Yet Another Sega Game Gear Capacitor Thread

[BRIK]

Today I tried to do the video capacitor fix for my GG.
Before it could only really be played by viewing it on an extreme angle which is a common symptom of the capacitors dying. I went and replaced all the capacitors using a Fix Kit from Rewind Bits.co.uk. After I soldered them all I tried it to find that my GG now turns on but quickly turns off again, which I believe is another common symptom. I think I must have soldered one or two not very well and they're not connecting properly. I have hardly an experience with soldering though so I'm not entirely sure.
I was just going to try and solder them all again but I decided first to upload some pictures of my handywork. If you know what you're looking at can you please have a look and see if anything stands out?

Btw I have already checked to see if all the positives and negatives are right, as well as making sure that all the right caps are in the right place.

Some before pictures just in case it helps:







And after my attempt:













Thanks

[vlame]

i like this title lol.

[BRIK]

That's actually a coincidence. The two threads do look funny next to each other though.

[Hobie-wan]

The bits of solder on the cap legs are pretty big. Are you sure you didn't accidentally connect one to something next to it that it shouldn't be or didn't accidentally catch a trace nearby?

[nightrnr]

I too, think the solder is a little excessive, but only slightly.
Also, the circuit board looks either a little burned or wasn't cleaned up enough from the bad caps. Both scenarios could cause a bad connection.

How are you powering the Game Gear anyways? In my experience, Game Gears can be pretty finicky with power cables/AC Adapters as well. Sometimes they just don't connect right anymore, or the Adapter itself doesn't connect well at certain angles (usually the wire is faulty somewhere). I'd try batteries just to see.

Or
I've fixed a couple GG's so far, and I've noticed that if you place a cap in the wrong ways, they can detach slightly when closing the system up again. But you also have a lot of solder there too, so maybe not.

In any case, good luck

[Ziggy587]

I too agree, looks like you used too much solder. In some cases, it looks like there IS a short to a neighboring component, but it's hard to tell from the pics. I'm assuming the solder gauge you're using, trying using a smaller diameter solder. You can get VERY small diameter solder. It will make things like this MUCH easier to do.

[nightrnr]

^^ Good advice.

The Radio Shack dude was actually pretty helpful in that respect for me, helped me find EXACTLY what solder I needed (back then I was clueless and was almost willing to try using some lead solder that I had left over from a stained-glass class ; I had the sense to ask for advice first)

[YoshiEgg25]

The bits of solder on the cap legs are pretty big. Are you sure you didn't accidentally connect one to something next to it that it shouldn't be or didn't accidentally catch a trace nearby?

This was my first reaction. You probably used about three times as much solder as you needed to.

[BRIK]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I think the general consensus is that I used too much solder. I'll invest in one of those solder sucking things and buy some thinner solder, the batch I was using was quite thick.

I too, think the solder is a little excessive, but only slightly.
Also, the circuit board looks either a little burned or wasn't cleaned up enough from the bad caps. Both scenarios could cause a bad connection.

How are you powering the Game Gear anyways? In my experience, Game Gears can be pretty finicky with power cables/AC Adapters as well. Sometimes they just don't connect right anymore, or the Adapter itself doesn't connect well at certain angles (usually the wire is faulty somewhere). I'd try batteries just to see.

Or
I've fixed a couple GG's so far, and I've noticed that if you place a cap in the wrong ways, they can detach slightly when closing the system up again. But you also have a lot of solder there too, so maybe not.

In any case, good luck

I know the power adapter I'm using is alright because I was using it right up until I tried to fix it. It still stayed on but it was unplayable at a comfortable angle.
Also I'm pretty sure it isn't burnt but there was some crap left over from busted caps. How would I go about cleaning it off properly?

[BRIK]

Also what size solder exactly would people recommend?