Hey.
Well this problem has been persistent for quite some time now and I would like to find a solution. For the record my system is one of the early model 2 types with the oval buttons, 21-pin ribbon cable and 64-pin IC and it hasn't been modded at all. The problem seems to occur only when the system has been powered on for some time and then switched off and then immediately back on again. So for example I could be playing a game for say 15 minutes, turn the Saturn off and then on, at which point it will fail to boot any disc, taking me to the control panel with the message "Drive Empty". At the same time there are vertical scrolling bands present on the screen and a strange whining noise coming from both the unit and the speakers on the TV set. My first thoughts were that this was some kind of overheating issue, but so far it has never occured during a game, only when powering off and on again.
Anyway I decided to open the console and have a look inside to see if I could isolate the source of the internal noise. At first I thought that this noise could be coming from the motor that moves the laser along the rail because as I moved the gears I could feel the motor resisting and forcing the laser to the inner part of the rail (i.e. as if it's jamming it towards the center). It's hard to judge, but I also thought that the noise could be coming from the power supply section, as this could potentially cause some interference/modulation with the RF output and hence result in the same sound I was hearing from the TV set. Being the inquisitive type I measured the d.c power rail voltages during play for about 20 minutes: 3.31V, 5.07V, 8.95V - these values seem consistent with what they're supposed to be (3.3, 5.0 and 9.0V). I then switched the unit off and then back on and measured the voltages whilst it was making the noises and failing to boot and the 9.0V rail varies from 8.9V to about 9.4V, the other voltages remain stable.
My only guess is that one or more of the power supply components have developed an increased sensitivity to heat, resulting in some voltage fluctuations on startup that prevent it from stabilising and causing other components like the laser motor to malfunction.
Has anyone else had a problem similar to this? Is there any way to fix this problem? (Replacement parts, self repair). What would perhaps be useful is a schematic of the Sega Saturn power supply =P
I'd like to hear some thoughts/opinions on this.
Thanks
Well this problem has been persistent for quite some time now and I would like to find a solution. For the record my system is one of the early model 2 types with the oval buttons, 21-pin ribbon cable and 64-pin IC and it hasn't been modded at all. The problem seems to occur only when the system has been powered on for some time and then switched off and then immediately back on again. So for example I could be playing a game for say 15 minutes, turn the Saturn off and then on, at which point it will fail to boot any disc, taking me to the control panel with the message "Drive Empty". At the same time there are vertical scrolling bands present on the screen and a strange whining noise coming from both the unit and the speakers on the TV set. My first thoughts were that this was some kind of overheating issue, but so far it has never occured during a game, only when powering off and on again.
Anyway I decided to open the console and have a look inside to see if I could isolate the source of the internal noise. At first I thought that this noise could be coming from the motor that moves the laser along the rail because as I moved the gears I could feel the motor resisting and forcing the laser to the inner part of the rail (i.e. as if it's jamming it towards the center). It's hard to judge, but I also thought that the noise could be coming from the power supply section, as this could potentially cause some interference/modulation with the RF output and hence result in the same sound I was hearing from the TV set. Being the inquisitive type I measured the d.c power rail voltages during play for about 20 minutes: 3.31V, 5.07V, 8.95V - these values seem consistent with what they're supposed to be (3.3, 5.0 and 9.0V). I then switched the unit off and then back on and measured the voltages whilst it was making the noises and failing to boot and the 9.0V rail varies from 8.9V to about 9.4V, the other voltages remain stable.
My only guess is that one or more of the power supply components have developed an increased sensitivity to heat, resulting in some voltage fluctuations on startup that prevent it from stabilising and causing other components like the laser motor to malfunction.
Has anyone else had a problem similar to this? Is there any way to fix this problem? (Replacement parts, self repair). What would perhaps be useful is a schematic of the Sega Saturn power supply =P
I'd like to hear some thoughts/opinions on this.
Thanks