Should I get a voltage/power converter?

[BaconBitsKing]

Since I got my Famicom back in mid to late November, I've used only to AC adapter plugged into a power strip. Now, when I start to play my Famicom for a long time, it gets warm. Not hot, just warm. I'm worried that it may start becoming hot if I don't do anything about this. Do I have nothing to worry about, or should I invest in a power converter? Thanks for any answers.

Also, I know it's recommended to get a power converter when you get your Famicom (or get a Genesis M1 adapter), but I did some research and figured I'd be okay. And I was until about a week ago.

[zmaster18]

I never used one. The Famicom just gets warm because its heatsink attached to the voltage regulator is so small. In fact, it doesn't even have a proper heatsink, it just attaches to the puny RF box. It doesn't really do a good job of keeping it cool. Don't worry, it's totally normal.

I don't see a problem at all unless you maybe plan on playing 8 hours a day everyday?

[BaconBitsKing]

Well, I'm glad I have nothing to worry about. Thanks for the help.

[MS-DOS4]

Mine gets hot, I use the sega genesis power supply on it. I suppose it's normal, because I left it running for a little over a week trying to beat a game and it ended up undamaged.

[muckyfingers]

You could replace it with one of these

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/OKI-78SR-5%2F1.5-W36-C/811-2196-5-ND/2259781

it's new and doesn't require a heatsink. I've swapped mine out in my Famicom, a friend's NES Top Loader, and my SNES mini. I'll order a few more and swap my other systems as well. They barely get warm to the touch when active.

[P]

Mine gets hot too if I use a Megadrive model 1 adapter but only warm if I use an 850 mA adapter.

[muckyfingers]

Mine gets hot too if I use a Megadrive model 1 adapter but only warm if I use an 850 mA adapter.

It's because the Megadrive adapter is outputting a higher voltage, the amperage won't cause a heat increase. The more voltage the regulator  has to drop to 5 volts, the hotter it will get.

[P]

Yeah although they are both marked as 10 volt, I measured the Megadrive one to actually be something like 13 v, while the 850 mA one is closer to 10 v.

It's not like the voltage regulator can't handle a Megadrive adapter since Megadrive is also using a 7805, AFAIK.

[fredJ]

Yeah although they are both marked as 10 volt, I measured the Megadrive one to actually be something like 13 v, while the 850 mA one is closer to 10 v.

It's not like the voltage regulator can't handle a Megadrive adapter since Megadrive is also using a 7805, AFAIK.

The MD adapter is unregulated so it outputs higher if the console uses less amps.
I actually don't recommend the MD adapter, even if most people say it is perfectly fine. But of course, running a console hotter than necessary isn't useful.

Higher amps isn't a problem with a regulated power supply, such as the small ones you usually buy these days.
The always output around 9V no matter what load.

I think the MD adapter has 1,2A and 10V if I remember correctly, and the famicom PSU is 0,8A and 10V?

[2A03]

You could replace it with one of these

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/OKI-78SR-5%2F1.5-W36-C/811-2196-5-ND/2259781

it's new and doesn't require a heatsink. I've swapped mine out in my Famicom, a friend's NES Top Loader, and my SNES mini. I'll order a few more and swap my other systems as well. They barely get warm to the touch when active.

Those are nice, but they do cause some minor video interference since they're switching regulators. You can rectify this by adding a good size inductor to the output though. Also if you're willing to spend a bit more I recommend these: http://bit.ly/1xqxL1c I stuck one in my AV Famicom and I don't have any issues whatsoever.

[muckyfingers]

You could replace it with one of these

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/OKI-78SR-5%2F1.5-W36-C/811-2196-5-ND/2259781

it's new and doesn't require a heatsink. I've swapped mine out in my Famicom, a friend's NES Top Loader, and my SNES mini. I'll order a few more and swap my other systems as well. They barely get warm to the touch when active.

Those are nice, but they do cause some minor video interference since they're switching regulators. You can rectify this by adding a good size inductor to the output though. Also if you're willing to spend a bit more I recommend these: http://bit.ly/1xqxL1c I stuck one in my AV Famicom and I don't have any issues whatsoever.

Awesome, thanks for the tip, I'll order a few of those.