Everything you want to know about the Jaguar power supply and power issues

[Maico]

Hey guys, good news! The game for my jaguar arrived today and... It's alive! ??

Thanks

[Emmett]

I've got an interesting problem with mine... It comes on for a few seconds to a few minutes and shuts itself off. I posted the full story and description at 

[+cubanismo]

Been meaning to do this for a while: I ran some tests with my Kill-o-Watt today on the stock power supply and the Retro Game Supply all-in-one Jaguar + Jaguar CD power supply.

 

Two Stock Jaguar Power Supplies, One extra-chunky all-black one, One slightly smaller black-with-silver-label one:

• 5.6W: System off (?!?)
• 22.8W: Blue Lightning: Peak while booting system/game.
• 19.0W: Blue Lightning: Playing the FMV/Cinepak Attract Videos
• 19.6W: Blue Lightning: Pilot selection screen
• 18.5-18.8W: Blue Lightning: Gameplay

RGS all-in-one:

• 0.0W: System off
• 15.0W: Blue Lightning: Peak while booting system/game.
• 11.9W: Blue Lightning: Playing the FMV/Cinepak Attract Videos
• 12.4W: Blue Lightning: Pilot selection screen
• 11.3-12W: Blue Lightning: Gameplay

All tests were performed with the memory track cartridge plugged in.

 

Conclusion: You're basically paying a constant 5.6W power tax even when the Jaguar is powered off, ~6-7W tax when it's on by using the stock power supplies. Let's do the yearly cost thing using the lowest tier electricity rate where I live: about $0.14/kWh. How much power is wasted in a year by a completely unused Jaguar + Jaguar CD plugged into the wall with the OEM power supplies:

5.6W * 24hrs * 365 days = 49,056Wh, 49.056kWh

How much are you throwing away per year on that:

$0.14 * 49.056kWh = $6.87

So not too much, but a new power supply will pay for itself in around 3 years, faster if you actually turn the thing on sometimes or are in a more expensive electric tier, slower if you have cheaper power (prices are pretty horrible here). Also, the environment and stuff.

 

I'm not specifically endorsing the Retro Game Supply device here. It turns out the Retro Game Supply all-in-one power supply is just a generic regulated switching power adapter with a splitter cable, so any modern power supply with appropriate specs would probably be an improvement as well. Just make sure your cables have the right polarity.

[JagChris]

This is good stuff to know though I usually, almost always unplug the jag when not in use. But this is compelling information. 

[+cubanismo]

RGS Seems to be out of stock on the single unit Jaguar power supplies with US connectors again. I'm considering this one instead:

 

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/triad-magnetics/WSU090-1300-R/3094978

 

Which seems to be a rough equivalent (lower-amperage version of the one linked in an earlier post here). Seem OK?

 

*Edit* I've been using this power supply for a while now, and it works great.

Edited January 12, 2021 by cubanismo

[Zerosquare]

Looks good to me.

[Hyper_Eye]

Anyone use the RGS all-in-one with a Rev1 or Rev2 Skunkboard?

[+cubanismo]

I had to repair a Jaguar power supply barrel connector today, and I wrote up a little guide/HOWTO here, including links to parts:

 

http://www.theinnocuous.com/jaguar/power_conn.html

[Atari Nut]

I have one of those 2-in-1 adaptors with the y-cable for the main unit and the CD unit.  It's output is DC 9V - 3000mA max.  Is it safe to use this on the main unit even when the CD unit is not attached?

[Zerosquare]

It should be. If you want to be extra sure, measure the output voltage (using a multimeter) with the power supply unplugged from the Jaguar and JagCD. If the voltage is still about 9~10 V, it's good.