Got a new PSU for Famicom, unsure if it's safe

[zetastrike]

I got a new PSU for my AV Famicom from Retro Game Supply. It looks to be within spec (9V regulated DC, 1300 mA) but the barrel plug has a lot of wiggle room when it's plugged into the back of the system. Is there a danger of shorting if it ever gets jostled? I just used it for the past couple hours and the games froze up a few times without touching the system.

 

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[SignGuy81]

Can you post the brand and model number of the PSU? May help someone who is more familiar with them to tell you. I am sure it isn't supposed to be loose though but that could be a problem with the jack you are plugging it into on the console itself as well. But we need to know first that the PSU you are referring to is designed specifically for your console, if not that might be the problem the plug being to small.

Edited October 26, 2017 by SignGuy81

[+Stephen Moss]

the barrel plug has a lot of wiggle room when it's plugged into the back of the system. Is there a danger of shorting if it ever gets jostled? I just used it for the past couple hours and the games froze up a few times without touching the system.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J727AZ using Tapatalk

 

Not a Famicom expert but from a quick google search it looks like a standard DC power connector so I would think it unlikely it would short as one contact is on the outside and one on the inside. Plus I would expect a short to pop the fuse in the power unit and/or result in the system turning off rather than freezing.

 

Assuming the inner is the correct size there should not be that much movement, usually there is a bent metal type spring in the socket that make the outer contact and pushes the inner of the plug barrel against the socket pin. Over time either a grove can be worn in them or they become bent away from the plug resulting in looseness and bad contact, try having a look at the state of this "spring". If it look like it may be worn or bent away you can use something like a thick needle or small screw driver to try and bend it out towards the center pin in the hope of restoring a better contact.

[zetastrike]

Can you post the brand and model number of the PSU? May help someone who is more familiar with them to tell you. I am sure it isn't supposed to be loose though but that could be a problem with the jack you are plugging it into on the console itself as well. But we need to know first that the PSU you are referring to is designed specifically for your console, if not that might be the problem the plug being to small.

 

It's model SDK-1520

 

 

 

Not a Famicom expert but from a quick google search it looks like a standard DC power connector so I would think it unlikely it would short as one contact is on the outside and one on the inside. Plus I would expect a short to pop the fuse in the power unit and/or result in the system turning off rather than freezing.

 

Assuming the inner is the correct size there should not be that much movement, usually there is a bent metal type spring in the socket that make the outer contact and pushes the inner of the plug barrel against the socket pin. Over time either a grove can be worn in them or they become bent away from the plug resulting in looseness and bad contact, try having a look at the state of this "spring". If it look like it may be worn or bent away you can use something like a thick needle or small screw driver to try and bend it out towards the center pin in the hope of restoring a better contact.

 

I think the jack in the Famicom is fine because the original power brick that I have fits nice and snug. I just looked and the metal spring looks like it's still sticking up enough.

Edited October 26, 2017 by zetastrike