10 replies to this topic

[He-Man]

My Super Nintendo's connector has become so dirty that games are starting to fail to work. The performance is going down the drain, and I think that the connector has oxidized. Tomorrow I'm going out to an electronics store to get a contact cleaner from Caig Labs called DeoxIt. I have come to a conclusion that I need to do more than merely remove dirt and grime, as the oxides and sulfides need removal. Do you think that using DeoxIt on a SNES's connector is a good idea? I have read on Caig Labs' site that it is safe on plastics. I'm hoping that it will cause the SNES to work like new. If this works, I'll be using it on my remaining consoles that use cartridges, plus all of my game cartridges.

What are your opinions about trying to go this route? I have read that isopropyl alcohol solutions can't do what DeoxIt does.

[SnowsilverKat]

I found a few threads about cleaning the SNES:

http://www.assembler...ead.php?t=23463

A lot of people seem to suggest cleaning a cart with a solvent and then inserting it into and removing it from the console multiple times. I'd try that with the isopropyl alcohol first though, it may work just as well.

[He-Man]

I've tried that, and unfortunately the system still gives me trouble. I believe that the connector might have some oxidation, reducing the electrical connections. Unlike isopropyl alcohol, DeoxIt works better on the connector. I did say earlier that isopropyl alcohol doesn't remove oxidation, while DeoxIt does. Oxidation is another big cause of electrical failures. Aside from DeoxIt D5, which is the contact cleaner, there's also DeoxIt Gold, which adds protection to the pin connectors. If the cartridge connectors of my games lost their gold coating from way back, this might restore it. However, I'm going to use DeoxIt D5 first, as some of my games have discolored connectors.

I'm planning on going to a Lowes store to see if they have the DeoxIt spray cans I need. If not, Guitar Center will be the next destination, as I researched their site and the location I want to go to has it in stock.

Edited by He-Man, 11 November 2010 - 09:55 AM.

[Veteran]

With all this effort, would it not be easier and possibly cheaper depending on how far you have to go, just to buy another SNES?

[Kasa Murasaki]

Sooner or later it's going to become more difficult to find one in decent condition.

I did find one at a garage sale the other day that I still have yet to test out. Got it on the cheap with a N64 and some random games. Gonna resell at some point after testing everything.

Edited by Kasa Murasaki, 11 November 2010 - 06:40 PM.

[He-Man]

With all this effort, would it not be easier and possibly cheaper depending on how far you have to go, just to buy another SNES?

That depends on the price of the system, and the condition. However, I have already done some DeoxIt D5 treatment to the system. I followed the directions, and as of recent I looked at the connector of the system and have noticed that the oxidation is disappearing. Sometime soon, when the system has dried, if I see no oxidation on both the main connector and the multi-out pins, I will spray DeoxIt Gold G5 to protect them.

EDIT: Also, even if you buy another SNES, it might have oxidized pin contacts. I should have told you about this a few days ago.

I was under the assumption that the system connector had oxidized as the games were freezing despite being clean and free of dirt. Before my last treatment, I did a test of the system for a short bit. I used the game cartridges 'Mega Man X3' and 'Super Bomberman'. Unlike my previous test a few days ago, there was no failure of either game to work, and even though I jiggled the cartridges to test for screen freezes, no freezing occurred. I will be leaving this SNES in the basement in my mom's shop area until tomorrow morning, so that the remnants of the DeoxIt application can evaporate. I will only use the DeoxIt sprays in cases where the cartridge-based systems give major connector-related trouble.

Edit: I also need to let the system dry as playing games wet could mess up the electronics of the SNES or the game being tested, as I'd rather be safe than sorry. However, I read that somebody somewhere on the internet said that he sprayed all his NES games' contacts with DeoxIt D5, and afterwards they all worked perfectly without any issues. After November 20, I will do applications of DeoxIt D5 (low setting) on all of my old game cartridges from the NES and SNES days. That should get them working better than they do now.

