How to Replace a CD32 Laser

[taunusanden]

Originally Posted by FOL

Dont feel stupid, was my fault, got so used to calling them charles hyde. I should have explained better.

You could try phoning aswo, they might sell them and it may be a mistake on their site.

Good idea, I'll do that next year

[Dougal]

This is an awesome guide, but unfortunately the pictures are no longer there.

Could someone update this please ? My replacement laser arrive today and I would love to follow this guide.

[FOL]

Originally Posted by Dougal

This is an awesome guide, but unfortunately the pictures are no longer there.

Could someone update this please ? My replacement laser arrive today and I would love to follow this guide.

Your really dont need a guide. Its simply one clip, you level out of the way, the laser bar pops out. Laser is loose, then simply put new laser in place and push laser bar past clip and into new laser. done.

Once you see clip, you will understand, very easy.

[Dougal]

Originally Posted by FOL

Your really dont need a guide. Its simply one clip, you level out of the way, the laser bar pops out. Laser is loose, then simply put new laser in place and push laser bar past clip and into new laser. done.

Once you see clip, you will understand, very easy.

Oh ok cool i'll try it.

My CD32 reads originals ok every time, but burned cd's it is very picky on the brand and sometimes they take very long to load.

Is that case for a laser replacement (I have a brand new one) ?

[FOL]

Originally Posted by Dougal

Oh ok cool i'll try it.

My CD32 reads originals ok every time, but burned cd's it is very picky on the brand and sometimes they take very long to load.

Is that case for a laser replacement (I have a brand new one) ?

Some say yes, others say no.
All you can do is try it and see.

[Riempie]

Otherwise use this url (still has pictures)

http://amigax.com/2010/12/13/replaci...32-laser-unit/

And what FOL says: sometimes it helps, sometimes not...

I had some luck by just tweaking these 'pots' using a small screw-driver (with a new laser and with an original laser). Be sure to remember the first position of the pots because they are very sensitive. Just turn the screw bit by bit because one little turn can cause original cd's not to work anymore.

[jbenam]

My advice when messing with pots is to be REALLY careful.

They're super-sensible and if you've never dealt with them before, one can easily understimate how sensible they are.

I'd never attempt doing that without a multimeter connected to the right points at all times - you can then proceed to use it to write down the original value (I don't know where you should put the probes on the CD32 laser, but I suppose someone must know) and change the pot value by just by a few hundred (not really sure of the usual range of a CD32 laser, but I suspect it should be in the range of a few Kohms) ohms, then test and see if it works and proceed like that until you find the sweet spot for your laser lens.

Exceeding with the pot tweaking might give you a really "powerful" laser which will read everything you throw at it, but it'll severely reduce the life-span of the new laser and you might end up needing a new one in a few months/years.

[Lord Aga]

Originally Posted by jbenam

Exceeding with the pot tweaking might give you a really "powerful" laser which will read everything you throw at it, but it'll severely reduce the life-span of the new laser and you might end up needing a new one in a few months/years.

So, by combining 8 tweaked CD32s, we could build an Amiga death star

[FOL]

Originally Posted by Lord Aga

So, by combining 8 tweaked CD32s, we could build an Amiga death star

LOL or fry the discs, .

[tripp]

Wondering if there are much difference between the laser models KSS210B and KSS210A. The working (with pics) guide linked above shows the instructions for replacing KSS210A with KSS210B.

This is the one I bought some time ago: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-OPTICA...item4172bc708d

when we did with a friend (experienced technician) according to the instructions (just can't remember which one at the moment), where soldering was needed (to cut one particular connection, as descibed on the instructions above), the CD motor started to spin *backwards*. Did not really know what was up, so I ended selling that as spares. Had just a thought that whether the soldering was actually meant for the model B, not A and hence started going backwards. No modification made to the motherboard, we only changed the laser.

Would love to know whether there is a difference of installing between the models A & B.

I'm having problems with another CD32, so I'd like to play on the safe side if I'm trying to change the laser again. So asking a bit more info.

[tripp]

BUMB

just checking. Still interested about the comment I wrote above - if anyone has ideas about it. Cheers.

[Arnie]

If I had a CD32 that read CD32 games O.K but not CD-r's then I would be more likely to blame the CD-r media.

[kipper2k]

Originally Posted by tripp

BUMB

just checking. Still interested about the comment I wrote above - if anyone has ideas about it. Cheers.

Simple answer, the B version is better at reading burnt disks (memorex suck)

[tripp]

Originally Posted by Arnie

If I had a CD32 that read CD32 games O.K but not CD-r's then I would be more likely to blame the CD-r media.

read somewhere else this: "CD-R are recorded at about 70% reflectivity of originals" ... if that would also be the reason.

[tripp]

Originally Posted by kipper2k

Simple answer, the B version is better at reading burnt disks (memorex suck)

thanks for the info.

But how can I know the quality (brand, if any) of the laser.

like this on ebay, is good to go? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KSS210B-RE...item258dbc2d84

One other site says about the KSS-210A version: "original product, hard to find".

So I'm either getting the KSS-210B from ebay and not knowing about the quality or
KSS-210A from other site which should be good as it's the original product for CD32.

KSS-210B = generic?
KSS-210A = always Sony?

Also still curious of what would have caused the motor to spin backwards after installing the laser unit (A in this case, if that matters). REad that someone had problems with KSS-210A when the disc would not spin at all, two of them. So again, if that is a quality issue (or are they always made by Sony)...

[tripp]

I ordered the original, boxed CD32 laser unit from http://gamedoctorhk.com . They still have three left so if anyone is interested.

[tolkien]

The Psx láser unit is cd32 compatible?

[Toni Wilen]

Originally Posted by tripp

Also still curious of what would have caused the motor to spin backwards after installing the laser unit (A in this case, if that matters).

Missing metal shield can cause it (interference from CD32 mainboard)

[tripp]

Originally Posted by Toni Wilen

Missing metal shield can cause it (interference from CD32 mainboard)

Ok, thanks a lot. That would make sense.

[FOL]

Originally Posted by tolkien

The Psx láser unit is cd32 compatible?

No. Thats a complete mech including laser.