Famicom in Australia

[silenzxe]

So, g'day, I've been in Japan past couple weeks. Fun!

Bought a toploader Famicom while I was there (has an AV out natively, looks like, without any RF whatsoever... weird?) but I forgot to buy a power supply of some sort while I was there. Also, I have no idea if it works or not yet anyway. So that's nice.

So I'm a moron. Why I'm here now is that I'm curious: how, exactly, would I go about getting this thing working in the sunburned land of Australia? I don't really understand the FAQ, which I've read. I need DC power? Sure, okay. I have AC. So how do I get DC? One part of that FAQ said I could just use a Sega Megadrive power supply with my Famicom, and it'd work. Seriously? That seems super weird to me. Why exactly would that work? Is it because the Megadrive uses by sheer coincidence the EXACT power supply specs that the Famicom needs? Is that the case? But I'm in Australia and every wall outlet is like 240v or something. Will this mysterious Australian Megadeth power supply take that AC from that wall over there and turn it into DC that won't  fry my Famicom?

What is the simplest way with which I am going to be able to power this thing? That's the bottom line.

Thank you for your time.

[Mosdef]

Hi Mate! fellow Aussie here!
Just use a Master System 1, Master System 2 or Mega Drive 1 PSU.

Another option is to grab one of those PSU's from JayCar that come with a range of reversible tips.

While your there pick me up Twin Famicom red model LOL 

[silenzxe]

So I've got a few options? I'll keep those in mind!

Thanks a bunch!

I had considered JayCar for transformers or something, but I hadn't looked much beyond that so I'll check them out more thoroughly.

Either way, I think my questions are answered.

[chowder]

One of those multi adapters is probably your best bet.  Make sure it outputs 9-10V DC, and the connector is centre pin negative, and all will be well.  No need for a stepdown transformer or anything like that.

[Mosdef]

If you do go to Jaycar get this one.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/Power-Products-Electrical/Plugpacks/DC-Output/18W-3---12VDC-Switchmode-Plugpack-with-USB-Outlet/p/MP3314

This is the one I use for my twin Famicom but can be definitly used for your toploader 

[chowder]

If you do go to Jaycar get this one.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/Power-Products-Electrical/Plugpacks/DC-Output/18W-3---12VDC-Switchmode-Plugpack-with-USB-Outlet/p/MP3314

This is the one I use for my twin Famicom but can be definitly used for your toploader 

Haha, the one I use with my Twin looks just like that, except with 3 pins for the UK   They're great, when I want to use it on my AV modded Famicom I just flip the tip to negative and bump the voltage up.

[silenzxe]

If you do go to Jaycar get this one.
http://www.jaycar.com.au/Power-Products-Electrical/Plugpacks/DC-Output/18W-3---12VDC-Switchmode-Plugpack-with-USB-Outlet/p/MP3314

This is the one I use for my twin Famicom but can be definitly used for your toploader 

So, this looks good, yeah. But it says on the bottom of my Famicom it takes 10VDC... that adapter thing doesn't seem to do 10VDC. Is that gonna be a problem? It has 9 and 12, though, but those aren't exactly it. Shouldn't I be concerned about that?

[chowder]

9V will be fine.

[silenzxe]

Righto, so.

I turn the Famicom on, it's hooked up to power with 9v DC. Nada. I've not got any games for it yet, but my NES boots up with a white screen when I turn it on, irregardless of whether there's a game in there or not.

Is this thing cooked? Or does the Famicom just not have that same white screen the NES has?

[Mosdef]

Not sure I get what you mean mate, if it goes to a blank screen with no game in it that is normal. But then you say "irregardless there is a game or not". So can you get a jp game to at least test on it? Does the it have a light on it that comes on when switched on? I don't have a famicom to know, I only have a twin famicom.

Don't forget the polarity on the famicom is neg in the middle and pos on the outside, so make sure your adaptor is the same.
(+)------------(o------------(-)

[silenzxe]

So, okay, I took some very shitty pictures to try and explain what I'm talking about here.

First, here's the console I've got. Never mind the PAL NES I have under it, that's not what I'm talking about. This thing has no lights or anything on it. Anyway.

Second, here's the cable I'm actually using to hook up to the TV. It's some Nintendo cable I had lying around - if I'm honest, I have no idea where this one came from, because it's certainly not what came with my Famicom. Or my NES for that matter. I think it might be an N64 component cable...

Thirdly, here's what the TV looks like with the Famicom hooked up and plugged in and turned on. The fact it says no signal has my worried.

And fourthly, here's the other end of my power cable. Worryingly, when I plugged the brick into my power board there were sparks. It's outputting 9v DC.

[Mosdef]

Have you made sure on your plug (As it is reversible) that it is (+)------------(o------------(-)
on the side of the plug tip it shows you that it can be reversed, you must make sure the middle is negative and outside is positive.
It is hard to tell in the photo if you have it the right way

[silenzxe]

I have no idea if I have it the right way, as this thing came with no instructions, and whatever markings I can find only indicate what is positive and negative on the plug itself - but I've just tried both ways anyway. Nothing.

You know what's funny. The first time I plugged this power adapter in, it produced a bunch of sparks. Now it does nothing. Did I kill the power adapter or something?

[Mosdef]

Bugger, I'd say that might be the problem if you did see sparks, another way to tell is smell the console itself and see if it smells burnt 

[silenzxe]

Yeah, (as weird as it sounds) I've been sniffing at things. Famicom smells fine to me. I don't think that's the problem. The sparks were emitted from the powerboard itself, actually, not the console. I figure it'd be a much more noticeable stench if I'd just killed the console.

There's a light on the front of the power adapter, which doesn't seem to want to turn on.

One annoying thing I've just noticed, the screws on the Famicom are unlike anything I have ever seen before. Damn.