NES Adaptor

May 29, 2004 4:28 PM

I'm missing an adaptor for my Nintendo Entertainment System. it takes 9v, 1.5a but I've found a 9v 4.5a adaptor that fits and works but I wonder if there are any consequences to the addition current strength? well, are there?
posted by mcsweetie to travel & transportation (9 comments total)

no, it's just fine.
posted by andrew cooke at 4:33 PM on May 29, 2004

To elaborate: The amount of current is determined by the device using the electricity. The 4.5 amp rating means that the NES isn't allowed to draw more than 4.5 amps from the adaptor. It's always safe to use an adaptor rated for a higher current than what you'll actually need. Voltage, on the other hand, should be matched.
posted by tss at 4:53 PM on May 29, 2004

thanks guys!
posted by mcsweetie at 5:02 PM on May 29, 2004

(the other thing to check is polarity - there should be a little drawing somwehere like this (thanks pjrc.com!) on both the adapter and the supply. both should agree (both should have the + joined to the "middle" bit or both joined to the "ring" bit)).

ooo. diy mp3 player!
posted by andrew cooke at 5:15 PM on May 29, 2004

ok, this is totally inappropriate, but this is just so sweet, in a geeky way (in a non-geeky way it's toe-curlingly embarassing, but this is a thread for people who care about power supplies). i just found these people via google's image search. honest!
posted by andrew cooke at 5:21 PM on May 29, 2004

While I don't have an original NES to check this one, something in my memory says that it's 9VAC, instead of 9VDC. I can't seem to get a straight answer out of Google, so be careful.
posted by zsazsa at 6:11 PM on May 29, 2004

zsazsa is correct, the official NES adaptor outputs 9VAC (a bit unusual as digital electronics go). The majority of the NES circuitry certainly uses DC, which means there must be a rectifier somewhere inside. I expect that supplying ~9VDC to the rectifier should work fine, provided that there are no components in the NES that actually require alternating current.
posted by Galvatron at 6:50 PM on May 29, 2004

The NES uses the alternating current to time the NTSC signal it puts out, so I'd feed it the AC if possible.
posted by j.edwards at 1:40 AM on May 30, 2004

thanks for everyone's replies, I've been wondering about this kinda stuff for ages!
posted by mcsweetie at 8:51 AM on May 31, 2004