Sega Mega Drive Restoration

I refurbished a Sega Mega Drive (aka Genesis). Includes recapping, repairing a stuck reset button, cleaning everything, replacing voltage regulators, and restoring an original controller. Also dealing with a wonky cartridge.

The (working) Everdrive clone I used (Amazon affiliate links):

Here's the MeanWell power supply I used (needs the polarity changed! - Affiliate links):

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you find this video helpful and/or entertaining please like, share, subscribe and/or consider a donation!

Thanks!

#JanBeta #Sega #MegaDrive

[dieSpinnt]

Here is something for the capacitor aficionados:
Replacing capacitors in old hardware is always a good move and it has therapeutic benefits for some of us. However, it is just as pleasant to know what you are doing and why. The life of an aluminum electrolytic capacitor is mostly determined by the chemical reaction formula called "Arrhenius' Law of Chemical Activity" and therefore to an great extend by the ambient temperature. In short it says that the life of a capacitor doubles for every 10 degree Celsius decrease in temperature.
L2 = L1 * (Vr/Vo) * 2^x
where x = Tm - (Ta + deltaT) / 10
Ta = Ambient Temperature, Tm = Max temperature rating of the capacitor, deltaT = Temperature Rise from Ripple current
Vr = Max voltage rating of the capacitor, Vo = Operating Voltage, L1 = Load Life Rating via Datasheet and L2 = The projected Life at operating Conditions

So for a L1=1000h/85° 10V ordinary cap running in a 5V system with no thermal stress(at ~25°) this will result in the ballpark figure of around 20 years. The 20 years are operating hours, not an expiry date as for food:)
If you substitute the ordinary with an Europe Chemi-Con gem with 10000h/105° 16V operating at 5V/40° you can expect a lifetime of 1, 800, 000 hours or 205 years.

With power supply capacitors, the deltaT must be calculated with, as this can be an important value when ripple current is flowing to a greater extend than in normal applications.

Have fun and enjoy the eventide of your life in 205 years together with your capacitor:)

[CimandeTube]

Jan, please use Black car plastic polish on the cases to bring them up like new.

[TheBurk]

As a big Mega Drive fan, I really like this video! :D Nice work! I know what pain it is to recap one of these machines since I did it with my own and it took forever! I was kinda shocked to see that many capacitors in there. But it was worth it in the end because I think one or two of them had started to leak as I found some strange substance on the board which I think was electrolyte from one of the caps. The picture quality improved slightly after I was done, so there was without a doubt a tired cap in there.
If you're only going to play games from an Everdrive, I highly recommend doing a 60Hz mod since it is super-duper easy on Mega Drives. All you have to do is to cut a jumper and bridge another and you're done! I did that plus added a switch to mine so I can toggle between 50Hz and 60Hz on the fly and it really improved the gaming experience. Sonic games are just way too slow on 50Hz.
Once again amazing video Jan, and I'm looking forward to se you stream some Mega Drive goodness :) P.S. Yes you should definetly retrobright it :D

[MrLurchsThings]

Honestly the Megadrive is pretty reliable and not known to throw caps. The main issues you’ll find are just the usual dirty cartridge pins and dodgy power connector.
The cases however do come up beautifully with some of that black plastic restorer you use on car bumpers.
Fantastic to see a MD video tho. Sega never gets the love on YT (actually I should find an excuse to do a video). The Master System will always be my first love, but the Megadrive is a very, very close second.

[davesclassics]

Good old MegaDrive! God bless the 68000!

Awesome videos as always. Thanks! :)

[dungeonseeker]

Can't believe you missed the obvious "gotta go fast like Sanic" opportunity before the recap montage....

Thanks Jan. Something really relaxing about watching people do retro electronic repair.

[MindFlareRetro]

Great work, Jan. It's nice to see you enjoying refurbing other retro equipment like this. I hope you have the opportunity to get your hands on more gear like this.

[deckofcards]

Beautiful work. It looks just how I remember my Megadrive brand new!

[GamesMaster-HD]

Ah Jan!!! You should have done the 60Hz switch mod while you had it open, makes such a nice difference on PAL consoles with higher speeds and removes the borders. Very simple to do to.

[marc]

Love the Pitfall game! There is a secret area in the game you can go to and play the original Atari game, and as long as you don't die, you can play the WHOLE game! I'm sure you knew that already, though!

[backtogeek]

haha I remember that mega drive, I suspect I may have put a gamegear power supply in it which would be center positive, I am only 8 minutes in to the video so far, maybe I did the damage, maybe the reset button was the cause all along.

By now I probably could have worked it out myself but I am super happy you got a video out of it, I have a poorly Amiga 500 board coming your way soon too, will be in touch!

[dspiraluk]

Can you please recommend which capacitors to use for a recap?

[bit-ishbulldog]

SEGA were clever compared to NINTENDO back in the Console days of the 80's, 90's and early 00's with all their systems.. The Master System was backwards compatible with the SG1000 and the Mega Drive was backwards compatible with the Master System. The Saturn was a 2D graphic power house and the Dreamcast was so ahead of its time. Some people think the addons for the Mega Drive were a load of rubbish, I disagree.. I had a soft spot for SEGA because of the Arcades and then I got my Master System in 86 and become a big fan of the company.. As you know Jan I do enjoy the Commodore computers too. I'm not a NINTENDO or other console manufacture hater I like anything and everything I just have a fondness for SEGA.

[RetroLarz]

With the Everdrive Cartridge you can run also Sega Master System (SMS) Games on your Mega Drive which is pretty nice ;)

[TheLetterTen]

Wow talk about a coincidence! I had been looking at buying an original Model 1 the last four days and BAM you upload a restoration video. Def gonna use this for future reference!

[SteDubya]

I miss my megadrive i had the same model as this. Played "The Terminator" to death. No pun intended. Another nice video thanks for making.

[SproutyPottedPlant]

Aaah the Sega Mega Drive my favourite! They are pretty reliable aren’t they. I got 4 of them and a Mega SG for the ultimate Mega Drive experience 😀👍 now just want one of those cool Mega SD cartridge.

[HuntersMoon]

One of my favourite consoles, followed by the Dreamcast and Saturn

[themegantontechchannel]

So many capacitors! Just got my hand on two working Megadrives for future proofing and had not opened them up yet... Also have an Everdrive clone cartridge underway, so good to know that there can be issues.

[patronatocaf]

WHAT TYPE OF PRODUCT YOU HAVE USED TO WASH AND POLISH PLASTIC PARTS