15 replies to this topic

[retroillucid]

I just got my 14th Colecovision system.....   ( I sold some)

I mainly buy only CV system from Canada, you know the french canadian with the power supply that have 2 cords

Having bough alot of system in the past, I found that US systems are most of time always fu&@ up
Interesting, since 99% of all of the french/canadian that I bough works flawlessly ...........  

Another thing is, the US power supply is most of the time unreliable while the canadian power supply works super nice , again 99% of them ...

The question to ask is Why Coleco were FORCED to re-designed the power supply for the Canadian market?
One thing is sure though, is Electricity norms are pretty strict here in Canada


Now ......

If you ask me ......      I would just say,  STAY AWAY FROM US POWER SUPPLY!

Don't even use it for your system!
USE A CANADIAN POWER SUPPLY!!!!

Most of all CV problems is cause by the US power supply because you will 99% of time , not have those with a French/Canadian system ...... Unless the guy used a US power supply

The thing is both french/canadian and US system are the very same.... Only the power supply is different


My 2 cents.......

[NIAD]

I agree that the Canadian Power Supply is A LOT more reliable and less prone to problems and this is indeed due to Canada's stricter policies concerning electrical products. All that being said, I have had UNBELIEVABLE luck with all the ColecoVision and ADAM Computer systems (at least 10 of each) that I have purchased via eBay or other means over the last three years.... only one ADAM Memory Console was bad and easily fixed by swapping out the ADAM Logic Board.

All the CV systems that I have acquired were the U.S. version with the U.S. Power Supply (one-wire wall wart) and aside from the usual refurbishing of the hand controllers in a couple cases (not all), the only issue I had with a U.S. Power Supply was one that would not work with either AtariMax Multi-Cart or Lord of the Dungeon (all other games tested worked flawlessly)... obvious sign of a Power Supply that isn't outputting proper voltages and is sure to die a slow death the more it's used.

I have heard and read about so many horror stories over the years from others in the retrogaming scene and it really does amaze me how lucky that I've been with my purchases. I'd like to chalk it up to experience and knowing what to look for and what to avoid, but it really does all boil down to DUMB LUCK especially considering the way some of these purchases were packaged.

With all that being said, I use a Canadian Power Supply on the CV system that I use and have a spare just in case. The only U.S. Power Supply that I have kept is boxed up with the only CV system I have left that is original (not modded in any way) and it and the box are a beautiful specimen.

Aside from that, don't be lazy with your handling and care of the CV. When not in use, unplug it from the surge protector (a good one) and don't take a chance plugging directly into a wall outlet. Also, don't do any kind of hot swapping of cartridges or hand controllers, always turn the system off first, and you will extend the life of your system.

Edited by NIAD, Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:51 PM.

[retroillucid]

Speaking of horror stories...

I do have a US power supply that was going to melt ..... Until I realized what was happening (burn smelling)
I kept the power supply just to show  people how crappy (and dangerous also) the US power supply is

[SKELETOR68]

I also have tha Canadian power supply, the brick does not go into the power outlet but sitts behind the Coleco.

[harlock76]

@retroillucid
wtf you doing with 14 systems ?
i have one main system and kept 2 boards for pieces + one emply coleco for edouardo new board and have enough

Edited by harlock76, Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:13 PM.

[1982VideoGames]

Too bad there aren't any third party colecovision power supplies.

[retroillucid]

harlock76, on Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:11 PM, said:

@retroillucid
wtf you doing with 14 systems ?

What else to say except that I love ColecoVision  

[NIAD]

1982VideoGames, on Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:33 PM, said:

Too bad there aren't any third party colecovision power supplies.

There have been a number of homebrew CV Power Supplies made that were converted from PC and Arcade Switching Power Supplies. Also, details on how to do the conversion have been posted on this forum, but you have to sacrifice a CV Power Supply power cord for the unique connector... no biggy if the CV Power Supply is bad.

[AtariLeaf]

I never knew of the different power supplies. Being in Canada you'd think I'd run across the Canadian ones more but I don't think I've ever seen the one described. Always had the "brick in the wall" US unit. Interesting.

