ITC#69:- Colecovision - Capacitor Replacement

In this video I go through the basic process and some tips for replacing the capacitors in a Colecovision console. While there are only a few electrolytic capacitors to replace in the Colecovision, the ones in the RF modulator box can be tricky if you haven't worked on a Colecovision before. Thank you for watching as always!

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Tools Needed:-
- #2 Phillips cross-tip screwdriver - To take the 5200 apart
- Side/Flush cutters
- Small needle ose pliers or Tweezers
- Replacement Capacitors (Kits recommended)
- ESD (Static Dissipative) Wrist Strap
- Soldering iron (Adjustable temps)
- De-soldering iron, Braid, or Pump
- Solder for electronics use
- Solder flux (Always advised)
- Multi Meter for checking resistance and/or continuity
- Toothbrush and cotton swaps
- Electronics grade cleaning alcohol
- Anything else you would normally use for troubleshooting and repair

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Timestamps:-
00:00 - Intro & Titles
02:07 - Tools to needed and used
04:29 - Disassembly/Teardown of the Colecovision
13:26 - Capacitor location overview
14:14 - The Hidden Capacitors (RF Modulator)
16:50 - RF Modulator removal
17:38 - The hidden caps revealed
19:26 - Cap replacement time (Feat. Bitonal Landscape)
21:58 - Replaced caps overview (Inverted cap installation)
23:55 - Reinstalling the RF Modulator & Cleaning
26:27 - Partial assembly and testing
27:12 - Outro Titles

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Tools featured and used in this video:
- Hakko 936 Soldering Station
- Hakko FR-300 De-soldering Iron
- Fluke 17B+ Digital Multi Meter
- A steady hand and patience (Always important!)

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Additional Links and Information:
Console5 is an excellent source for capacitor kits covering a pretty wide range of consoles and power supplies:

Intro and outro music - Chroma Mirage composed specifically for Ivory Tower Collections by Bitonal Landscape.

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*This Video is marked as NOT for Children as the content shown and discussed is for a more mature audience with basic skills and experience in electronics.

[dsi]

Interesting and very educational video. I only came across it today. I have a question…. I have an AV-modded Colecovision, and I’ve tried both the op-amp and the transistor style of AV mods on this one, but I still get faint rolling diagonal lines on the screen. It’s most obvious with blue backgrounds (think of the skill select screen). Any idea what the cause could be? I’ve tried different power supplies and cables but no improvement. Perhaps it is one of the caps in the video circuit?

[Alinktome]

Hello. In Europe we do not have that rf modulator board. So we have direct access to the whole main board. .. Don't know why....

(and as you, the shell was soldered, so I simply broke it! No problem for it, just make it bend in the right direction and gently, I know it is weird but I do not solder neither desolder for the moment 😁 and, I do not have the big black ground cable at all)

[eightbit]

I think this marks the first time one of my consoles has actually been in a repair/modification video. Nice clean video and spendid work. I never realized how much of a pain it was with the RF box. I probably would have cracked that plastic interconnect piece myself....by simply not knowing!

[coolarrow]

I'm getting my supply today, thank you sir for the Colecovision videos. I'm doing other upgrades so ill be subscribing and waiting for new vids...thanks again.

[marceloporto]

excellent work, where did you get this colecovision cartridge, thank you

[jonniefast]

😡 if i have to remove that RF modulator board it's NEVER goin back in lol

i get so cranky opening these old devices
im having some minor graphical issues
so i might have to recap
thanks for the upload
💖

[stevejp]

I'm currious, at what temp are you using your desoldering gun?

[tiredoftheliesalready]

Hmm...I'm having issues with the RF output (fuzzy like a bad antenna signal); granted, it's to an HDTV (what I had available for testing when I received my purchase today), and it's going through an NES Coax converter box (the horrible abomination they gave you alongside RCA jacks). Capacitors likely to cause that kind of issue, or could it be something else? I've only worked on and troubleshot very specific electronics over the years, so I'm out of my wheelhouse with this issue.

[clappinmonkey]

My colecovision has been getting more and more finicky to get running properly, cleanings and even a new usb power supply havent solved the issue im guessing i need to recap it at this point