DC Controller Not Responding

[aluckypunk]

I posted this on the "Help" forum, but figured it would get a wider audience on here, so here's my problem:

I decided to get out my old Dreamcast the other day, only to discover that my controllers (and my gun) will not respond. I've tried plugging them into all 4 ports, but nothing happens. Has anyone else run into this problem? is there some kind of lock I inadvertently enabled? Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks!

[ptr.exe]

This should be in the hardware forum. Moved.

Go Here. Your F1 resistor is blown, it's a common problem and easy to fix.

If you dont have a soldering iron, then just wrap some wire around the legs of the blown resistor and it'll work perfectly. If you need more help just ask.

[semicolo]

f1 is a fuse...

[ptr.exe]

True. It is a fuse, sorry

[aluckypunk]

Thanks!

I replaced the resistor (with a 10 ohm, 1/2 watt resistor, 5% tolerance), but now only ports 1 and 4 will work, and my light gun won't work in any port lol. Any idea what the problem is now? Thanks!

[semicolo]

yes you used a resistor in place of a fuse.
a fuse is about 0 ohms so there's no voltage drop across it
but a 10 ohms resistor would drop the 3.3V to 2.3V at a current rate of 100mA (U=RI )
In fact the more current your peripherals try to drain the less voltage they get and your light gun is probably too current consuming to get a proper operating voltage.

[aluckypunk]

Ok, so what do I need to do? I don't understand the electric lingo. Sorry

[semicolo]

you should use a fuse, problem is, nobody knows what sort of.

some just jumped f1, but it may be risky since it can blow the dremcast's psu in case of short circuit.

[aluckypunk]

hm, alright. Thanks for the help.

[ptr.exe]

a fuse is about 0 ohms so there's no voltage drop across it

A fuse is a resistor with a 'breaking point'. If fuses didnt have resistances then why are there mains fuses rated 3A/13A, that's the current they allow through, beyond that they 'blow'. Nearly all fuses have a resistance.

Get a multimeter and check the resistance of F1 semicolo, what?! look at that it's... it's... TEN OHMS!! omg! how could this have happened?!

some just jumped f1, but it may be risky since it can blow the dremcast's psu in case of short circuit.

How would that cause a short circuit? there is still a device between the +ve and ground ie. the controller. That fuse is not a diode; it would not stop a short circuit.

aluckypunk, i suggest just jumping the fuse, solder a wire between the two points where it used to be. If your DC blows up, you can blame me