Edited by He-Man, 14 November 2010 - 08:52 PM.

[Showsni]

My SNES has pretty much stopped working entirely now, and I'm sure the problem is the connection between the cartidge and the SNES. Maybe I should look into this... How much did it cost?

[wisp]

So you're having good results with it? Awesome. I'll have to remember your method in case the same thing ever happens to mine.

[He-Man]

My SNES has pretty much stopped working entirely now, and I'm sure the problem is the connection between the cartidge and the SNES. Maybe I should look into this... How much did it cost?

DeoxIT is hard to get in Europe. I would suggest seeing if you can find a cleaner equivalent to DeoxIT in England, for starters. Also check to see if any of Caig Labs' distributors are in your country. (www.caig.com) The spray is flammable, and cannot be ordered through air-mail. The cost was around the $15 margin for me for each spray, but the price varies between vendors. If you do get ahold of it, you'll need to follow the directions. I'd advise to use the spray on the low setting, wiping up any excess if it gets on the system's plastic. However, while you can do this, I'd suggest opening up the system using a 38mm screw bit, this way the system can dry out better. It should take a few hours. If you can get DeoxIT, it is the D-series you're looking for. If you want to get it from Caig, I'd go for one of the liquid versions, since you might be able to get those through the air-mail. Contact Caig first to be sure about this. Unlike solvents, DeoxIT is mostly safe on plastics, but will chemically eliminate oxidation and corrosion, leaving the connectors bright and shiny, while increasing the electrical conductivity. If your pin connector is a nasty green color, it will go from that to a shiny reddish hue. If after cleaning the connectors of your system and games, your games work again, I'd follow that up with the DeoxIT G series, which will add a protective layer to the pins preventing oxidation for a long while.

Showsni, take a flashlight and look at your SNES's connector. Is it oxidized or corroded? It will be if the color of the pins is wrong and they're not shiny.

So you're having good results with it? Awesome. I'll have to remember your method in case the same thing ever happens to mine.

You might be able to get DeoxIT more easily since you live in the States. I'd suggest going to www.caig.com and finding out which distributor is closest to you, and if they have what you need. Caig Laboratories has many forms of DeoxIT. Like I said to Showsni, there's multiple forms of DeoxIT and a few series out there. The forms range from the sprays and pens, even to wipes.

EDIT: I should also let you know that I used DeoxIT on my N64, and its connector problem went away too. I am unlikely to use this on my NES due to it having a new connector installed, but that doesn't mean I will not spray DeoxIT Gold G5 on the connector later. I might even spray DeoxIT D5 onto the wet applicator of my cleaning kit and use that to clean the motherboard contacts of the system. As a matter of fact, I might even use this stuff to enhance my Atari's connectivity, and I will certainly use it on my top-loading NES and my Famicom. After I've dealt with my Nintendo systems, I'll finally deal with the Sega Genesis.

Edited by He-Man, 14 November 2010 - 08:58 PM.

[Green Goblin]

My SNES still works. Gotta put parks of clothing pins to wedge the game back, but it's never failed me.

[He-Man]

My SNES still works. Gotta put parks of clothing pins to wedge the game back, but it's never failed me.

That's nice. At least the games won't freeze. I'm just glad I got my system treated with DeoxIT D5 and DeoxIT Gold G5 so that the games won't trouble me any longer. (The last several tests I did on the system resulted in the games working flawlessly.) However, my game cartridges for the Atari 2600, NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, and N64 still need a DeoxIT treatment. I'll do so later, when I have gotten the liquid or pen form of DeoxIT.

EDIT: I also have to admit that this DeoxIT stuff worked wonders on more than my SNES. It also worked great on my regular NES (which has a new connector installed), top-loading NES, N64 (might have mentioned this already), both Famicom systems, and even the Atari 2600.

I'm going to save the remaining DeoxIT D5 spray I have left for now, as I plan on getting an Atari 2600 Heavy Sixer next month.

Edited by He-Man, 22 November 2010 - 11:25 AM.