Problem with large Sega DMD

MilitiaMan

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Big surprise, right?

Trying to get this resolved for a friend and I am as far as my own tiny brain can get me - need help!

This is the large DMD from Sega Batman Forever. This DMD works great for about 40 minutes and then the display just goes to "fuzz" or "snow". It is pretty much unreadable at that point. The fact that it works well for a while led me down the path that when something gets "hot" it is failing so I started looking at components and capacitors and I think I have located the problem cap.

Take a look at the cap on the left. See how it is "bubbling"?

My guess is replace that and I should be back in business ...

DSC00371.jpg


DSC00370.jpg


So ... still with me?

Here is the problem. I cannot get to the solder side of that cap. The glass DMD is permanently attached to the circuit board you see in the photograph and it doesn't appear it can be removed without permanently destorying either the PCB or the glass DMD - nice freaking design Sega!?!?!

So ... any ideas? I would love to get this thing fixed or at least have that cap replaced to see if that solves the problem.

Let me know what you think. I am out of ideas.

Steve
MM
 
It's more likely to be the smaller electro caps in that cluster of three. Large can type electros give very little trouble as a rule.

Big surprise, right?

Trying to get this resolved for a friend and I am as far as my own tiny brain can get me - need help!

This is the large DMD from Sega Batman Forever. This DMD works great for about 40 minutes and then the display just goes to "fuzz" or "snow". It is pretty much unreadable at that point. The fact that it works well for a while led me down the path that when something gets "hot" it is failing so I started looking at components and capacitors and I think I have located the problem cap.

Take a look at the cap on the left. See how it is "bubbling"?

My guess is replace that and I should be back in business ...

DSC00371.jpg


DSC00370.jpg


So ... still with me?

Here is the problem. I cannot get to the solder side of that cap. The glass DMD is permanently attached to the circuit board you see in the photograph and it doesn't appear it can be removed without permanently destorying either the PCB or the glass DMD - nice freaking design Sega!?!?!

So ... any ideas? I would love to get this thing fixed or at least have that cap replaced to see if that solves the problem.

Let me know what you think. I am out of ideas.

Steve
MM
 
It's more likely to be the smaller electro caps in that cluster of three. Large can type electros give very little trouble as a rule.

OK ... sounds like a plan. If I could get to them to desolder them, I would be happy to replace every last cap on this crazy board.

Any idea how to get to the underside of this circuit board?

Steve
MM
 
Simplest solution might be to rip the caps off and solder to their legs.

I'm working on one right now, and I snapped them off with pliers, used a solder
sucker to clear the holes, then mount the new one's on angles so I can solder
them. A little hot glue to hold them in place and all is fine.

JD
 
Hey, I'm interested to see how this turned out. I'm currently working on a large DMD from a Batman Forever, and whenever the game starts to get hot, the dmd graphics start to glitch out and freeze. We do have some fuzz appear but only in very specific places each time it appears. any advice would be appreciated.
 
If it were me, I'd check power sources to make sure they are clean and the proper levels. After that I'd try some component cooler to try and identify which part is flaking out as it gets hot.
 
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