Power Adaptors / Famicom Power Supply

[2A03]

9V is exactly the kind of voltage the stock Famicom PSU uses.

really? on my Famicom is printed 10V... thats why i was worried, but i will use 9V then

Close enough. Since the Famicom has a voltage regulator (which almost every video game console has) you can use any power supply from 7V to 12V, so long as it's the right polarity and amperage.

[NintendoKing]

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)

Never plug it directly into a US outlet, you need to purchase a Step-up and Down power converter.

[133MHz]

20V is nothing, if it outputs 10V with 100V, it will output 12V with 120V. But here seems to be mixed opinions about it.

[Drakon]

Hi.  I just bought an AV famicom system from ebay.  But the one I bought doesn't come with the AV cables or the AC adapter.  I already have a super famicom with the AV cables and AC adapter for the super famicom.  I wanted to know if the AC adapter for my super famicom will work with my AV famicom.  I looked at your website but couldn't find any information on the AV famicom.  I'd really appreciate some help wtih this question.  And I'd even more appreciate a section of your website for the AV famicom and the NES II.  Considering they're nintendo products and they're famicom models.

[JC]

I've moved your post here beause we've got lots of information about AC adaptors here. Also, you can find plenty of detailed info about the Famicom AC adaptor on the website, under the Workshop section.

(And you're right, we do need some pics and info about the AV Famicom. Just don't have someone to work on it right now.)

[NintendoKing]

I've moved your post here beause we've got lots of information about AC adaptors here. Also, you can find plenty of detailed info about the Famicom AC adaptor on the website, under the Workshop section.

(And you're right, we do need some pics and info about the AV Famicom. Just don't have someone to work on it right now.)

I am willing to do such things, as I am addicted to information on anything Nintendo pre-1994.

[NintendoKing]

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)

Never plug it directly into a US outlet, you need to purchase a Step-up and Down power converter.

I use a standard 9v adapter on my Famicom all the time with no step down converter and I have never had problems.  I actually purchased it from pinkgodzillagames.com

The Pink Godzilla adapter is also decent, sadly they no longer stock this item.

[Drakon]

Hey I have a question.  I have a super famicom.  It came with the standard HVC-002 power adapter.  I live in Canada so we have 120V AC 60Hz outlets.  But my super famicom works fine using the HVC-002 adapter plugged straight into my wall outlet.  I just got an AV famicom from ebay and according to websites it uses the HVC-002 adapter.  Do you think it's safe for me to keep using it plugged into my wall or should I get an expensive step-down thing that converts my outlet power to japanese standards?

[133MHz]

I say it's safe since a +/-20V difference is inside the tolerance rating, but here seems to be mixed opinions about this.

Transformers are linear devices, if it steps down 100V to 10V, if you feed it 120V it will output 12V, which is just a 2V difference, nothing to worry about since the Famicom can work from 7 to 15V with no problems.

For an objective review, test it for a while. If the adadpter or the Famicom gets too hot to the touch, then get a new power adapter (it's cheaper to get a new adapter than to get a 120 to 100V step down transformer).

[kite200]

^ while it's cheaper in the short run to buy another power adapter, if you are an import gamer it is much better to just buy a stepdown converter so that you don't have to continually buy power supplies

[Drakon]

^ while it's cheaper in the short run to buy another power adapter, if you are an import gamer it is much better to just buy a stepdown converter so that you don't have to continually buy power supplies

cheapest step down thing I found on ebay was like 40$ before shipping.....gah......But my super famicom has run on the hvc-002 power adapter for really long periods of time and never had any problems.  I would get the step down converter but 60$.....there's gotta be a cheaper thing somewhere.  Maybe I'm typing the wrong thing into ebay?  Anybody able to help me find something affordable?

[NintendoKing]

^ while it's cheaper in the short run to buy another power adapter, if you are an import gamer it is much better to just buy a stepdown converter so that you don't have to continually buy power supplies

cheapest step down thing I found on ebay was like 40$ before shipping.....gah......But my super famicom has run on the hvc-002 power adapter for really long periods of time and never had any problems.  I would get the step down converter but 60$.....there's gotta be a cheaper thing somewhere.  Maybe I'm typing the wrong thing into ebay?  Anybody able to help me find something affordable?

http://www.voltageconverters.com/japan_voltage.html

Here you go, my friend. This is where I purchased my converter, but I got mine before it went on sale. Save some money.

[Drakon]

^ while it's cheaper in the short run to buy another power adapter, if you are an import gamer it is much better to just buy a stepdown converter so that you don't have to continually buy power supplies

cheapest step down thing I found on ebay was like 40$ before shipping.....gah......But my super famicom has run on the hvc-002 power adapter for really long periods of time and never had any problems.  I would get the step down converter but 60$.....there's gotta be a cheaper thing somewhere.  Maybe I'm typing the wrong thing into ebay?  Anybody able to help me find something affordable?

http://www.voltageconverters.com/japan_voltage.html

Here you go, my friend. This is where I purchased my converter, but I got mine before it went on sale. Save some money.

ahh thankyou so much.  I ordered one, I really hope they have some insurance if it gets lost in the mail.  I really can't wait.  Also, where can you buy a hvc-002 power adapter?

[NintendoKing]

Check ebay, sometimes you get lucky.

[slavco]

Original HVC-002 is available on eBay separately, costs about ~ 25 GBP (~50$). Also you can try http://www.play-asia.com/

Anyway the best decision is - use original adaptor with step up/down converter. This is 100% safe.
I do not know much about US/Canadian voltage net, but in Europe my AV Famicom works fine with step up (110-230V / 45W) converter. Adaptor never goes to heat up for long playing, it also make a pleasure.