Has anyone examined famicom AC-adapter HVC-002 ?

[fredJ]

 I find the original adapters are reliable, but I have heard one person telling me his adapter stopped working. He didn't buy it from me though.
Is there any info on reliability on these adapters. I have seen there are at least three different models of HVC-002. But it could just be outside differences. For example, the earliest model seems to miss the FF sticker.

[famifan]

zomg
ac adapter consists of a transformer and the rectifier bridge with some filters.

if you dont input overrating voltage and/or short circuit it will last for ages.

another thing is if the transformer made for 60Hz only and you connecting it to 50Hz network, so that can really damage it.

[GohanX]

They generally last forever, but we are talking about 25 year old pieces of equipment here, so failure will happen sometimes.

The biggest thing I see in AC adapters isn't the adapter itself, but a kink the the cord somewhere that will cause the cable to sever inside of the insulation. That's an easy enough fix if you can find the place where the cable is severed, just make sure it's fixed right, twisting the cables together and wrapping it with electrical tape is NOT the way you fix a power supply!

[133MHz]

if the transformer made for 60Hz only and you connecting it to 50Hz network, so that can really damage it.

It is true that feeding 50 Hz AC to a transformer designed for 60 Hz AC will make it buzz and heat up a bit more, but:

• For such a small transformer with little current consumption the effect is negligible.


• Japan is half 50 Hz, half 60 Hz so the Famicom adapter is designed for both.

As others have commented, an old style AC adapter with an iron power transformer is a really simple device, the problem is usually a frayed cord or a loose connection, reduced performance can be caused by a bad rectifier diode or a dried up electrolytic capacitor. Worst case scenario the transformer primary goes open circuit, in that case you can replace it with one of similar characteristics taken out of another AC adapter, like one from a cordless phone or a wireless router.

[fredJ]

thanks.