PlayStation console info needed

[Heihachi_73]

I picked up a pretty good bargain at the local market today - four PlayStation consoles for A$10!

The versions are all different; SCPH1002, 5502, 7500 (yep, a Japanese version!) and 7502. The only problem is that half of the parts were missing - 2 CD-ROM drives and a power supply for the 1002.

The 7502 works perfectly, the 7500 works but it has no CD-ROM drive. The 5502 will only run by borrowing the 7500's power supply. It seems like the 5502's PSU has a dead transformer - that's where a high pitched sound comes from. I can't test the 1002 at all since the power supply has different connectors to the mainboard, as does the CD-ROM.

As a bonus, the 750x 7502 machine also has a chip - my U/C version of Tekken 3 works in it!

Strangely, the zener diode (D103) on the 7500's PSU is broken in half but it still works without problems. The 5502's CD-ROM has a shorter wire and won't fit the 7500 unless it's held up and balancing in your hand(!), so... (update - 7502 CD-ROM fits perfectly for testing, no problems with the 7500.)

Now the machines are set up as - 7502 (original, working of course) , 7502 (working), 5502 (fixed), 7500 (dead PSU, no CD-ROM drive) and 1002 (missing PSU and CD-ROM drive).

The 5502's CD-ROM is missing its ball bearings, making the CD slip when it spins up, and takes a couple of resets before the CD is readable! Fitting a bit of Blu-Tack™ around it fixes that little problem!

--------------------
Edit (also changed topic name due to lack of views)

Another question regarding the 7500: Everything which is usually red is displayed yellow on it (Sony logo, BIOS and all) - is this the normal behaviour (NTSC J) or is there something wrong with it? It happens on both the TV and through the video capture card. It obviously isn't modded as none of the games work on it!

[kinghanco]

Look like they strip parts to fix another one. That probably why they sold the strap for less.

[patrickp]

I would guess the colour change on your SCPH-7500 Playstation is as a result of the different video standard, Heihachi_73.

[Heihachi_73]

Thanks for replying. It's wierd though, the SCPH-7500 just doesn't want to display the right colours, even through a video capture card with DScaler set to NTSC-J. Setting it to NTSC J or US makes no difference with it, just like through the TV.

It was still a good find - I managed to get three boards up and running straight away (only 2 usable though due to the dead PSU).

The only problem I've had is with the SCPH-1002. It has a 7-pin power connector and no CD-ROM (as above). I can't swap anything to make it boot up!

[patrickp]

If the dead PSU is an external one, Heihachi, it should be possible to replace it with one that outputs the same voltage at the same or greater amperage. Also, don't forget (if you hadn't thought of it already) that the power supplies for different countries may need to be run on different mains voltage and frequency (frequency may not matter if they're outputting DC).

[Heihachi_73]

It's a separate PCB on the inside (not a PSOne!). AFAIK all "brick" machines have a figure-8 connector, and models later than the 100x have the same power board (and internal 110-220V converter).

It is possible to replace it, I just can't pick up one cheap enough to replace it! You can buy working PSX consoles for A$10 (markets etc), although game shops will try to charge upwards of $29 (even a ridiculous $79 which I saw in one particular store).

Now I've had another silly thought - I have always wanted to reuse the original Sony controller/memcard connector straight out of the PSX but there isn't a guide anywhere around to do so.

If anyone could show me the light on wiring up the actual connector board I'd be really happy! Google brings up about 1,200,000 different things (if only it was telepathic and knew I wasn't looking for a mod-chip, a mass-produced gamepad "converter" or a PS2 DVD remote).

I'm not really keen on hacking another board up to the disused printer port (done that years ago with a SNES controller clone to no avail). I would prefer it to access the front USB connector, over fiddling around with the back of the PC. (are parallel DB25 connectors even used this side of 2000? I haven't used one since I had a Pentium 166; even that had USB!)

All in all, I'm looking for the pinout of the controller port's 10-pin ribbon cable to the main PCB, rather than the wires of the controller like the sites have. It might even be useful for memory cards then!

[Heihachi_73]

Looks like the offending item on the SCPH-5502's dud power board is a blown capacitor (I hope!). It's the large one near the connector; 47µF / 400V (C003). The strange thing is, it doesn't have a bulge or leakage as usual with a blown cap.

[Sune]

If there's no bulging or evidence of leaking why do you think it's blown?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague

[patrickp]

Bulging or leaking are symptoms of only one (classic with motherboards) problem with a capacitor, Sune. There can be other faults with no change in appearance. Only way to tell is unsolder it and put a meter on it. You can't tell on the board because other connected components may give a false reading. But I'm sure Heihachi knows that.

[Heihachi_73]

I was thinking the same - as I first posted I thought it might have been the transformer. I'm not really one to put my ear up to each component!

I did a Google search for a 14-pin transformer and the only parts page which came up was in the UK!