Playstation to Mega Drive RGB Scart Lead (PAL)

Added - March 2010

Console Information: SEGA Mega Drive

   
Manufacturer: SEGA
Generation: 4th Generation
Release Date: 1988 - Japan
  1989 - USA
  1990 - Europe
Media: Rom Cartridge
CPU: 16-Bit
Storage: Rom Cartridge
   

Mod Description
The Sega Mega drive can be made multi region (accepts cartridges from countries other than the one it was intended to be used for) with a few simple switches, some case cutting and some soldering, unfortunately when playing imported titles and having the console set to an alternative region it will output the video signal in Black and White when using the standard Mega Drive RF cable.

To get around this problem we can use a Mega Drive scart lead, these can be quite expensive but using an old Playstation scart lead the mod can be done very quickly and very cheaply allowing games from all regions to be played in full 60hz and in full Colour.

Another problem with the standard Mega Drive RF cable is that it only outputs mono sound, if you want stereo sound you have to connect headphones or speakers via the headphone socket, to get around this problem we can use an old audio cable and solder it directly to the scart lead, this will allow us to have stereo sound and full 60hz output.

Items Required
Soldering Iron (25w is ideal)
Solder
Flux
Wire Cutters
6-8 Core Wire or a Playstation 1/2 Scart Lead (under £2 from ebay)
Audio Cable with 2.5mm Audio Plug (standard PC audio cable)
8 Pin Din Connector ( U/Horseshoe shaped not the C shape ones)
 
Testing - Items Required
Sega Mega Drive 1 (multi region modded or use an import adaptor)
Some Imported Games


Part 1

Get together all the required items listed above

You will need a table or a bench to work on


Part 2

Cut the Playstation connector off the scart cable

Dismantle the 8 Pin Din Plug

Pull the black plastic part of the plug backwards towards the cable

Unclip the top metal casing

Remove the main connector (small round part)

Part 3

Dismantle the Scart Plug

Unscrew the plastic grip on the cable end of the scart plug

Unclip the plastic scart box and open it out

Remove inner metal plug from the casing

You should now be left with just the metal scart plug and cable


Part 4

On the PSX lead i used, the wire colour coding was as follows:

Signal
Wire Colour
Scart Pin
Additional
Red
Red
15
220 µF capacitor*
Green
Green
11
220 µF capacitor*
Blue
Blue
7
220 µF capacitor*
Composite Video
White
20
AV Switch
Yellow
8
100 ohm Resistor**
AV Switch
16
100 ohm Resistor**
RGB Switch
Black
18

* the 220 µF capacitors are soldered between the wire and scart plug, the lead i used already had them built in so i didnt need to add any, this should be the same for most scart leads.

** The 100 ohm Resistor is soldered between pins 8 and 16 on the scart lead, you will most likely need to trim its legs a little, again this was already included on the PSX scart lead i used.

 

Scart Lead Pins

1 = Right Audio Out 11 = Green
2 = Right Audio In 12 = undesignated (staus)
3 = Left/Mono Audio Out 13 = Red Earth
4 = Audio Ground 14 = Undesignated (status)
5 = Blue Ground 15 = Red
6 = Left/Mono Audio In 16 = RGB Selection
7= Blue 17 = Composite Video Ground
8 = Status & Aspect Ratio 18 = Video In Ground
  0v = internal bypass 19 = Composite Video Out
  12v = select external 20 = Composite Video In
9 = Green Earth 21 = Ground (shielding)
10 = undesignated (status)  

Scart Lead Diagram

Remove the Orange (pin 6) and Brown (pin 2) Wires

Cut the Orange and Brown wires about 2cm from the scart pins

Cut the Orange and Brown wires off at the cable end

Use your soldering iron to remove the wires connected to the scart

You can throw away the cut parts of the Orange and Brown wires


Part 5

Prepare the audio cable by cutting off one of the audio plugs


Part 6

Cut back the audio cables outer shielding to reveal the inner wires

Prepare the cables for soldering

Remove approx 5mm of the red cables shielding

Remove appox 5mm of the white cables shielding

Twist the metal shielding together and remove with your cutters


Part 7

Important! - Thread the audio cable through the plastic grip before soldering the wires to the scart plug - you cant do it afterwards without unsoldering and soldering the wires back again!

Cut back the audio cables outer shielding to reveal the inner wires

Tin the inner wires on the audio cable

Coat the metal inner red and white wires with flux

Melt some solder onto your soldering iron

run the soldering iron along the inner wires and this will coat them


Part 8

Place the metal inner scart plug back into the plastic casing

Re-assemble the Scart Plug

Carefully place the audio and main scart cable together

Adjust any components to fit into the space

Be careful not to break off any of the resistors or pull on any wires


Part 9

Important! - Slide the 8 Pin Din plugs plastic sleeve over the cable before you solder the wires to the din plug - you cant do it afterwards without unsoldering the wires and soldering them again

Prepare the 8-Pin din connector for soldering - you may want to use a pair of grips to hold the connector in place

Cut back the main cables outer shielding to reveal the inner wires

Remove the Orange and Brown wires

Tin the inner wires on the main cable

Coat the metal inner wires with flux

Melt some solder onto your soldering iron

run the soldering iron along the inner wires and this will coat them

The easiest way to solder the cable into the Din plug is to place some flux into the pin and place the tinned wire into the pin, then heat some solder onto your iron and heat up the pin, the solder will jump to the pin and seal the inner wire in place.

Solder the remaining wires to match the table below

Signal
Wire Colour
Scart Pin
8 Pin Din Plug
Red
Red
15
6
Green
Green
11
5
Blue
Blue
7
8
Composite Video
White
20
3
AV Switch
Yellow
8
4
Ground
Black
18
2
Right Audio
Red (Audio)
2
Left Audio
White (Audio)
6


Scart Lead Pin out Diagram
8 Pin Din Pin out Diagram
 


Audio Jack

Part 10

Place the metal inner scart plug back into the plastic casing

Re-assemble the Scart Plug

Re-assemble the 8 Pin Din Plug

Place the main connector into the bottom metal casing

Place the top metal casing over the din plug

Squeeze the cable clip over the wires at the back of the din plug

Slide the black plastic part of the plug back over the din plug

Your ready to test your cable


Part 11

Connect your Mega Drive to your TV with your new scart cable

Insert one of your imported games

Turn on the Mega Drive and set your TV to your scart channel

(please note some TVs will automatically jump to the scart channel when the Mega Drive is powered on)

Avoid waking the cat!


Part 12

Testing - Streets of Rage / Bare Knuckle (Japanese Release)


Part 13

Testing - Columns (from a Chinese 8 in 1 Multi Cart)


Part 14

Testing - World Cup Soccer (Japanese Release)


Part 15

Testing - Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (USA Release)


Troubleshooting

If you have problems with the scart cable please ensure that your TV is compatible with a Mega Drive scart (search online) as not all are, only 2 out of 4 of my TVs work with them.

Check all soldering to make sure no wires are touching another pin or another wire.

Ensure you have followed the wiring diagram correctly