Help with nes top loader

icekickericekicker
in Help Wanted!
Hey guys I have a nes2 top loader that doesn't turn on without a certain controller hooked up. meaning that without any controllers hooked up the system will not turn on except for a black screen, and it does the same with the nes 'dogbone' controller plugged in, aswell as the handfull of other old square controllers hooked up, only one of the old square controllers hooked up then the system works fine, weird huh? has anyone ever heard of this? I took it apart cleaned the board with a nylon brush, checked all the traces and looked for crap/broken solder joints, cleaned the ports and cart connector, the only thing I didn't do was replace the caps but I just don't understand why only one of my 8 controllers work with the nes and I've tested them all with a front loader nes, and why it needs that certian controller to turn on. I was thinking maybe the ppu but usually if something is faulty at doesn''t choose what works and what doesn't lol 

any help would be awesome this has me totaly stumped.

Comments

  • CZroeCZroe
    Well, no doubt some controllers use more power. An NES advantage with two controllers in one, turbo, and light-UP LEDs is going to use more. A NES Satellite receiver will probably use more too. I've also seen one console feed enough power into a second console to make it light up and blink through the controller port alone. I also have a RetroBit replica dogbone that locks up my system if I unplug/plug it while the power is on (my original dogbones don't do that).



    Have you tried a different power plug? I find the originals plugs going bad a lot recently and it seems to manifest as the console powering but games not booting reliably no matter how clean they are. Some controllers drawing more power when it has bad power could easily do something like this.
  • mkiker2089mkiker2089
    This sounds weird to me. My guess would be that there is a short or breakage in the controller port. It's possible that a pin came off and is inside the one controller that works. First thing I'd check is the controller port. It may simply need to be re-soldered.



    I don't think it's a power requirement from the controllers. If that were the case it would work without one. It also would work with a dogebone. I'd pretty much rule out the power cord and internal regulator. It really has to be in the controller port.
  • icekickericekicker
    yes the controller port seems like it would be the issue, the pins are all intact but where they connect to the pcb are sorta corroded, but to me it still don't make sense that just one of the same type controllers work. I'm going to remove the controller port from the board and see if it turns on.

    I did use 2 different nes adapters that I have tested on front loaders so I know they work
  • CZroeCZroe
    Originally posted by: mkiker2089



    This sounds weird to me. My guess would be that there is a short or breakage in the controller port. It's possible that a pin came off and is inside the one controller that works. First thing I'd check is the controller port. It may simply need to be re-soldered.



    I don't think it's a power requirement from the controllers. If that were the case it would work without one. It also would work with a dogebone. I'd pretty much rule out the power cord and internal regulator. It really has to be in the controller port.



    Wait. You're saying that you don't think it's a power-related problem because adding more load gets an even worse result? Very strange logic! As I said, I've recently seen several NES consoles with power issues solved by replacing the AC adapter and I've also seen how controllers can load a unit's power supply. It is MUCH easier to test this first.



    This whole conversation reminded me of this:





    While we're at it, here is a controller port corrosion fix:

  • mkiker2089mkiker2089
    He said that he's not adding more load. It needs a certain controller in port 1. Other controllers that are the same are failing it. It also fails without a controller. That pretty much leads us back to the controller port. Sure changing the power adapter is easy but it's also unlikely to be the issue. I'm not sure getting a new one based on age is a bad thing, but it doesn't seem like a fix either.



    The only way to find out is to fix the controller port. The corrosion is a sign that something is wrong there anyway. Once that is fixed then it's time to move on to other issues.



    Or just play it with the one controller that works and see how long it lasts. I use extension cables on my consoles so the ports never get wear.
  • CZroeCZroe
    Originally posted by: mkiker2089



    He said that he's not adding more load. It needs a certain controller in port 1. Other controllers that are the same are failing it. It also fails without a controller. That pretty much leads us back to the controller port. Sure changing the power adapter is easy but it's also unlikely to be the issue. I'm not sure getting a new one based on age is a bad thing, but it doesn't seem like a fix either.



    The only way to find out is to fix the controller port. The corrosion is a sign that something is wrong there anyway. Once that is fixed then it's time to move on to other issues.



    Or just play it with the one controller that works and see how long it lasts. I use extension cables on my consoles so the ports never get wear.

    I can show you a LOT of variations inside of controllers and already demonstrated how they can affect the console. It's even easier to try another power cord before fixing what might "sorta" be corrosion. He did say he tried another power adapter, which probably puts my theory to rest anyway. I'm just saying that it was worth trying first.

     
  • icekickericekicker
    ok I de soldered the controller port and cleaned the pins so I'd get good connection, and cleaned the pads on the board, then reseated everything.. nothing changed so I have no clue, I even took out the ac port and that was fine, so it has to be in either the ppu or the ram chips which I think would be easier to start with a new board, and just play this one as is.
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