How necessary/practical are the heat plates for Sega CD?

[MrOldSchoolCool]

Those metal plates that attach to the Sega CD when you combine it with a Genesis.

[Fudoh]

I don't think these do anything in terms of heat dissipation. They just provide the right angle hooks which hold the two machines together in case somebody tries to pick up the combo by grabbing just the MD.

On a MD1/MCD1 or MD2/MCD2 combo these are not neccessary. On a MD1/MCD2 combo you need the plate to attach the bottom extension on the left hand side.

[MrOldSchoolCool]

I don't think these do anything in terms of heat dissipation. They just provide the right angle hooks which hold the two machines together in case somebody tries to pick up the combo by grabbing just the MD.

On a MD1/MCD1 or MD2/MCD2 combo these are not neccessary. On a MD1/MCD2 combo you need the plate to attach the bottom extension on the left hand side.

Well, that's what I thought but I just hooked up the Genesis Model 1 to a Sega CD Model 2 with the plates off and it connected and works no problem. So, I'm thinking I'll just sell the metal plates and clips if they're not necessary?

[ApolloBoy]

They just provide the right angle hooks which hold the two machines together in case somebody tries to pick up the combo by grabbing just the MD.

They're also RFI shields, if you look at the way they clip onto both systems they touch the RF shielding inside both the Genesis and Sega CD.

[MrOldSchoolCool]

They just provide the right angle hooks which hold the two machines together in case somebody tries to pick up the combo by grabbing just the MD.

They're also RFI shields, if you look at the way they clip onto both systems they touch the RF shielding inside both the Genesis and Sega CD.

But are they necessary, is the question.

[Fudoh]

definitely not. One of my MD/MCD combos has been running without for almost a decade.

[MrOldSchoolCool]

definitely not. One of my MD/MCD combos has been running without for almost a decade.

Aren't there heat shields inside both the Genesis and Sega CD already anyway?

[bobrocks95]

They're not heat shields, they're shields to prevent Radio Frequency Interference between the two consoles. I'm guessing it would only affect the RF output(?), and any crosstalk between the consoles is entirely negligible.

[MrOldSchoolCool]

They're not heat shields, they're shields to prevent Radio Frequency Interference between the two consoles. I'm guessing it would only affect the RF output(?), and any crosstalk between the consoles is entirely negligible.

Hmm, the idea they're meant to prevent RF interference sounds right. Can anybody confirm that the RF shielding would only affect your system if you used RF?

[leonk]

I was always under the impression that they are ground planes. Genesis and sega cd have different sources for power. You need to make sure that ground is same for both else really nasty things can happen. You already have ground via exp port, this is just an extra safety measure.

[darcagn]

Pretty sure the Japanese Mega CD didn't have the shielding; it was just added for the Genesis to meet FCC regulations for RF interference.

That's what I've always heard people say on the internet however, so it must be true!

Keep in mind that even if you don't use RF output, there's still the chance for the Genesis to interfere with other electronics, however in reality, tons of people run the console without the shielding as it's easily lost. It's not a problem if you do without.

[MrOldSchoolCool]

Pretty sure the Japanese Mega CD didn't have the shielding; it was just added for the Genesis to meet FCC regulations for RF interference.

That's what I've always heard people say on the internet however, so it must be true!

Keep in mind that even if you don't use RF output, there's still the chance for the Genesis to interfere with other electronics, however in reality, tons of people run the console without the shielding as it's easily lost. It's not a problem if you do without.

It makes the system not as heavy as well, though that's pretty minor.

I'm in a weird spot because I have all the metal plates and clips but really need money right now. I could probably get like $25- $30 for it.

[Xyga]

Like many owners I've lost those a long time ago, never had a problem without... I'm even using a single jerry-modded AC adapter for both machines hahaha.

[BuckoA51]

I ran mine (MD1 MCD1) without them for a while and had all kinds of weird glitches in MegaCD/SegaCD games, I bought a new set on eBay and everything has been fine since.

[zakruowrath]

They're not heat shields, they're shields to prevent Radio Frequency Interference between the two consoles. I'm guessing it would only affect the RF output(?), and any crosstalk between the consoles is entirely negligible.

Hmm, the idea they're meant to prevent RF interference sounds right. Can anybody confirm that the RF shielding would only affect your system if you used RF?

I've seen interference in composite video when using the 32x without the Sega CD/ MegaDrive RF shielding. When analogue TV was still broadcasting here in the states and even now on my modern LCD, it causes a lot interference on the lower VHF channels with the 32x plugged in. It was actually broadcasting a weak black and white picture on channels 2 3 and 4 even thou I wasn't using RF at all with my MegaDrive. Although it doesn't really hurt anything, I just think it's kind of neat the Sega MegaDrive/CD/32x combo is powerful enough to broadcast without even being plugged into to your TV

[Obiwanshinobi]

I just think it's kind of neat the Sega MegaDrive/CD/32x combo is powerful enough to broadcast without even being plugged into to your TV

Can't NES do the same? Certain Famiclone surely can.