DanJayUK Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 (edited) Guys - I've just had a bit of a shock and think it's worth sharing here... I have a Lynx 2. Rediscovered it in the loft a year back and whilst delighted was reminded how awful the screen contrast was. Well, a new one from McWill and it is now everything it ever should've been. I've bought a few new games and am loving playing on it again. The PSU I've been using is the one I had with it in the first place and was a 'proper' Lynx one rated at 9v. Seems to work fine but I've been starting to think I should check it - not in the least with a few on here painfully experiencing their Lynx going (quite literally) pop. I measured the voltage across the PSU out and nearly had a fit - 14v!!! It may well be it drops to the correct level with load but no thank you. I cut the lead off it and am now using with a regulated supply at 7.5v (I haven't upgraded/replaced the power reg components in mine and this seems a happy medium as 6v flashes the power light). So if you haven't checked recently, get a multimeter and test the voltage across the power plug. Safe Lynxing... Dan Edited January 21, 2017 by DanJayUK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 That is normal for an unregulated power supply. Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanJayUK Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 But surely it shouldn't be "normal" for the original Lynx one? I tried it with 1M resistor across it and it only dropped 0.3v. When the Lynx is off it still draws current but only a little which means even if when on it does get down near 9v it still has one hell of a voltage shock when it's switched on. Either way I thought it was worth mentioning so others can consider the risk themselves. My Lynx is in mint condition and has a McWill screen fitted - I could really do without it going bang for the sake of a new power adapter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hikachi Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 (edited) Power supply based on transformer works like that. Mine original Atari one shows 13V. Switched-mode power supply will be more close to 9V (but they are perishable) Edited January 22, 2017 by hikachi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sage Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Ancient knowlegde fro the 90ties: 13-14V is normal for orginal PSU. Nothing to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromeda Stardust Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 I use a Radioshack 9V brick. It measures 10V under load, 10V loaded. A far cry from say a "9V" NES/SNES Yobo adapter that measures 14V no load / 13 volts under load (with console plugged in). Just buy a switched power supply and everything works great. Better not to over stress those 30 year old regulators with excess voltage on the input. I haven't met a vintage power brick yet (well very rarely) that isn't well over the rating on the nameplate. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.