"family computer" - some questions

[Jacob]

I found one of these at a thrift store, but it had no power supply.

firstly: was there a US version of this famicom?

if this is a japanese console, can it be used here & what type of voltage is required?

thanks in advance,

Jacob

[JB]

I found one of these at a thrift store, but it had no power supply.

firstly: was there a US version of this famicom?

Not under that name.

The FamiCom was released as the NES outside of Japan.

 

if this is a japanese console, can it be used here & what type of voltage is required?

It's 9V DC in, if I recall. Not positive.

 

 

As for using it in the States...

It IS NTSC, but Japan's channels are at diffrent frequencies, so you'd have to do an AV mod to get it working.

...

Unless it's the Famicom 2. That had AV out instead of RF out.

...

Or a FamiClone, several of which are labelled like the original. If it's a clone, all bets are off.

[christianscott27]

i've got a boxed "family computer- entertainment system- action set" which is a very convincing clone. perhaps if you can find a pic of your set online, or take one i might be able to give you the specs off mine.

[Jacob]

here are some pics .

[Susuwatari]

That is a Famicom alright. Probably a clone since the official version didn't have AV out. Can you see if ti says "Nintendo" anywhere?

[ApolloBoy]

That's definetly a Famiclone. The controllers never had turbo-fire sliders and the original system never had A/V jacks on the back. I should also add that there's supposed to be a weird-looking logo on the left side of the "Family Computer" badge, but there isn't.

[Jacob]

It doesn't say Nintendo anywhere - also the rear inputs are labeled "RF",

VIDEO & Audio with the power input just being labeled "adapter"

No label or info as to what voltage or polarity to use. there's a label on the bottom that appears to be chinese rather than japanese but its too tiny to get a clear pic. I have a generic power adaptor that I can use, but don't want to blow something with the wrong voltage.

anyway, thanks for all the quick responses & help.

[keilbaca]

The regular NES adapter will work for the famiclone. Trust me i know, i see them here all the time... here's something for ya! The 2nd edition famicom here in japan, it uses the same controllers as the 2nd edition NES... it looks exactly like it except it plays famicom instead of NES. Dog bone controllers and all. But yeah, japan power is weird. North of tokyo is 60Hz 120V. South of tokyo is 50Hz 120V. At any rate, any american power supply will work in the famiclone, anything that's 9 volts will too, just as long as the jack is the same.

[JB]

And since it has AV out, you can hook it straight to your TV. YAY!

[christianscott27]

damn thats so close to the beast i have, must be another model with minor changes. mine is nearly the same (the shell and stickers are exact) but mine has "190 games built in" on the front sticker.

 

anyways the bottom of the console reads "computer game / power: 4W/ ac adapter"

 

and then the manual reads "AC adaptor HVC-002", which when run thru google brings us to this...

 

http://www.vidgame.net/NINTENDO/FAMICOM.htm

 

note the pics, yet another version of our famiclone

 

which helpfully includes the specs of an HVC-002

 

HVC-002 Power Adapter part no.

 

Input: AC 100V 50/60Hz

Output: DC 10V 850mA

 

+ @ -

 

my ps is lost somewhere in a wire tangle, hope this helps some.

[keilbaca]

Those things are pretty durable when it comes to voltage... they can run on everything from 7.5v to 12v (trust me i know) so its just anything goes on those things :-p

[Jacob]

well, I tried the power supply from my nintendo & nothing except a buzzing sound with no picture. I guess the console itself must me shot.

Oh well it only cost $5.

[Susuwatari]

Try an adapter with DC output. NES adapter has AC output and may not work.