AV Famicom

[raz]

Hi!

 

I bought a AV Famicom a few months ago, and the seller gave me a original Japanese Super Famicom power supply (both the Fami and SuFami uses the same power supply, so it's ok).

 

The thing is, I live in Brazil. The Japanese voltage is 100v, and here in Rio, we use 127v.

 

I've been a little cautious when playing the Famicom because after some time (30 to 40 minutes) it gets warm at the cartridge slot are. The power brick gets warm too. The same can be said of the cartridge.

 

I'm using original Japanese cartridges.

 

Is it normal? I mean, should I use another power brick on the Famicom?

 

Thanks in advance!

[CatPix]

It is normal for the console to get warm to the touch. It it get hot (like hot enough that holding it is hard because it's burning) then it's not good.

Old power supplies get hot, too.

They normally have a tolerance of about 20% in voltage. If the power supply was made for 100 volts then you're a little above it.

There is a voltage regulator in the console, it's normally made to accept voltages up to 25 volts so even if your power supply push more voltage in the system it's not "survolting" it.

The Famicom use a very standard 9 volts connector if I recall right?

Sega Master System and Megadrive 1 power supplies should be easy to find for you and should physically fit into the Famicom connector, and deliver the proper 9/10Volts the Famicom need.

Several shops on Internet sell modern switching power supplies that will accept your mains voltage and deliver a proper and stable 9 volts.

Edited January 19, 2017 by CatPix

[raz]

It uses a 10v connector

 

http://m.imgur.com/aKgL8NJ

 

http://m.imgur.com/5yRoeEm

[CatPix]

9 or 10 volts doesn't matter much. The Sharp Twin famicom use a standard famicom in and it use a 7.5V power supply.

 

Sega power supplies delivers between 9 and 10 volts, the most important is the second number, 850mA. Your replacement power supply must deliver at least 850mA (or 0.85A).

 

A Sega Megadrive 1 power supply is a good match :

 

(Euro version here but what you care about is the output)

[raz]

Ah, ok then. I don't know much about electronics (in fact, I would love to learn more), so I'm a little bit paranoid about voltages.

 

I had a Phantom System (a Brazilian famiclone) when I was a kid, and it fried and smoked... Since then, I'm kinda worried about my consoles.

 

It's really easy to find Mega Drive power supplies around her, both original and 3rd party.

 

The thing is, a original MD power supply cost as much as a 500w step-down transformer (127v to 100v) around here, so, what would be the best choice between these two?

[CatPix]

Do you plan to own more Japanese systems in the future, especially systems that have hardwired power supplies or proprietary connectors (Sega Saturn, Neo Geo CD, Japanese computer?) if yes, then the step down transformer is a good idea.

If not, or if you plan to import other systems that use a standard 9V power supply (SuFami, Sega consoles before the Saturn, PC-Engine) then the same power supply will power them all. It's pretty much the universal solution

You can also buy a standard power supply as long as it deliver 9V DC and 1 amp, this might be cheaper than the Megadrive power supply, or get a power supply from old electronic stuff like routers, cordless phones, etc...

 

Consoles clones usually doesn't have polarity protection, I have fried a console clone too from reverting polarity by accident, but none of the consoles and computers I plugged with reverse polarity got damaged.

 

Having a basic knowledge in electronics is a good idea for consoles, at least for the power supply and video parts. It's not too complex and can be learned fast.

Edited January 20, 2017 by CatPix

[raz]

Yeah, I still want a SuFami and a Japanese MD. They're (still) not expensive or difficult to find around here.

 

Thanks for all the help and valuable info, CatPix!

[raz]

Well, i've bought the step-down transformer... but to be honest, while the power brick isn't getting nowhere near as hot as it was getting before, the console still gets warm.

 

I know that these consoles get warm with use, but i don't remember my SNES and Mega Drive getting as warm as my AV Famicom in 30 minutes, Maybe, i'm just paranoid and overzealous, or my memory isn't helping me when it comes to how hot my old consoles would get after some playtime.

[CatPix]

Well, the NES have a larger box so heat would dissipate better. Same for the SNES and Megadrive. IMO the SNES back should get hot as there is a huge shielding, the Megadrive would be the "cooler" system.

Being in Brazil, you might more likely had Famiclones, which doesn't heat as much as the real thing.

It's hard to say, the best way would be to find someone else with a Famicom AV and do comparisons.

[Bratwurst]

The AV Famicom and top loading NES both have a very large heatsink on the voltage regulator in the back, which gets the plastic housing noticeably warm. It's normal. I measured mine and others and I don't think the exterior of the system ever hit beyond 80-90F.

 

A switching voltage regulator can be installed in place of the stock 7805, removing the need for the heatsink altogether, and it would run the system considerably cooler.