nesdev.org

I have a Good Boy console with a broken AC adapter.

On the console it says:
Output Voltage: DC 10V
Max Current 850MA

And on the AC Adapter it says:
Model: AD-0329F
Input: 220V ~ 50Hz
Output: 9V==1A 9VA

Can I use my NES adapter instead?

AC Adapter NES-PAL-002
Input: AC220-230V/50Hz
Output: AC 9.8V/1.3A

The NES adapter outputs AC. The NES's power regulator will take either AC or DC, but I'm not so sure about the Good Boy.

I'm not sure I follow you. You aren't sure if the Good Boy takes AC, DC or both? The adapter for the Good Boy says AC Adaptor on it if that's any help.

What about the differences in Volt/Ampere?

Would I be better of looking for a different AC-adapter? (If any exist?)

You can't use NES adapter, it outputs AC, while your clone requires DC. You need a DC adapter. Exact voltage and current is not that important, it can vary a bit - like 850ma-1A, 7V-35V (but don't take it to the extreme, 10-15V is OK).

So I can use one of these?

http://www.clasohlson.se/Product/Produc ... =161197588 (swedish site)

Which one would be best suited, the one with less ampere or less volt?

Both are fine. However, make sure the polarity is correct. Some DC adapters with the same size of the connector has plus inside, minus outside, others has minus inside, plus outside. There should be a label on the console that shows correct polarity.

Shiru wrote:There should be a label on the console that shows correct polarity.

But not always. The original Sega Genesis, for example, doesn't mention polarity on its label. Instead, it mentions the model number of the recommended adapter that was sold by Sega at the time. I expected it to use positive polarity, which appears to be more common among products using a barrel connector, but in fact it used negative polarity. I switched my universal adapter to negative polarity and it worked.

Well, if you can disassemble a console, it is very easy to find out the polarity - just check the traces from adapter connector to 7805. One that goes to middle pin is minus, and other that goes to side pin is plus.

Shiru wrote:Both are fine. However, make sure the polarity is correct. Some DC adapters with the same size of the connector has plus inside, minus outside, others has minus inside, plus outside. There should be a label on the console that shows correct polarity.

The AC Adapter has a figure with the + sigh on the left and the - sign on the right, which would mean it's a negative polarity according to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AC_ad ... larity.png

I guess I can buy either of those adapters then, as they're both using minus polarity. Thanks a lot!

Wait. AC adapter, i.e. AC-AC adapter, does not have polarity - it is Alternating Current at the output. This one is unsuitable for the clone. However, if you adapter is actually AC-DC, i.e. it has Direct Current at the output, it is suitable for the clone, you only need to check the polarity.

You lost me there, but still all I have to do is to open up the console and look for the polarity then?

AC adapters could be of two types: AC-AC and AC-DC. In this thread all the references to AC or DC are related to second part, i.e. to output, it is the only that matters for NES or clone.

First adapter you mention in your first post (broken one) is AC-DC (~ means AC, == means DC). You need an AC-DC adapter as replacement. The two on your link to the swedish site are AC-DC, they are suitable.

Second one you mention in the first post is AC-AC. This one is not suitable.

For any AC-DC adapter you need to check the polarity.

You look for symbols like this:


Usually they are printed right next to the power socket, sometimes along with the voltage.

Dwedit wrote:You look for symbols like this:

Usually they are printed right next to the power socket, sometimes along with the voltage.

I don't see any symbols there. The only symbol is the right one found on the broken AC Adapter.

Here's what it looks like inside the console. I'm not sure what I should be looking for really.

http://i.imgur.com/CxAxy.jpg

The part that is bolted on the metal thing and connected to the top board with three wire cable is the 7805. Trace where the middle pin goes on the connector, that is minus.