Is There a US/Canadian Power Adaptor That Works On A Famicom Twin?

[okame]

I got a Famicom Twin from somebody here, and I'm just waiting for it to get here before the holidays. I thought getting a step down voltage converter would be easy to find. Just try the electronic stores nearby. Boy, was I wrong! Are there any retro US designed gaming console power adapters or other power adapters that would work on a Famicom Twin Console without frying the system the first time I plug it in? I'm looking for something that's easy to find in pawn shops or electronic shops. Something that would let me use a 100 volt Japanese gaming console in a 220 volt Canadian house. The Famicom Twin is supposed to be my X-Mas gift, but at this point, I'll be lucky to be able to use it before the end of the year!

[2A03]

Any power supply that is DC tip positive, between 7.5-10V and puts out more than 1.2A should be fine. You can also use the original Japanese power supply in conjunction with a voltage converter, although you can plug it straight into the wall using 110V just fine.

Also, I thought Canada uses 110-120V like in the US, are you sure you're not trying to plug it into an appliance outlet?

[okame]

My dad was wrong. Most sites are saying 110/120. Either way, I'll need the step down converter. Hopefully getting one soon!

[ericj]

If your house has 110 or 120V, you don't need a step down converter.

[RetroHacker]

Yeah, you don't need a step down converter. The input voltage will be 10% higher, thus the output will be 10% higher... and in this application, it does NOT matter. The power adapter is an unregulated DC supply, it's not expected to be exact. That's why the game console has a voltage regulator in it. You can, in reality, feed it anything that's within the spec of the voltage regulator, and it'll work just fine. Obviously, the closer you get to the rated voltage, the better, but 10% is well within the margins.

And even if you did live in 220v land, I wouldn't waste time and money on a voltage converter. Just find another AC adapter that puts out the correct voltage.

-Ian

[satoshi_matrix]

I haven't read through every post, but here's the basics: you need a 7.5-9v DC power supply with a NEGATIVE center polarity. These are very uncommon in North America. Nearly everything has a POSITIVE center polarity.

TO compound that, you mentioned the Twin. The problem with the Famicom Twin is that it takes a very unusual shaped connector. If you lost the original power supply or it wasn't provided, you're pretty much screwed unless you want to rebuild it with a standard power input. There isn't any replacements that I'm aware of.

[2A03]

The problem with the Famicom Twin is that it takes a very unusual shaped connector. If you lost the original power supply or it wasn't provided, you're pretty much screwed unless you want to rebuild it with a standard power input. There isn't any replacements that I'm aware of.

The Twin Fami uses a 5.5 by 2.5 mm tip which is super common actually. It's also tip positive[/i[, you don't want to use one of the opposite polarity unless you want the filter cap to blow.

[satoshi_matrix]

I apologize for my misinformation. It's been several years since I sold my TWIN and I guess I assumed the polarity was the same as the other Famicom models. My bad. 

As for finding a psu with the correct tip, where do you suppose you'd shop for one? I've NEVER seen a psu with a tip like what the TWIN needs.

[XiTaU]

i live in Australia we have 240v mains i just got a $30 step down converter on ebay so i can run my saturn, famicom and twin famicom + famiclones thing has worked like a charm for me. I have used crappy chinese 220v psu's at 240v with no problems i couldnt see why 100v jp psu wont run at 110v i have only ever read people having success with it.

[satoshi_matrix]

PAL 220-240v countries are obviously in a totally different boat, but correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't a Australian be able to import the majority of electronics from Europe without the use of a converter in the same manner?

[P]

Yes they would, as long as they have travel-adapters to convert the mechanical differences of the plugs. There are many different types of plugs used in different countries even if the voltage is similar. Then again we don't have any interesting video game systems or anything to import.

You are lucky in America and Canada, since Japanese plugs are compatible with your wall sockets and that the voltage doesn't differ too much.

[Frank_fjs]

I live in  Australia also and don't bother with stepdowns for consoles with external PSU's, I just use a generic equivalent.  I use an Aussie PSU for my twin too, the plug size is rather common. I only use my stepdown for consoles with internal power supplies such as the Dreamcast, Saturn etc.

[Lum]

I live in  Australia also and don't bother with stepdowns for consoles with external PSU's, I just use a generic equivalent.  I use an Aussie PSU for my twin too, the plug size is rather common. I only use my stepdown for consoles with internal power supplies such as the Dreamcast, Saturn etc.

That's pretty much how I see it. Haven't tried any stepdown myself. Seems to me like a waste of space and electricity to use more of them than really necessary.