Help please Nintendo Nes Pal not working

[VirusPowah]

I installed the new connector that came from AliExpress, and we're still the same, a fixed gray screen.

how should I proceed?

[Ben Boldt]

I am sorry to hear that the connector couldn’t fix it. The next steps would be removing chips and checking if they work in a different NES. This requires special skills and equipment to remove the chips. You might find someone locally who can do it for you.

I can fix it for you but I live in USA and shipping may be expensive. However, labor is free from me. I will fix any decent person’s NES for cost of shipping and parts, and the labor is free, just send me a PM.

[VirusPowah]

I really appreciate your help and your interest in collaborating with the repair. I don't know how much shipping from Spain to the United States might cost, and I'll consider it. But do you think I could first replace the CPU and PPU chips with a faulty clone I have here? I have desoldering braid and a soldering iron, but I don't know if I'll need any other tools or if it's a job you wouldn't recommend I do.

[creaothceann]

I don't know how much shipping from Spain to the United States might cost

Seems to be pretty expensive with DHL and ParcelABC. There's also FedEx. Couldn't get a quote from UPS without detailed info.

It's probably much easier to just buy another one than paying shipping (twice) and parts.

[Ben Boldt]

OK you could replace it with those tools. Please watch videos and practice on junk circuit boards first. It is easy to damage the NES circuit board. There are several different chips that could be the problem. Most commonly, it may be the RAM chip on the CPU side.

[VirusPowah]

Do you recommend changing the RAM first and testing, or going directly to the CPU and PPU? I haven't changed them yet because I'm waiting for sockets for the PPU and CPU.

[Ben Boldt]

Does your Famiclone work? If you are able to swap chips with it, then you can figure out exactly which chips are working correctly. Otherwise, it is gambling to guess and replace the chips.

Some Famiclones have all the same chips as the NES and it will be helpful for you. Others have epoxy blob and it can’t help you. Please post a photo of your Famiclone circuit board so we can see it.

[VirusPowah]

You have independent chips, it is not a NES on a chip, the clone does not work, the power supply is dead

[Ben Boldt]

My opinion for the best approach:

First fix the Famiclone power supply. We can help you find the correct power supply if you provide the photo of its circuit board, on both sides. It probably uses 9V DC adapter with center positive, but we can check the photos for your safety.

When the Famiclone works, then you can use it for help fixing the NES.

[VirusPowah]

It's not the power supply, you're telling me wrong. I meant that it doesn't get any power, it doesn't turn on. I have the original power supply and it works fine.

[Ben Boldt]

I still think you should fix the Famiclone first. Then it can help you fix the real NES.

Can you measure for 5 Volts inside? For example, the CPU voltage can be measured like this:

test_volts.jpg

Do you get any solid color screen? Do you hear the "pop" sound on the TV speaker when you turn it on?

[VirusPowah]

The famiclone, the time I tried to look at it, the voltages were going crazy, I didn't know where to start looking. If you want, I can upload photos when you can, and if you want, I'll see if we can revive it and use it to test the other one or whatever you recommend.
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About the gray screen on the original NES, tomorrow I'll tell you if I hear sound. Now I have it disassembled and I don't remember.

[Ben Boldt]

The famiclone, the time I tried to look at it, the voltages were going crazy, I didn't know where to start looking. If you want, I can upload photos when you can, and if you want, I'll see if we can revive it and use it to test the other one or whatever you recommend.
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About the gray screen on the original NES, tomorrow I'll tell you if I hear sound. Now I have it disassembled and I don't remember.

Yes I think it is the best idea to fix the Famiclone. The photos will be helpful. Please provide photos on both sides of the circuit board.

When you remove a CPU or other chip, it is easy to cause damage like this:

pcb_damage.jpg

Notice the peeled traces, and the barrels are ripped out from the holes. If you pry the chip too hard, this will happen. Do you have the experience? It will take practice to prevent this damage on the NES and Famiclone.

But maybe you can fix the famiclone without removing any chips anyway! We will find out.

[VirusPowah]

https://ibb.co/XxG0JkF6
https://ibb.co/Lhd2rWVC
https://ibb.co/nq5136NH
https://ibb.co/fGQYBQmk

These are the images of the Famicom, the official NES does not make pop or at least I do not appreciate it and the gray image is fixed.

[Ben Boldt]

Right here you have a broken trace:

broken_trace.jpg

Solder a wire like this and see if it can work:

solder_wire.jpg

Also, the power connector may be dirty. If the Famiclone still does not turn on, then insert the DC jack multiple times and wiggle it, etc, see if it can rub and scrape the contacts inside and start running again. This looks like a nice quality Famiclone.