Fix Your NES Blinking Red Light with Science!
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- čas přidán 6. 08. 2024
- This is a guide to fixing a common NES problem: the blinking red light that indicates a faulty connection between the console and the cartridge.
We explain the reasons behind this problem through a mix of history, chemistry, and engineering.
Breakdown of the video:
Intro: The host introduces the problem and solution.
History: Explains the differences between the NES and Famicom consoles, including cartridge design and connection types.
Disassembly: A detailed guide on taking apart the NES console safely.
Science: Explains how corrosion on the connector pins due to oxidation hinders the flow of electrons between the cartridge and console. Blowing on cartridges is ineffective and can worsen the problem.
Fixing the Connector: The two common methods to fix the connector are mentioned:
- Replacement: Replacement parts might not work as well as the original.
- Cleaning: Options include scrubbing with sandpaper, soaking in vinegar , or boiling in water.
- Reassembly: A step-by-step guide on putting the NES back together.
Overall, the video combines scientific explanation with practical steps to fix a nostalgic gaming problem.
Music: Wrecking Crew by Nintendo
Chapters:
[00:00] Fix your NES Blinking Red Light with Science!
[00:30] The NES Entertainment System and Nintendo Famicom differences
[01:46] Removing the External NES Screws
[02:54] Reasons why the NES was designed like this
[04:03] Errors from Chemistry, Engineering, and Time
[04:18] Over Engineering of RF Shields
[05:56] NES Lockout Chip Woes
[06:47] Electrical Conduction Essentials
[08:00] Removing the NES Cartridge Tray
[08:43] Corrosion causes cartridge chaos
[10:06] Cleaning off Corrosion Residue with Industrial Alcohol
[11:12] Corrosion is fed by time and moisture
[11:25] Blowing on a cartridge DOES NOT HELP
[12:17] Removing the 72-pin Connector
[13:27] Cleaning Cartridges is not enough
[13:38] Replacement 72-Pin Connectors
[14:11] Cleaning with Sandpaper
[14:36] Cleaning with Vinigar
[15:18] Cleaning with Boiling Water
[16:22] Reassembly and testing
[18:16] Special Thanks to My Dad the Scientific Advisor
[18:47] Cat Blooper
Hashtags
#retrogaming #nintendo #NES #8bit #chemistry #science - Hry
I will have to get another NES and refurbish it by soaking the connector in vinegar, and also make pickles at the same time.
Many years ago, this is exactly what i did: boiling the connector. To my surprise it worked pretty well!
The heat can help break the chemical bonds of the corrosion residue and wash it away.
And if any pins are bent then are more malleable when heated up and applying a cleaning cartridge can help bend them back as a well as helping apply mechanical force to any remaining corrosion residue.
Very informative video brother. The Famicom seems so cool and the disk system. I'm need to pick one up someday soon.
Well, I need to make a video about the famicom disk system. I love it! But it is a pain to try to collect for, especially if you're an American gamer. So The games are on magnetic floppy disks and it's not a regular floppy disk. It's a special floppy disk That can only be modified by having a fds disk drive hooked up to a computer or a special USB Device to write. The problem is that it's highly fragile and easy to get messed up.
There are times that I've had a friend in Japan mail me games and half of the disks are erased or give me error messages by the time I get them in the US because the modern mail system will x-ray the floppy discs and erase them or erase enough of them so that you can't play them.
Now the famicom disc system interfaces with a cartridge slot and it takes advantage of expanded audio capabilities on the famicom and there are really good music tracks which can only play on original Famicom Hardware, fpga systems, or an NES that had some internal modifications made on it.
So it's almost easier to play famicom disk system games off an everdrive on a Famicom system, so there's roughly 200 famicom disk system games and it is more reliable to use an everdrive than it is to use a real famicom disk system. So I like the famicom disks system but it can be very frustrating.
So I would recommend that you get what's called the AV famicom which looks like the American top loader NES, it has the best audio quality, the best video quality, and is compatible with American NES controllers. And if you get that plus in everdrive that plugs into it such as the N8 Fami, You can play games uses the FDS expanded audio correctly.
Great video! Keep up the awesome work!
Thanks, make sure you subscribe.
@@8bitjoystick Long long time ago since I did that...
Clip pin 4 of the 10NES chip. Fixed.
That definitely helps by preventing the lockout chip from being triggered, however, if the resistance on the connectors is too high from the corrosive residue and there's not going to have sufficient transmission of electrons and your data is not going to leave the cartridge. So instead of having a flashing Gray and black screen. You have a flashing green screen. So that's where the connector cleaning comes in.
I've only used rubbing alcohol on my 72pin connection and refurbished the pins by bending them back into place. Now I have a much better tight connection. Never had an issue
I've never had it bend the pins Beyond using a cleaning cartridge after it was warmed up. The cartridge tray being too tight was actually my big complaint with the replacement connector.
@@8bitjoystick I also bought a replacement 72 and wasn't happy with it so I decided to refurbish the original 72. The refurbishment of the pins doesn't make the originals over tight just back to stock
it dose work and along with cutting the 4th pin
I did both. I used the metal snippers I got for putting together Gundam models.
Whenever I would Detail or Repair a System, I remove RF Shields Unless they Look cool for some reason
New Sub; Dryden, Mich
So according to CZcams rules, I'm not supposed to advocate people to break the law. But like what about the fcc's rather aggressive radio frequency regulations from the mid-1980s which are completely non-relevant these days because no one is using RF transmissions to watch analog TV transmissions on a CRT. I mean it's been like what two decades since that stopped being relevant?
I put the top shield on my NES but I threw out the bottom shield because I've always hated the bottom shield because it's a pain in the butt because you have to angle the power switches and the player two connectors around it. And if you don't have it, the cartridge tray aligned right the cartridges don't work right.
Tom Selleck makes rad youtube videos!
Well thank you. I used to watch Magnum P.I as a kid in the 1980s. But actually I think the person that I must look like with my current mustache is my dad. He's basically had the same mustache for most of my entire life, You can see him at the end of this video.
can i buy that famicom? how much haha
You can order them from Japan and they are cheaper than you think. sendico.com/shop/mercari/catalog/m71416515331
You said I would NOT believe, but I DID believe. Liar. Zero stars
You know what I changed my mind. You specifically can go drink the industrial alcohol (sarcasm). Also go blow on your cartridges. I also was thinking about showing that if you take your alcohol soaked q-tip and then set it on fire it looks completely awesome like a torch but then again CZcams has rules about not encouraging people to do dangerous things in your videos because of people who do stupid ticktock challenges like inhaling Cinnamon and such.
You know I would have done the vinegar soak method if I had any vinegar besides sweet sushi rice vinegar, It tastes amazing on rice but it probably wouldn't help me play Nintendo