Famicom World

Family Computer => Technical & Repair Assistance => Topic started by: Circlekyuu on August 03, 2011, 12:19:43 pm

Title: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: Circlekyuu on August 03, 2011, 12:19:43 pm
Note: Please move this topic if it must be moved. I didn't know if it should go here or in the Other Gaming section, seeing as it isn't technically about the Famicom.

So, I received my Super Famicom in the mail finally, and immediately plugged it in and hooked it up to my TV to play me some Link to the Past, but at the time I hadn't realized that it was potentially hazardous to use certain AC Adapters with it. I went to look at the AC Adapter the dude gave me with the system, and I am using an original SNES AC Apapter. (SNS-002) The AC Adapter starts to get really hot after a while, but the console seems to be fine. Some places I look say this is just screaming for problems, while others say that it makes no difference whatsoever. Is this really okay?
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: Lum on August 03, 2011, 01:52:12 pm
SNS-002 should not even fit into the socket of a Super Famicom (or PAL SNES) at all. Its plug is supposed to have a pin in the middle. US and AFAIK Korean systems used that odd connector.
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: Circlekyuu on August 03, 2011, 05:11:46 pm
...Really? The back of my AC Adapter clearly says:

"MODELNO.SNS-002
INPUT AC 120V 60Hz 17W
OUTPUTDC10V 850mA
POWER SUPPLY FOR USE WITH
SUPER NES CONTROLDECK(SNS-001)ONLY"

Is... this what normal SNES AC Adapters say or do I maybe have a different one? Like I said, I have been able to use this perfectly with my Super Famicom...
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: 2A03 on August 03, 2011, 05:28:07 pm
Are you sure your SFC hasn't been modded? There's no way an American SNES power supply would fit unless you really forced it in. The SFC uses the same power supply connector as the Famicom and various other systems.
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: Circlekyuu on August 03, 2011, 05:45:19 pm
Maybe it has been and I don't know about it, I'm not entirely sure...

The back of it looks like this (http://uploadir.com/u/098z7q), but I don't really have a good camera so I'm sorry if you won't be able to make anything out of it.
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: 2A03 on August 03, 2011, 06:23:07 pm
Looks like someone swapped out the board with an American SNES board. IIRC, the motherboards are interchangeable between the American SNES and the SFC/European SNES
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: Circlekyuu on August 03, 2011, 06:28:48 pm
Oh... would this change any kind of compatibility with things like the Super Scope to my Super Famicom at all, and would that make it perfectly okay to use my AC Adapter seeing as inside my Super Famicom is apparently just an SNES anyway?
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: 2A03 on August 03, 2011, 07:06:55 pm
Quote from: Circlekyuu on August 03, 2011, 06:28:48 pm
Oh... would this change any kind of compatibility with things like the Super Scope to my Super Famicom at all, and would that make it perfectly okay to use my AC Adapter seeing as inside my Super Famicom is apparently just an SNES anyway?

It won't change anything in terms of compatibility, as the American SNES and SFC are pretty much the same, just with different cases and a few other different bits. And yes, you can still use your SNES power supply.
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: Circlekyuu on August 03, 2011, 07:13:13 pm
Awesome, good to know that I don't have to worry about this anymore! Thanks a ton for your help!  :D
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: Lum on August 03, 2011, 08:08:10 pm
Yeah using an SFC in the states is only a real benefit for Satellaview fanatics. Easier to mod an American SNES for SFC games than the opposite.
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: Xious on August 04, 2011, 03:20:35 am
The SNS-002 is the correct voltage spec for the SFC: This is not your problem. For those interested, the SNS-002 AC adapter for Europe & Australia will fit in a SFC and run with no problems.

The connector for a SNS-002 from the USA will not fit normally:Your system is already modified with the USA-SNES-type connector.

In what country do you live? If you aren't in the USA,then you may be running your AC adapter on the incorrect input voltage,which will cause it to overheat. Your PSU may also overheat because it is getting old and they also tend to run warm anyway, though if you are running it on the incorrect input-voltage, you will damage it over time. .

This is the correct board for this post, IMHO.  :bomb:
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: Circlekyuu on August 04, 2011, 04:15:14 pm
Would it be possible to open the SFC up and look at something to tell what it really is? I don't.... really have experience with fiddling with anything electronic so I'd probably break it if I did that though :-\

But yes, I live in the USA. I'm guessing that's not a problem then?
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: Lum on August 04, 2011, 05:03:22 pm
Not with the AV port, no. Most any USA tv will accept Japanese video. I don't know about its RF though.
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: 2A03 on August 04, 2011, 07:16:27 pm
Quote from: Xious on August 04, 2011, 03:20:35 am
For those interested, the SNS-002 AC adapter for Europe & Australia will fit in a SFC and run with no problems.

I'm surprised you didn't fry the SFC in that case, since the European SNES uses AC just like the NES. The opposite will work though.

Quote from: Lum on August 04, 2011, 05:03:22 pm
Not with the AV port, no. Most any USA tv will accept Japanese video. I don't know about its RF though.

If the board's been swapped out with one from an American SNES, than the RF shouldn't be an issue.
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: Lum on August 04, 2011, 10:35:53 pm
Quote from: 2A03 on August 04, 2011, 07:16:27 pm
I'm surprised you didn't fry the SFC in that case, since the European SNES uses AC just like the NES. The opposite will work though.


Well I doubt most people notice the SFC plug is different from European. Just a slight size change, one has to look VERY close at the back of both systems.
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: fredJ on August 05, 2011, 12:55:03 am
An SNES AC/AC adapter may work on a SFC, because the console transforms the current from AC to DC. 

However, it didn't work well with my AC adapter. I got a distorted picture. It may be because the inside of the SFC changed during revisions, but it may also be that my AC adaptor is not working well.

But I do know several people who successfully run their SFC on PAL SNES AC adaptors. They report that the console gets a bit hot, but other than that no problem.
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: Circlekyuu on August 05, 2011, 07:03:08 pm
Hmm... that's odd because instead of the console running hot the AC Adapter itself runs hot, but I guess that's the same thing?
Title: Re: Still confused on AC Adapters... (SuFami, not sure if it should be moved)
Post by: Xious on August 07, 2011, 07:28:34 am
No, 'tisn't the same at all. I'd suspect your AC adapter is simply getting weak, but this will only affect the longevity of the AC adapter, not your system.. If you are concerned and want to buy a new-old-stock (aftermarket) power supply for the SNES/SFC/FC, I have them in stock. :bomb: