Super Nintendo SNES - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Nicklyons2 · 8th Jul 2016, 10:29 am

I don't know if this should be here or 'modern tech' - mods please move if necessary.

A friend has acquired a SNES console but without power supply - I've boxes of 'brick PSUs' but does anyone know what the spec of the original was. I've checked the 'net' and nearly every site says something else; if I search images it shows two different type of plug. Some say the original was 10v a.c. 850mA others say 9VD.C. 1.3A negative inner, others 12V etc. The plug itself is pictured as either a standard 5.5/2.5 type or one of the type with a centre pin in the plug (like Canon printers). So has anyone out there got the definitive answer? By the way the unit is a Std PAL version, apparently there were major deferences in the NTSC versions.

SeanStevens · 8th Jul 2016, 10:31 am

I have several origianal SNES machines

I can check tonight if you like?

SEAN

Outrun_uk · 8th Jul 2016, 10:35 am

Original Nintendo PSU is 9v AC at 1.3a. Has a standard barrel type connector and encased in blue plastic (the connector itself, PSU is black box!).

Kev

Nicklyons2 · 8th Jul 2016, 10:35 am

Sean, that would be great if you could. If you've a 2.5mm jack plug could you check it will fit in the end of the DC plug,
Cheers, Nick

In the meantime Kev has replied - Thanks - but could someone still confirm the 2.5mm inner (rather than 2.1mm)

Ambientnoise · 8th Jul 2016, 11:52 am

Definitely 9v AC, 1.3A on the casing. Best I can measure for the inner bore is 2.4mm but a 2.5mm twist drill is too big.

Ken

PsychMan · 8th Jul 2016, 12:59 pm

These are the same as the original Nintendo console.

A DC supply will also work, perhaps they simply put the rectification inside the console? I seem to remember buying a DC supply on ebay, and didn't realise it wasn't AC until I'd already used it for some time on the console with no issues!

Malcolm G6ANZ · 8th Jul 2016, 6:20 pm

My son has got a SNES. The original PSU ratings are:
Pri 243v~ 50Hz
Sec 9v~1.3A
For use with (Super)NES Control deck only.
The lead terminates in a 2.5 mm (I think) plug as its AC polarity is unimportant.

Malcolm

Nicklyons2 · 8th Jul 2016, 7:29 pm

Thanks to all above - I'm off to search for similars in my box of 'bricks'

orbanp1 · 20th Jul 2016, 12:08 pm

The "beauty" of those Nintendo bricks is that the housing can be opened up easily, it uses screws and not gluing or ultrasonic welding (at least the ones here in NA).
The raw voltage is high enough and the transformer provides enough current to turn it into a stabilized PS to any portable equipment. There is also enough room in there to do this with an LM317 or LM78XX and a rectifying stage.
I picked up a few of those when they were still plenty around on garage sales.

Peter

electronicskip · 22nd Jul 2016, 6:18 am

I collect vintage games machines and have about 300 of them , and it never ceases to amaze me how reliable and well built most of them are .
The snes is no exception.

Nicklyons2 · 15th Aug 2016, 1:05 pm

Just an 'update': since originally posting this a car booty has unearthed a 'real' SNES supply so I thought I'd measure its particulars in case anyone in the future has to replace one.

It is 9va.c. with the rated 1.3A load and is 10.3va.c. off load it has a 5.5/2.5mm DC power plug with the shorter 10mm snout.

dglcomp · 16th Aug 2016, 9:06 am

Still have by SNES that I got for Christmas in 1993, haven't got Mario for it yet and annoyingly with my dad being into football I got it with FIFA bundled with it instead, lost the original controller years ago but the cheap aftermarket controllers on ebay seem to work fine (although they are in the US colour scheme of purple and grey.

I can also confirm that anything from 9-12V seems to work and it is happy with DC. Also the AV multi-out uses the same cabling as used for the N64 and Gamecube and are backards/forwards compatible (of course limited to what the console is able to put out on the multi-AV connector)

Note that some devices with AC-AC adaptors will not work with a DC supply. Mixers with an AC supply and some keyboards (looking at you miniak) need an AC-AC adaptor for the audio circuitry to function.

8th Jul 2016, 10:29 am	#1
Nicklyons2 Octode Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,517	Super Nintendo SNES I don't know if this should be here or 'modern tech' - mods please move if necessary. A friend has acquired a SNES console but without power supply - I've boxes of 'brick PSUs' but does anyone know what the spec of the original was. I've checked the 'net' and nearly every site says something else; if I search images it shows two different type of plug. Some say the original was 10v a.c. 850mA others say 9VD.C. 1.3A negative inner, others 12V etc. The plug itself is pictured as either a standard 5.5/2.5 type or one of the type with a centre pin in the plug (like Canon printers). So has anyone out there got the definitive answer? By the way the unit is a Std PAL version, apparently there were major deferences in the NTSC versions.

