I've been using my Megadrive PSU (10V 1.2A, center negative) to power my SFC, I figured it was close enough, but after a few games today it now won't power on - no light flicker, nothing at all. I opened the SFC up and there's nothing obvious like a popped capacitor. I've tested the PSU with a Megadrive, and it's fine. So: 1/ Am I stupid? The standard SFC PSU is 9V, 1.2A, center negative as far as I'm aware. I didn't think the 1V could make a dangerous difference, was I wrong? 2/ What do I need to do to fix it? I don't even have a multimeter where I am at the moment, but I do have a soldering iron.
There is a little white 1~1.5amp fuse on the back of the board. Its difficult to spot since it doesn't look like a typical fuse. In general, no, the voltage difference in negligible. I've used a Sega PSU for about 4 years on a SFC. The SFC uses the uber common 7805 5v regulator, which can take input voltages of up to 30v (with the right heat sink). Anything up to 15v input should be fine with the stock sink. But, DC adapters tend to vary wildly as to their actual rating, regardless of whats listed on them. Especially under load or not. In any case just check the fuse before getting into it further. -Ben
Damn, beaten to it! Yeah, check the fuse. http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/nintendo/snes-fuse.htm Is the SFC adapter AC like the SNES? I guess it doesn't matter as the unit will convert it to DC, anyway. I prefer to use the correct one, personally, but it's up to you ;-)
An hour after the original post and it's sorted, albeit it by a very ghetto fix (let's just say it was the fuse that was blown, and I don't have any spares). Thanks grahf, and retro too - I didn't see your post until a second ago but it would've saved me the bother of unscrewing stuff on the board. All back together again and working now anyway. Using the original SFC one is more hassle due to the stepdown converter required, which I don't have anyway. I'd rather use originals where possible but when the ratings are so close it shouldn't make any odds. I'll be buying a new PSU for it either way.
The SFC takes 850ma 10 Volts Direct Current Center Tip Negative. I have no idea what the European SNES adapter outputs, but if it outputs 10VDC Center Negative, and the jack is the same then it would work without a stepdown converter I would imagine as the input of power to the console is all that matters to it. I use a radioshack AC adapter for my SFC as it has exchangable tips so it can be used on both SFC and North American SNES which has a special power jack shape.
Yeah, I meant original as in use SNES for SFC, well check that the outputs are the same. Is it AC out on the SFC too? If so, I'd go for that ;-) Oh, and get your arse down Maplin and get a fuse! Otherwise it'll be more that blows next time - I've seen the aftermath of that in a SNES! Not pretty!
SNES is AC, SFC is DC. And yeah, of course I'll be fixing that fuse. It lives for now, though, that's the main thing.
What's this about SNES taking AC? SNES, in North America takes DC input. SFC takes DC input. Are you saying the PAL SNES actually takes AC input? I'd find that really strange if true. All SNES's should be expecting input of 10VDC. I don't see any reason why it would use AC in PAL regions.
Heh, it wasn't me... a customer brought one in. They thought they were being terribly clever by replacing the fuse with a permanent connection. They weren't!! lol. Who knows what they did to it to get it to blow twice, though?!?! Was the SNES one of those consoles that didn't like you (dis)connecting controllers whilst it was on?
Normally it was things like Convertors, Action Replays, Copying devices and even just switching the machine on. I run SFC/SNESes with bypassed fuses, that run for 8 hours a day for around 200+ days a year and not had any problems with them at all. The two machines that did fail on me still had the fuses in them...
