32X - hissing sound, not good...

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

I tried to turn on my 32X the other day, and it made a hissing sound. It will not load anything, although the screen does flicker when I turn the Genesis on. If I disconnect the power from the 32X, it doesn't make this hissing sound. This makes me think that there's something wrong with the AC adapter. It's really weird; I've never had a solid state console make a sound before. Either there's something wrong with the AC adapter, or there's something really fucked up in the 32X itself. It didn't seem to damage my Genesis or my monitor, though; they're still functioning. I'm hesitant to even try it again, though, because I don't want to cause damage.

[DefectX11]

Caps. Hissing sounds is always due to caps.
Plug in the AC adapter, turn on the console. Move them far apart and listen to each- whichever is hissing at you needs a fix.

If you've used the AC adapter for something else that put strain on it, most likely it's the issue.

EDIT- IF it's caps, using it again shouldn't cause too much damage, if you don't keep it on for a while. I had a router with a cap/hissing issue and it ran with no issues, just made noise.
Be careful not to run it for extended periods of times, or have it on multiple times in a short period of time- That router I had went "bam" and the caps blew. Smelt like shit.

[Bad_Ad84]

Its not always caps for hissing noises (but it probably is in this instance)

Also, he should replace them and not use it. Caps can short circuit or they can fail and be open...

Have no idea what you are talking about with the using the AC adapter on something else though.

In short, get it recapped.

[DefectX11]

What I mean with the AC adapter is you used it for something that needs a higher amperage than what it's rated for. Adapters can crank out extra amps, but not without strain on the system.

I doubt that's the case though.

And I'd go with Bad-Ad84 and say don't use them. if you want to you can open them both up and check to see if any of the caps are bulging on the top.

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

Well, I opened it up, and I there wasn't anything visibly wrong with any of the capacitors. They weren't "bulging" as you said. However, I did find a lot of what looked like very small, blond hairs - not mine. I cleaned them out, put it back together, and now it works again - but it's still making the hissing sound. I don't trust it for now. Any other ideas? Could the caps still be fucked even though they look normal?

[Twimfy]

Well, I opened it up, and I there wasn't anything visibly wrong with any of the capacitors. They weren't "bulging" as you said. However, I did find a lot of what looked like very small, blond hairs - not mine. I cleaned them out, put it back together, and now it works again - but it's still making the hissing sound. I don't trust it for now. Any other ideas? Could the caps still be fucked even though they look normal?

Exploded Capacitor.jpg

Yup. Just find out the names of all of them (should be a spec sheet somewhere if you can't read them on the caps themselves) and just replace them all.

I can't remember what the internals of a 32x look like but I can't imagine that it'd be too difficult and I'm sure someone on the board would be able to help you out.

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

I'm confused - are you saying that photo is what I described, or that's what's going to happen? Because that's not what I saw. As I said, the capacitors looked normal. The yellowish hair-like things were centered around the cart connector; there were a few elsewhere, but they were mostly centered around the cart connector. There was also some dust elsewhere.

If replacement of all caps is really what it needs, I'm not sure it's worth it, considering a replacement 32X would not be that expensive.

EDIT: I just remembered I have another non-working 32X. Maybe I could do a transplant.

[Twimfy]

When you mentioned yellow hair I immediately thought of the picture above but perhaps it was simply just yellow hair.

I'm not saying that's going to happen but it really does sound like a caps problem.

[andoba]

I don't know if it's just me but the 32X seem one of the most failing hardware I've ever had. :S

[APE]

Twimfy's picture looks like what happened to a sub amp of mine when water got inside and shorted out a voltage regulator. Replace the cap, turn on the sub, BANG. Went off right into my foot too.

[DefectX11]

Ouch. Caps go off like bombs, especially the big ones.
But really, it does sound like a caps problem. I can't think of anything else that could be wrong. What you could do (wear eye protection) is open it up, turn it on and pinpoint the source of the sound.

[ApolloBoy]

I highly doubt it's a capacitor issue, try reseating the two ribbon cables inside the 32X and see if that clears it up.

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

Just tried that and it didn't work; it's still making the hissing sound. One of them did seem a bit loose, but I corrected it and it's still making the sound. By the way, when I listened to it before, the sound seemed to be coming from the left side of the board.

[Cyantist]

I highly doubt it's a capacitor issue, try reseating the two ribbon cables inside the 32X and see if that clears it up.

The shitty white cables of death. This things are a real PITA when it comes to 32X's.

[atari2atari]

Just tried that and it didn't work; it's still making the hissing sound. One of them did seem a bit loose, but I corrected it and it's still making the sound. By the way, when I listened to it before, the sound seemed to be coming from the left side of the board.

I've been troubleshooting the same issue, although mine does boot and play.

There's a high-pitched whistle/whine/hum from the left side of the board.

In looking at a few other threads, there seems to be a lot of discussion on the "inductor" on that left side, and it's quality. It seems that SEGA used an inferior one, or that the inductor goes bad after a while?

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/show...nd-when-played

http://dreamcast-talk.com/forum/view...hp?f=18&t=3530

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...g-Crying-Noise


I've taken a look at mine, and the inductor does seem to be the source of the noise. None of the caps around that area appear to be making any sound.

Now, is it possible that bad/failing capacitors could cause the inductor to be noisy, and THAT'S the problem?

Or, is it a bad inductor? I just don't know . . .


The inductor on my unit is labeled "331º" on the top, and I am still trying to determine what I should replace it with.

A similar rated inductor? A higher rated one? OR, is it the caps . . . ?


I'd be interested to hear what else you learn . . . it seems that the noise 32x is a common problem, such as this situation:

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthr...ter-Burner-32X


There's some great breakdown pictures of the 32x here - -

http://notaz.gp2x.de/hw.php (scroll down to the SEGA 32x section, he has some very high resolution images)


Here's one of his pictures; the inductor is the largest cylindrical object on the left side of the board

32x_case_front_open2.jpg


-a2a

[Flash]

Remove plastic cover from it and glue the coil to ferrite core. This should eliminate that hissing sound. It's a common problem with various types of chokes and transformers - coil moves on ferrite core with current frequency, so it becomes a kind of speaker. If it's glued - there's no sound anymore.

[gamecast]

hissing sound, it might be snakes! Always check your sega for snakes.

[atari2atari]

Remove plastic cover from it and glue the coil to ferrite core. This should eliminate that hissing sound. It's a common problem with various types of chokes and transformers - coil moves on ferrite core with current frequency, so it becomes a kind of speaker. If it's glued - there's no sound anymore.

Interesting! Do you think that standard hot glue gun glue would be okay, and not cause damage? I'll desolder the inductor and take a peek. Good idea - - I think!

Have you done this to an inductor yourself?

hissing sound, it might be snakes! Always check your sega for snakes.

snakesplane-400x270.jpg

"Enough is enough! I have had it with these motherfucking snakes on this motherfucking SEGA!"


;)

-a2a

[la-li-lu-le-lo]

Remove plastic cover from it and glue the coil to ferrite core. This should eliminate that hissing sound. It's a common problem with various types of chokes and transformers - coil moves on ferrite core with current frequency, so it becomes a kind of speaker. If it's glued - there's no sound anymore.

In that case, there's no risk of damage to the 32X or any devices connected to it, right? So the only reason to eliminate it is to get rid of the sound.

hissing sound, it might be snakes! Always check your sega for snakes.

I did find 5 snakes inside, but that doesn't seem relevant to the discussion.

[APE]

hissing sound, it might be snakes! Always check your sega for snakes.

Why would I want to check SEGA corporation for snakes?