CDZ random reset? (not overheating)

Metal Slugnuts · Apr 17, 2009

Goddamn my luck with NGCDs... :mad:

So I got my CDZ in the mail today. The description stated that it had the typical overheating problem; whatever, I never play Neo for more than a half hour anyway, and oue apartment is at a constant, cool temperature.

Well, the thing keeps randomly resetting and I can't figure it out. It doesn't seem to be related to heat, as it starts resetting right away after plugging the AC in. This happens in three main spots:

*When the CD drive starts to spin during startup (if I go t the menu screen it'll be fine)
*During a load sceen
*Right before any actual gameplay

The last one is what confuses me. I can go through 3-4 menus on GanGan and 1 on Metal Slug, but as soon as the actual gameplay loads it resets.

Jag-Master · Apr 17, 2009

If this is the unit Tomcat was selling, just e-mail or pm him. He's an excellent guy to deal with.

Metal Slugnuts · Apr 17, 2009

Jag-Master said:
If this is the unit Tomcat was selling, just e-mail or pm him. He's an excellent guy to deal with.

lol yeah that's the one...I was going to see if it was an easy fix or not before contacting him.

EDIT: I forgot to add something...I got a 100V stepdown to use with this, and it seems to reset more frequently/quicker that just plugging it directly...I never got a game to load with the stepdown.

jediurchin · Apr 17, 2009

I know there are 2 kinds of psu for the AES but does the CD series have a similar thing??

Metal Slugnuts · Apr 17, 2009

jediurchin said:
I know there are 2 kinds of psu for the AES but does the CD series have a similar thing??

You know, I was wondering that...on the console it says to use model J2, but he gave me J1.

Xian Xi · Apr 17, 2009

What's the output of the J1?

Metal Slugnuts · Apr 17, 2009

Xian Xi said:
What's the output of the J1?

lol I was just comparing the two.

Here's the J2:

On my J1, everything's the same, except the input is 27VA instead of 38VA.

Jag-Master · Apr 17, 2009

IIRC I believe the cdz uses a specific power supply which differs from the other psu's.

Metal Slugnuts · Apr 17, 2009

Jag-Master said:
IIRC I believe the cdz uses a specific power supply which differs from the other psu's.

lol look at the 3 posts above yours

So, based on what I googled about volt-amps, it seems like the AC adapter is the problem. The system expects the AC to draw 38VA, but it's only drawing 27VA, which powers it down then right back up since the power switch is on. Right?

Well, I'm off to find a J2...there's one on eBay, but it's in HK from a shady seller and will cost $80 shipped. :oh_no:

jediurchin · Apr 17, 2009

Fingers crossed that will solve your problem! I cant believe I thought of that applying to the NCDZ too!

It was only after being given a console only AES the other day that I hunted down the correct psu.... Amazing what you learn in the space of a few short weeks

Hewitson · Apr 18, 2009

KanYozakura said:
lol look at the 3 posts above yours

So, based on what I googled about volt-amps, it seems like the AC adapter is the problem. The system expects the AC to draw 38VA, but it's only drawing 27VA, which powers it down then right back up since the power switch is on. Right?

Well, I'm off to find a J2...there's one on eBay, but it's in HK from a shady seller and will cost $80 shipped.

I'm not sure why you think this is relevant.

What has the AC power consumption got to do with anything? Its the DC output voltage and current you should be worrying about.

Xian Xi · Apr 19, 2009

Sounds like it is overheating, when ever it's in a loading phase it turns off. You gotta remember that the CDZ has vents but no fan to pull air in or out of the unit. Even if the room is cool, something inside it is generating heat fast.

Does the CDZ have a temp probe built in? Crack it open. pics, too.

Kunio · Apr 19, 2009

I had this same problem with a front loader once and the problem turned out to be in the AC-Adapter itself. If you crack it open there is a huge aluminium heat dispenser inside that probably doubles as ground. This dispenser is soldered to the main board inside the adapter. Check those joints for cracks. If there are any just reflow those joints and you will probably be fine.

If not just get your hands on a standard Neo CD AC-adapter and swap the cord. I did that back in the day to be able to run my CDZ on 220V. Works like a charm.

