Playstation as CD-player

[audio1st]

Even if it is, it looks like it will be very difficult to reach that point with my multimeter probe if I have a CD on the transport. Do you know where I might be able to get a mini-CD? I used to have one years ago but I couldn't find it today when I looked everywhere.

Hi, the blob is the measuring point.
You don't need a CD on the drive to measure the laser voltage, you just need to measure it while the laser is moving at start up. Just be careful not to look at the laser.

[rhing]

Originally posted by mluckow
Thanks for the advice, but it would be impossible to do the laser alignment procedures with the unit unplugged since voltages need to be measured. Or were you just referring to the cleaning process?

I was just referring to the cleaning process.

Originally posted by mluckow
Even if it is, it looks like it will be very difficult to reach that point with my multimeter probe if I have a CD on the transport. Do you know where I might be able to get a mini-CD? I used to have one years ago but I couldn't find it today when I looked everywhere.

I wonder if it would be possible to take a regular CD-R and cut the outer two-thirds away to make my own mini-CD? Seems like that might work, but do happen to know?

As Audio1st mentioned, you have that short period of time when the laser head is moving vertically to check the voltage. If you need a mini-CD, you should be able to find them on the Internet or any well-stocked computer store. If you place a "re-sized" you would most likely get disk read errors.

[ecir38]

Originally posted by john blackburn
My MickF linear power supply lives!

John

John, do you have any pics of this?

[john blackburn]

ecir38

I haven't got any photos yet, it's still in "lethal exposed mains wiring beta test mode" I will take some when it's in a safer more postable state.

With hindsight the layout could have been much more compact but it's working well at the minute. The 3.6v section gets hotter than I expected, some vent holes are planned for the playstation casing above the heatsink. I can hold the sink for around 10 seconds before swearing so its not critical but the heat would be better out than in.

John

[mluckow]

Rich, Mr. Skinny, and Audio1st,

Thanks very much for your help and advice. Today I followed Mick's procedure for aligning the laser and got all the voltages very close to his specs. However, it still won't play any of my CD-Rs, unfortunately. I even got the gain to 1.8203 V. (But my multimeter might not be perfectly accurate, of course.)

Well, at least it's a huge improvement. Before I changed any of the voltages, I noticed they were way off what they were supposed to be.

I paid a total of about $30 for it on eBay and the seller gave me a full refund since it didn't work properly, but I offered to send him back $15 for it since it took me a couple hours to do the work on it. That seems reasonable . . . .

Thanks again!

Mike

[rhing]

Has the laser alignment procedure cured the noise problem?

[mluckow]

Rich,

It cured the noise problem with all the commercial CDs I tried, but not with any of the CD-Rs I tried. All the CD-Rs still have the scratchy sound, unfortunately. (I tried about six of each.)

Anyway, it's good that at least I can listen to commercial CDs now. I'd have to throw it away if it couldn't even play commercial CDs without noise.

Thanks,

Mike

[rhing]

I have heard that some people can't get their Playstations to play CD-R discs. Once you have time to look at the laser unit on your Playstation, look to see if the Model No. is KSM-440AAM. This was the first generation laser unit that employs a plastic body that can potentially distort with exposure to heat from the power supply. Sony later went to a more reliable die-cast bodied laser unit. I doubt that the body material has a bearing on the ability to read discs, but there may have been other improvements that were electro-optical in nature. My Playstations all have the latter-built KSM-440ACM laser units. If the problems persist, a new laser mechanism might be in order. You can purchase replacement parts like KSM-440ACM from http://www.richspsxparts.com/ for $16.95 USD.

[john blackburn]

My 1002 has the original drive in it. When you turn it on it wont play a CDR, it whirrs and carries on something alarming. Replace the CDR with any shop bought disc and play for 10 seconds and it will then play any CDR until its turned off again.

It's a bit of a faff but I can live with it until a newer type laser is acquired. I haven't gone near the laser adjustments on the grounds that it works fine once it's had it's little ritual.

It may that mine isn't quite as worn as yours.

John

[mluckow]

Rich and John,

I checked, and I have the KSM-440ACM laser unit. Also, it won't play CD-Rs without the scratchy sound even if I play a commercial CD first.

So, it looks like I'm stuck and won't be able to play CD-Rs, unfortunately. Oh, well, I'll live. I have another CD player I can use if I really want to listen to a CD-R. Or, I could always buy another PS1.

Thanks again for all your help!

Mike