PIC

    mm20

    Adding Sega 32X Support (optional)

    The pink wire to the AV-Port is optional, only necassary for 32X support

    You will have to cut the red marked circuit and solder a pink wire to Pin 6 of the AV Port

    We will disable the Mono-Audio for this function. This will not be a problem, because STEREO-Audio is still working. (Who needs mono ?)

    On the right picture you can see the right routing for the wire:

    mm18

    To prevent short circuits use tape on the left site of the CD-X.
    Here you can see the routing of the LED wires.

    Make sure no red/green wire is nearby or inbetween of the 36 PIN connector between the two mainboards:

    mm21

    german:

    you can see the different colors:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaQCTsi3c6c

  • Sega Genesis 2 ultimative switchless mod

    Inspired from petes fabulous site www.mmmonkey.co.uk and his switchless mods,

    I want to make the ultimative Sega Genesis 2 switchless MOD including 32X and Sega CD2.

    In the beginning we have to mod the Genesis 2 with the switchless mod, like I done before.

    (Thanks to SEB for the great PIC Code).

    Difference between standard Sega Genesis switchless mod

    For making a 32X working you are in need of the pink wire. This signal is needed in the 32X.

    We can make use of the A/V connector cable between the Genesis 2 and the 32X. The Mono Audio Signal is not in use, so we can cut the original Mono signal at the Genesis 2 A/V connector and the 32X A/V connector.

    Here you will see the Sega Genesis 2 switchlees mod including the 3 more wires (yellow, blue, and pink).

    The Pink is needed for the 32x.

    Blue and yellow is needed if you want to make a Sega CD working too.

    For 32X support add a 2nd pink wire to Pin 12 of the PIC.

    smd2_1

    At the solder site you have to cut the cirquit path to Pin 6 of the A/V Port and solder the pink wire to Pin 6 of the A/V Port.

    For Sega CD support you have to cut Pin A01 (yellow wire) and Pin A30 (blue wire) of the Genesis Expansionsport and solder the 2 wires to the PIC Pin 10 blue and PIC Pin 8 yellow.

    Backsite of the Genesis 2:

    smd2_2

    Adding 32X support

    First you have to open the 32X and remove the shielding.
    The only protection of the 32X is the 50/60Hz settings. You will find it at the right site of the mainboard IC12 SEGA 315-5788.

    32_x_1

    You will find R43, if its a PAL 32X (Pin 32 to GND) -> 50Hz
    You will find R42, if its a NTSC 32X (Pin 32 to 5V) -> 60Hz

    Remove the Resistor

    32_x_2

    Sega Genesis 2 A/V Pinout

    Pin

    Description

    1

    Blue

    2

    +5V DC

    3

    Green

    4

    Composite Video

    5

    Sync

    6

    Audio Mono

    7

    Red

    8

    Audio Stereo L

    9

    Audio Stereo R

    minidinspec9f

    On the solder site you will have to Cut the cirquit path to Pin 6 of the A/V Port.

    32_x_3

    Solder one pink wire from AV Out Pin 6 (solder Site) to Pin 32 of IC12 (component site)

    32_x_4

    32_x_5

    Adding Sega CD 2 support

    You are in need of a Eprom (27c2004) and burn all 3 bios Version into it. The usa, japanese and pal Version. You can select the different Bios Version via A16 (Pin 38) and A17 (Pin 39) of the Eprom.
    The order is: USA-> JPN -> EUR.

    You can do it by yourself. Take the CD-Bios Versions and make a byteswap each of them.

    The concat the 3 Files via Windows Commandline copy

    copy /B usa.bin + pal.bin + jpn.bin switchless.bin

    The final goal is to get 2 wires from the 16F630 PIC to the Eprom.
    Here we make use of 2 wires from the Sega Expansionport.

    Pin8 yellow 16F630->Exp Port Pin A01@Genesis 2->Exp. Port Pin A30@SegaCD2->Pin 38Eprom

    Pin 10 blue 16F630->Exp Port Pin A30@Genesis 2->Exp. Port Pin A30@SegaCD2->Pin 39Eprom

    Pin A01 and A30 of the Expansionsport carrying GND. There are many ground Signals at the Expansionsport. So we can cut these two of and make use of the free Pins for the Bios select.

    PIC 8 /Eprom 38

    PIC 10 /Eprom 39

    EUR

    0

    1

    JPN

    1

    0

    USA

    0

    0

    First you have to remove the original Bios:

    segacd_1

    cut the 2 wires left and right (A30, A01)

    segacd_2

    You will have to pullup Pin 38 and Pin 39 of the Eprom and wire blue and yellow like the following picture

    segacd_3

    Here you can see the complete eprom attached

    segacd_4

    Look here for a video showing how the modification is working (german language)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYxM5u4DBis

    english

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQVGKSsld1k

  • Sega Saturn switchless MOD Pal smaller mainbaord

    My second german Saturn for switchless MOD was not the same as the first one.

    This one got 2 PCBs inside. A smaller Main PCB and a separate Controller Port PCB.

    The Mainboard is called: 837-11892-01 PAL.

    layout_0_1

    layout_1

    Here you can find the Mainboard Revision on the TOP Side of the Board

    layout_2

    For correct working of the 50/60Hz you have to desolder Pin 1 and pull up pin 1 of IC20.

    Then wire it to GND.

    layout_4

    Backsite Mainboard.You need to cut the jumper at JP7 (remove the circuit)

    layout_3

    Frontsite of the Mainboard (LED Resistors 220Ohm) PIC 16F630 cut the two red marked circuit pathes between JP12 and JP 10

    layout_5

    Separate Controller PCB (cut the red marked circuit)

    wire colors (upper site grey at the RESET Button, downsite white)

    layout_6

    DUO-LED soldering an position at the separate Controller PCB

    layout_7

    Some more pictures

    layout_8

    layout_10

    layout_9