Power Adaptors / Famicom Power Supply

[JC]

Would it be a bad idea to hook up a U.S. AC adaptor to a foreign generic Famicom system because of the differences in voltage -- will it "blow" some fuse or something?

[Doc]

Hmm...can't tell you, I ALWAYS use a Japanese one, because such situations can happen...

[JC]

Well, I ask because I got a generic Famicom from Europe, and of course, it's got different prongs on the adaptor. I also think the generic Famicom takes a higher voltage than the regular Famicom, so I can't use the regular Famicom AC adaptor to run it. Looks like I might have to get a prong converter for that damn European P.O.S.

[Doc]

You should've bought a Japanese one, those AC Adaptors are VERY easy to get.

[JC]

I have a Japanese Famicom -- the original kind. But I wanted to play around with a generic Famicom, so I bought that, too. And I have the AC adaptors for both; I just need to figure out how to get them functioning. I like the generic one because it got AV output.

[super56k]

Hooray!  my Famicom finally arrived!!! 
But I check the adapter, and low and behold... Input= "AC100V 50/60HZ 18VA".
Outlets here in the USA are 120V correct?  So can I plug this Official Japanese Adapter into my US wall outlet?  Would the 20V difference harm the adapter or my Famicom?  I am sure somebody here knows the answer to my question.

.....urge to play.... rising.....

(Update: This is a HVC-001)

[super56k]

......must.....play.......Famicom.........

[Doc]

You can get it to work, I believe. I have one and it works well...

[super56k]

Thank you!

No, I must find what the hell channel it broadcasts on.  The AV mod tutorial that Kefka wrote says that it is 96 or 97.  I do not see anything...

[Doc]

Actually, can you take a screenshot of your adaptor?

[super56k]

Yes, let me see if I can get my digital camera working long enough.

Man, the adapter is nice and cool to the touch, but the Famicom feels really warm right around the rear vent area, and I only played for less than five minuets.

[super56k]

Well, I could not find my digital camera's USB cable, so I used my PS2's "EYE TOY" insted.


This is the official "HVC-002" FAMICOM AC Adapter.

INPUT: AC100V 50/60Hz 18VA
OUTPUT: DC10V 850mA
(+)----(0----(-)

[Doc]

That's the one I have!

[super56k]

Oh good.  Then it should be fine.  Though I am seriously considering the AV mod.  Although my TV picks up the ch01 signal on ch95, the picture and sound are not the best.  Probably because of the differences in broadcasting standards between the USA and Japan.

Tell me though... does your FAMICOM get quite warm around the vent area after only a few minuets of use?

[JC]

Looks like you got this pretty much resolved. But the official Famicom adaptor should work just fine. What an adaptor does is take the voltage of the outlet and convert it into the proper voltage for the machine. So, in your case it would work just fine.

I don't know about the heating up of the Famicom. I've never played mine. I don't have a TV with channel 95 capability.