Video Game Knowledge – Retro Power Adapters

Thursday, 07 July 2011 14:21 Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 March 2012 16:45 Written by Kevin 26 Comments

Sometimes you find a sweet retro system for real cheap but it doesn’t come with a power adapter. Luckily some power adapters are interchangeable and you can save even more money buy not shelling out $10+ on eBay. These tips will hopefully help you find a solution to your power woes.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 7th, 2011 at 2:21 pm and is filed under RetroActive, Video Game Knowledge. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
  • http://twitter.com/davidhass3lh0ff michael smith

    cool video. when it comes to retro gaming or just gaming in general it’s all ways a pain finding the right power and video cables.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1601895945 Nate Peters

    Great video.  Lots of good info.  I keep a bag full of old random power supplies around just for the purpose of replacing dead ones.  You would be surprised at how well some of them work for consoles…

  • Anonymous

    I have a CDX with no power supply…. The one it has is slightly messed up…. Hard to find a replacement for that bad boy.  lol

    • http://www.facebook.com/johnnydelia John Delia

      The best replacement for the Sega CDX is the Sony PSOne ac adapter (the small PSOne, not the big PSX).  The settings work.  I bought the CDX at such a great deal but without anything.  This discovery was a lifesaver.

      • http://twitter.com/kevinwska Kevin Willingham

        I have heard this as well. What does the bottom of the CDX say it requires?

    • LonestarGoner

      Could you find a replacement adapter with a different plug (that connects to the system) and splice in a correct plug? It’s a tad ghetto, yeah, but it might work. (Take care with the wiring, an old Intellivision met a plastic-melting end that way)

      • http://twitter.com/kevinwska Kevin Willingham

        The problem with that is you have to make sure you don’t get the polarities of the plug/wires crossed. I honestly wouldn’t suggest it. 

        • LonestarGoner

          Good point, definitely a last ditch effort. Managed to get a Fairchild Channel F working that way though, but you’re right, it’s not something that should be done willy-nilly.

        • http://www.facebook.com/johnnydelia John Delia

          My worries usually surround Japanese systems in the US – does it matter or not to use a downstepper? I hear it doesn’t but I’m never sure.

          • http://twitter.com/kevinwska Kevin Willingham

            I was going to mention this more in detail in the video but cut it due to a lack of relevant footage. But like I did mention the input listed on your power adapters says what it takes in from your electrical outlets. A step down converter is usually suggested for import systems. Japanese outlets put out 100V but US outlets output 120V. So a Japanese adapter plugged into your wall is taking 20V over its suggested intake. This can cause your adapter and system to overheat or fry. Some US adapters output a good amount of power for your import system so you don’t need the step down. A Master System adapter will work with a Famicom for example. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/johnnydelia John Delia

    Glad we’re bringing back Videogame Knowledge – it’s just a great outlet for collectors and gamers

  • LonestarGoner

    Just to help others, maybe you guys could do a VGK on replacing or repairing systems with battery back-up problems. I managed to fix a Shining Force cartridge 2 D cells in a connector to the back. I know lots of people with old carts who have this problem. Can you guys help them out?

    • http://twitter.com/kevinwska Kevin Willingham

      I actually did one on replacing the battery in Pokemon games which does transfer to many cartridges. I could do one with a broader scope and for systems like the Saturn which uses a battery back up for saves and time keeping. Here is the Pokemon one http://retrowaretv.com/video-game-knowledge-pokemon-battery-replacement/

  • kidcoyote_anarchy

    Funny thing, I had a charger for an electric razor (5 or more years ago so I don’t remember the specific brand) that had an AC adapter that power my Super Nintendo perfectly.

  • http://www.facebook.com/billy.w.hudson Billy Hudson

    Just got a saturn with no ac, lol thanks for this vid

    • http://twitter.com/kevinwska Kevin Willingham

      Haha no problem glad it helped and was made just in time. 

  • Pinballrj93

    do you know what works for a nes 2?

  • Pinballrj93

    do you know what works for a nes 2?

    • http://twitter.com/kevinwska Kevin Willingham

      A regular NES adapter should work fine. 

    • http://twitter.com/kevinwska Kevin Willingham

      A regular NES adapter should work fine. 

  • Gimpy

    This is awesome, Actually just picked up a Mega Drive with no cables and it was driving me crazy as I couldn’t get a picture. I was using a NES AC supply for it, didn’t even occur to me that it might be a power issue. Means I wasted money on a serial cable I now don’t need, but at least I know what was causing it now. Thanks mate!

  • Gimpy

    This is awesome, Actually just picked up a Mega Drive with no cables and it was driving me crazy as I couldn’t get a picture. I was using a NES AC supply for it, didn’t even occur to me that it might be a power issue. Means I wasted money on a serial cable I now don’t need, but at least I know what was causing it now. Thanks mate!

  • Gimpy

    This is awesome, Actually just picked up a Mega Drive with no cables and it was driving me crazy as I couldn’t get a picture. I was using a NES AC supply for it, didn’t even occur to me that it might be a power issue. Means I wasted money on a serial cable I now don’t need, but at least I know what was causing it now. Thanks mate!

  • Jjclr

    you didn’t mention the adapter polarity!
    very important! perhaps why the NES adapter didn’t work with the genesis/master system
    the little symbol with the dot and the ring +/-

    • http://www.retrowaretv.com Kevin Willingham

      No it doesn’t work because like I said…the NES adapter uses AC power the SMS/Genesis needs DC. 

  • Legion

    There’s an inaccuracy in this video.  The current rating (ie. 1A, 850mA, etc) is not how much current is output, it’s the maximum output current of the adapter.  So you won’t fry your equipment if you were, for example, to use a 2A adapter with a system that states it only needs 850mA.  However, if you were to pair an adapter that doesn’t supply enough current, the system will either not start, or the adapter will get really hot and eventually break down, sometimes spectacularly.