Back in 1993, Pioneer released what would be one of the oddest and most opulent gaming machines ever created, the LaserActive. Calling it a “gaming machine” is actually a bit misleading since gaming was just one of the many things it was capable of. At its core, the LaserActive is a LaserDisc player (you know, that strange video format that came on ridiculously large 12-inch optical discs). Anyway, the LaserActive featured a bay in the front panel that allowed you to hot-swap different modules called “PACs,” of which there were four. One was a “karaoke” PAC, and another was a very obscure “computing” PAC. However, the two PACs we’re interested in are the gaming ones.
The most popular of these gaming modules was the Sega Genesis/MegaDrive or the PAC-S1 (or the PAC-S10 in North America). There was also a PC-Engine/TurboGrafx PAC called the PAC-N1 (or PAC-N10 in North America). These were both very neat in that they allowed you to not only play cartridges and HuCards but also leverage the optical drive of the LaserActive to play Sega CD, Mega LD, Super CD-ROM, and LD-ROM games.
Okay, so that was a brief history lesson on the LaserActive and its obscure ecosystem of PAC modules. The subject of this article is actually on preventative maintenance of the gaming PACs. Like many other aging electronics of this era, the electrolytic caps are reaching their end of life, and these PACs are no exception. In fact, they are very prone to having leaking capacitors that can wreak havoc on the electronics. If you were to come into possession of one of these gaming PACs, it is basically a necessity to preemptively replace all the electrolytic capacitors (caps) before even attempting to test or power on the unit. This is because there is a very high likelihood that the leaky caps can cause a short on the power rails and blow one or more fuses on the LaserActive’s power supply. This advice comes from Zaxour, whom I consider to be one of the most knowledgeable people on this earth about the LaserActive and the PC Engine in general, so I tend to trust his expertise.
In my video (linked above), I showcase five methods on how to replace all the surface-mounted electrolytic caps on a PAC-N1 (the Japanese region PC-Engine PAC). I hope the video is insightful and that you learn something from it.
So, whether you’re a seasoned modder or just beginning to explore retro gaming hardware, taking care of these vintage pieces is crucial to preserving gaming history. By performing this essential maintenance, you not only ensure the longevity of your hardware but also contribute to the ongoing appreciation and enjoyment of these unique gaming systems. Thanks for watching, and happy modding!
