US NES - AC adaptor polarity

neilbaldwin · Post by **neilbaldwin** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:59 am

Can someone with a US NES tell me the polarity of the AC power adaptor?

I made the mistake of not checking once before.

Thanks

blargg · Post by **blargg** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 12:07 pm

Depends on when you're asking. It changes every 1/120 second (1/100 second in Europe).

Post by **tepples** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 12:08 pm

But which line is hot and which neutral?

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 12:40 pm

Neil the nes has a rectifier inside so you can just plug in any polarity.

blargg · Post by **blargg** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:09 pm

tepples wrote:But which line is hot and which neutral?

The output of the adaptor is from a transformer, so they're both isolated. And on the NES, they go into a rectifier, so they have the same characteristics.

As for using a DC adaptor with the NES, the main problem I've had with some is excessive hum. I believe a Sega Genesis adaptor works fine though. I'd avoid using over 9V though, as it'll heat up the regulator in the NES more.

neilbaldwin · Post by **neilbaldwin** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 3:50 pm

Heh, thanks gents. I was just being cautious because I blew up my Famicom AV last year by having the + and - the wrong way about (one of those multi-volt AC adaptors).

I shall plug it in with confidence

neilbaldwin · Post by **neilbaldwin** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 4:53 pm

Hmmmmm. What does a blinking power light mean?

I assumed my PowerPak would work on a Famicom or a (US) NES - am I wrong?

Or is it something completely different that causes the blinking?

blargg · Post by **blargg** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:02 pm

Blinking power = problem with CIC connects to cartridge, probably due to dirt, etc.

Dwedit · Post by **Dwedit** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:11 pm

Doesn't the PowerPak use the ciclone? Hit the reset button a few times to change its region. Battle Kid power flashed a lot when I first got it.

neilbaldwin · Post by **neilbaldwin** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:22 pm

blargg wrote:Blinking power = problem with CIC connects to cartridge, probably due to dirt, etc.

Hmmmm. The Ebay shop said it's had a new 72-pin connector (and it looks new from looking at it).

neilbaldwin · Post by **neilbaldwin** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:43 pm

What a dunce.... it was the Ciclone thing. Hit RESET a few times and it's all working now

Post by **tepples** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:43 pm

So I guess a game designed for a board that uses CIClone should say something like this if it detects two resets before the title screen:

Code: Select all

BLINKING?

IF YOU JUST BOUGHT THIS
GAME PAK, TRY PRESSING
RESET A FEW TIMES.

OTHERWISE, CLEAN THE
GAME PAK'S EDGE CONNECTOR
WITH A COTTON SWAB.

Post by **Memblers** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:06 pm

How about flashing a graphical depiction of how to disable the lockout chip in the NES.

Dwedit · Post by **Dwedit** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:20 pm

I kinda like having an obvious warning if your cartridge connection may be bad. That way you don't get an unexpected crash later.

CKY-2K/Clay Man · Post by **CKY-2K/Clay Man** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 9:39 pm

This topic is useful for me because my adapter got fried.

I found an adapter that was very similar but I think it had move voltage than the actual one.