[NIAD]

AtariLeaf, on Fri Aug 17, 2012 8:44 PM, said:

I never knew of the different power supplies. Being in Canada you'd think I'd run across the Canadian ones more but I don't think I've ever seen the one described. Always had the "brick in the wall" US unit. Interesting.

Here's a pic of the Canadian 2-wire CV Power Supply...

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[retroillucid]

retroillucid, on Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:31 PM, said:

Speaking of horror stories...

I do have a US power supply that was going to melt ..... Until I realized what was happening (burn smelling)
I kept the power supply just to show  people how crappy (and dangerous also) the US power supply is

Here's the pics of the melted US power supply
Never trust those power supply!

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

[RangerG]

I do like the Canadian power supply better, and I used one when I had a U.S. version Colecovision. However, I gave up on Colecovision consoles. In my opinion, they are pretty unreliable - I think I went through three befor getting an Adam. I highly recommend the Adam to play Colecovision games. The native a/v out is great, they are built tough, and they tend to be in much better shape than Colecovisions. I bought one of the arcade power supplies sold on the boards here and it sits right in the big space in the Adam under the cover.

Edited by RangerG, Mon Aug 20, 2012 7:19 PM.

[sqoon]

NIAD, on Fri Aug 17, 2012 9:01 PM, said:

AtariLeaf, on Fri Aug 17, 2012 8:44 PM, said:

I never knew of the different power supplies. Being in Canada you'd think I'd run across the Canadian ones more but I don't think I've ever seen the one described. Always had the "brick in the wall" US unit. Interesting.

Here's a pic of the Canadian 2-wire CV Power Supply...

Where can these be found for purchase? I bought mine through 4jays, and it works fine but is the US model.

[retroillucid]

sqoon, on Mon Aug 20, 2012 8:07 PM, said:

NIAD, on Fri Aug 17, 2012 9:01 PM, said:

AtariLeaf, on Fri Aug 17, 2012 8:44 PM, said:

I never knew of the different power supplies. Being in Canada you'd think I'd run across the Canadian ones more but I don't think I've ever seen the one described. Always had the "brick in the wall" US unit. Interesting.

Here's a pic of the Canadian 2-wire CV Power Supply...

Where can these be found for purchase? I bought mine through 4jays, and it works fine but is the US model.

There's is a guy who is selling new ones on ebay
He is from Quebec, Canada

I will try to find it and get back to you

[NIAD]

RangerG, on Mon Aug 20, 2012 7:18 PM, said:

I do like the Canadian power supply better, and I used one when I had a U.S. version Colecovision. However, I gave up on Colecovision consoles. In my opinion, they are pretty unreliable - I think I went through three befor getting an Adam. I highly recommend the Adam to play Colecovision games. The native a/v out is great, they are built tough, and they tend to be in much better shape than Colecovisions. I bought one of the arcade power supplies sold on the boards here and it sits right in the big space in the Adam under the cover.

Indeed, the Stand-Alone ADAM is a tremendous alternative to using a ColecoVision especially with it's Composite Output. If all you want to do is play ColecoVision games, you don't need a Keyboard, Printer or Data Drive, all you need is the Memory Console with an ADAM Power Supply made by DJPUBBA. Without a Data Drive installed in the unit, as RangerG explained, there is a lot of room under the lid to store things like extra controllers or better yet, the ADAM Power Supply, depending on the height of the P.S. that is used.

[RangerG]

Yes NIAD, that's the one, by DJUBBA. It's pretty easy to pop the Adam case and turn the cord connector that faces out to have it face in (so the power supply sits in the Adam). Yes, I only use the Adam for playing Colecovision games, so I took out drives. It just seems to me from taking the Adam apart that they are built like tanks compared to the Colecovision. I really like it and the sticker on the lid says the "The Colecovision Family Computer System" so it fits right in with the retro consoles. Also, the A/V out is a clear step-up from the Colecovision.