SNKNostalgia · Apr 20, 2009

Kunio said:
I had this same problem with a front loader once and the problem turned out to be in the AC-Adapter itself. If you crack it open there is a huge aluminium heat dispenser inside that probably doubles as ground. This dispenser is soldered to the main board inside the adapter. Check those joints for cracks. If there are any just reflow those joints and you will probably be fine.

If not just get your hands on a standard Neo CD AC-adapter and swap the cord. I did that back in the day to be able to run my CDZ on 220V. Works like a charm.

This seems to be a somewhat common problem with the CDZ adapter. The board inside gets cracks from being dropped or whatever. I had to solder parts where the board was cracked right on the flat metal connections. My system just didn't turn on, but now it works perfect.

At least it is easy to open the adapter as it uses screws unlike old NES ones.

Metal Slugnuts · Apr 20, 2009

Hewitson said:
I'm not sure why you think this is relevant.

What has the AC power consumption got to do with anything? Its the DC output voltage and current you should be worrying about.

I think it's relevant because the system resets right away (like 1/2 second) when using 100V, and it can actually load menus/load some disc material on 120V.

I really do think it's the AC, since it's not even the right model number for the system. I've got one coming from Canada, so we'll see.

And James, I'll post pics in a little bit.

Metal Slugnuts · Apr 20, 2009

Xian Xi said:
Sounds like it is overheating, when ever it's in a loading phase it turns off. You gotta remember that the CDZ has vents but no fan to pull air in or out of the unit. Even if the room is cool, something inside it is generating heat fast.

Does the CDZ have a temp probe built in? Crack it open. pics, too.

Alright, I couldn't get any pictures (camera too shitty), but I checked all of the solder points in both the system and the AC: all good. The only thing I found out of place was an old spider's eggsac...gross. Cleaned all of that up, changed the fuse on the AC, and still nothing.

I swear that it's the AC...I put it on 100V and left the top off, using a pencil to hit the CD-close switch...every time the spindle would start to engage, BOOM reset. On 120V it's a crapshoot, but it's always when the CD drive starts to engage, like there isn't enough power to spin the damned thing. :scratch:

Metal Slugnuts · Apr 20, 2009

Kunio said:
I had this same problem with a front loader once and the problem turned out to be in the AC-Adapter itself. If you crack it open there is a huge aluminium heat dispenser inside that probably doubles as ground. This dispenser is soldered to the main board inside the adapter. Check those joints for cracks. If there are any just reflow those joints and you will probably be fine.

If not just get your hands on a standard Neo CD AC-adapter and swap the cord. I did that back in the day to be able to run my CDZ on 220V. Works like a charm.

This just seems to back me up on the volt-amps issue, as the standard NGCD toploader AC is 55VA, which is more than the 38VA of the standard CDZ AC.

Xian Xi · Apr 20, 2009

Maybe the CDZ is trying to pull more than the 1A on the +5v or the PSU is not supplying the full 1A.

Metal Slugnuts · Apr 20, 2009

Xian Xi said:
Maybe the CDZ is trying to pull more than the 1A on the +5v or the PSU is not supplying the full 1A.

I dunno...but I can't find a single damn mention of a CDPOW-J! adapter like I have anywhere on the net, leading me to believe it's a knockoff or something. :scratch:

Pic:

Xian Xi · Apr 20, 2009

Open up your PSU and post a pic.

Metal Slugnuts · Apr 20, 2009

Xian Xi said:
Open up your PSU and post a pic.

Sorry for the lighting...all I can get on this overcast day.

Xian Xi · Apr 20, 2009

The other side of the board too.

Metal Slugnuts · Apr 20, 2009

Xian Xi said:
The other side of the board too.

lol I knew I shoulda done that.

Here ya go:

Xian Xi · Apr 20, 2009

One time I had a top loader that did the same thing and it was becasuse the 3 prong connector wasn't grabbing the pins good. So what I did was take a vice grip and gently squeeze the connector to slightly bend the sockets inside and that worked perfectly.

Xian Xi · Apr 20, 2009

If you want to test it first, try pulling the cord to the side to put some pressure on the pins and turn the system on and see how far you get.

Best way is actually pull the cord under the system and out to the front.

CDZ random reset? (not overheating)

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