8th Jul 2016, 10:31 am	#2
SeanStevens Octode Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,033	Re: Super Nintendo SNES I have several origianal SNES machines I can check tonight if you like? SEAN __________________ There are only 10 types of people, those who understand the binary system, and those who don't.

8th Jul 2016, 10:35 am	#3
Outrun_uk Heptode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 705	Re: Super Nintendo SNES Original Nintendo PSU is 9v AC at 1.3a. Has a standard barrel type connector and encased in blue plastic (the connector itself, PSU is black box!). Kev

8th Jul 2016, 10:35 am	#4
Nicklyons2 Octode Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,517	Re: Super Nintendo SNES Sean, that would be great if you could. If you've a 2.5mm jack plug could you check it will fit in the end of the DC plug, Cheers, Nick In the meantime Kev has replied - Thanks - but could someone still confirm the 2.5mm inner (rather than 2.1mm) Last edited by Nicklyons2; 8th Jul 2016 at 10:37 am. Reason: additional material

8th Jul 2016, 11:52 am	#5
Ambientnoise Heptode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 915	Re: Super Nintendo SNES Definitely 9v AC, 1.3A on the casing. Best I can measure for the inner bore is 2.4mm but a 2.5mm twist drill is too big. Ken

8th Jul 2016, 12:59 pm	#6
PsychMan Octode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,764	Re: Super Nintendo SNES These are the same as the original Nintendo console. A DC supply will also work, perhaps they simply put the rectification inside the console? I seem to remember buying a DC supply on ebay, and didn't realise it wasn't AC until I'd already used it for some time on the console with no issues!

8th Jul 2016, 6:20 pm	#7
Malcolm G6ANZ Octode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 1,042	Re: Super Nintendo SNES My son has got a SNES. The original PSU ratings are: Pri 243v~ 50Hz Sec 9v~1.3A For use with (Super)NES Control deck only. The lead terminates in a 2.5 mm (I think) plug as its AC polarity is unimportant. Malcolm

8th Jul 2016, 7:29 pm	#8
Nicklyons2 Octode Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,517	Re: Super Nintendo SNES Thanks to all above - I'm off to search for similars in my box of 'bricks'

20th Jul 2016, 12:08 pm	#9
orbanp1 Heptode Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 675	Re: Super Nintendo SNES The "beauty" of those Nintendo bricks is that the housing can be opened up easily, it uses screws and not gluing or ultrasonic welding (at least the ones here in NA). The raw voltage is high enough and the transformer provides enough current to turn it into a stabilized PS to any portable equipment. There is also enough room in there to do this with an LM317 or LM78XX and a rectifying stage. I picked up a few of those when they were still plenty around on garage sales. Peter

22nd Jul 2016, 6:18 am	#10
electronicskip Nonode Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK. Posts: 2,150	Re: Super Nintendo SNES I collect vintage games machines and have about 300 of them , and it never ceases to amaze me how reliable and well built most of them are . The snes is no exception.

15th Aug 2016, 1:05 pm	#11
Nicklyons2 Octode Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,517	Re: Super Nintendo SNES Just an 'update': since originally posting this a car booty has unearthed a 'real' SNES supply so I thought I'd measure its particulars in case anyone in the future has to replace one. It is 9va.c. with the rated 1.3A load and is 10.3va.c. off load it has a 5.5/2.5mm DC power plug with the shorter 10mm snout.

16th Aug 2016, 9:06 am	#12
dglcomp Heptode Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Portland, Dorset, UK. Posts: 874	Re: Super Nintendo SNES Still have by SNES that I got for Christmas in 1993, haven't got Mario for it yet and annoyingly with my dad being into football I got it with FIFA bundled with it instead, lost the original controller years ago but the cheap aftermarket controllers on ebay seem to work fine (although they are in the US colour scheme of purple and grey. I can also confirm that anything from 9-12V seems to work and it is happy with DC. Also the AV multi-out uses the same cabling as used for the N64 and Gamecube and are backards/forwards compatible (of course limited to what the console is able to put out on the multi-AV connector) Note that some devices with AC-AC adaptors will not work with a DC supply. Mixers with an AC supply and some keyboards (looking at you miniak) need an AC-AC adaptor for the audio circuitry to function.