PAL SNES on NTSC TV HELP

The 20M2MDU definitely supports both NTSC and PAL, so I'm sure your monitor isn't the problem. Here's a list of what I think are the potential issues.

1) AC Adapter: If you are using your original AC adapter from the UK, it needs a step up transformer, and not just a plug adapter. A less bulky solution would be to simply use the AC adapter from an American NES or Model 1 Sega Genesis. Those cheap 3-in-1 NES/SNES/Genesis AC adapters that are all over ebay will also work fine. (that's actually what I use).

2) The SNES itself: If the AC adapter is sorted out, make sure your SNES is working. Try hooking it up to the PVM with a s-video or regular composite AV cable. If you confirm that your PAL SNES is still working, DO NOT try the RGB cable yet...

3) The RGB cable: If your AC adapter and SNES are confirmed to be working fine, then it's on to the RGB cable. One possible problem could be if the RGB cable is wired to get its sync from AV pin 3 on the SNES. On a NTSC SNES/Super Famicom, this is a pure sync signal and works great. On a PAL SNES, however, this outputs +12v DC for SCART detection purposes instead of a sync signal. Feeding this into a signal input is very bad . A PAL SNES's sync signal must be taken from either pin 7 (s-video chroma) or pin 9 (composite video).

You can use your NTSC SNES to test whether the sync signal is being drawn from pin 3, 7, or 9. Connect your SCART to BNC adaptor's sync line to a composite video input on your PVM. Make sure you have the sync stripper set to off. Now try running your NTSC SNES with your PVM set to composite input. If you get a color picture, your sync is from pin 9, so it's not the source of your problem. If you get a black and white picture, your sync is from pin 7, and this also means that the sync signal should not be the problem. If, however, you get no picture, then there's a good chance that your SNES SCART cable gets sync from pin 3. Double check that your PVM is set to the composite input just to be sure. If that cable really is getting sync from SNES pin 3, then it should never be used with a PAL SNES.

 

Thanks for the info. AC Adapter has been ordered- if it powers on, with US adapter- like my UK Apple TV, iPad etc I'm a little confused as to why the power supply would need stepping up (going from 240V down to 110) I heard you only need to do that for NTSC consoles in the UK? - excuse my ignorance!

I am convinced its the AV port, so I am going to order the s-video connector and cable to do a DIY mod - this would allow the SNES to output S-video in place of the RF unit- will this work? Sound and sync too?

when you say try out s vid and composite cables- do you mean to go buy more snes AV cables with those connectors on? S-video would plug directly, but for composite I'd need then additional BNC adapters to fit? - composite is BNC connector on the PVM.

ive already rinsed $100 after being advised by Retro gaming cables that both the PAL RGB cable and the BNC SCART cable I ordered direct from them, would work fine with a PAL console. The RGB cable should be good to go and I'm all out of budget for spending on test cables.

 

The AC adapter is supposed to feed the SNES about 9-10 volts, and then the SNES's internal voltage regulator converts that into a steady 5v DC. Your PAL SNES AC adapter is basically just a step-down transformer which converts 220v to about 9-10v AC. If you plug that into a 110v outlet, then it will only be outputting 4.5-5v AC into the SNES. This isn't enough for the voltage regulator to generate the steady 5v DC that the SNES needs to run properly. That basically leaves you with two options: Give your AC adapter the 220v it wants in order to output 9-10v, or use an AC adapter that's gonna output 9-10v from a 110v outlet.

Newer devices like the Apple TV and iPad use switching power supplies, which are highly efficient and work well with a wide range of input voltages, so you don't need to worry about the mains voltage on those.

I definitely wouldn't spend any more money on that SNES until seeing whether its problem is fixed by using the proper AC adapter. In the meantime though, you can try testing to see whether your RGB cable outputs composite video, luma, or pure sync on its sync output. You don't need to buy anything extra to do that.

 

this makes a lot of sense to me, thanks! I am amazed that no one has pointed that out yet... I guess I saw the red light and thought it must work. I ordered the cables specifically from retro gaming so I know they're going to work once the snes has enough power. My BNC SCART lead with sync stripper outputs csync I'm pretty sure, PAL snes will only output composite video, so this is where the sync stripper comes in to force sync ...

N.b My NTSC SNES has no problems connecting using the same cable set, sync turned on or off. Presumably because it actually outputs csync.

 

Actually the sync stripper is completely unnecessary for your PVM. It has no problem getting the sync signal straight off composite video or luma. My SCART cable for NTSC SNES is wired to get sync from composite video even though the NTSC SNES also has a pure sync output. It makes no difference to the PVM.

 

Wow. It's any wonder anyone gets anything done! I thought for once, I'd do things right and ask before I buy, so I had two guys (one from the cable store) and another RGB expert tell me that I WOULD need the sync stripper, as PAL consoles only output composite video, not csync. ???

So I was upgraded to more expensive cables that I didn't even need?

Way too much conflicting information so far :/ I'm done.

 

The voltage difference is common knowledge - something you should be aware of moving to the US, really. The US runs on 120V. Your PSU will have an input range written on it. You no doubt know not to use your hairdryer or television over there - same thing. Some (newer) devices have a multi-range input voltage, but not all - check first!

A US SNES PSU won't work on a UK console - they have different ends. The UK SNES PSU uses 9V AC at 1.3A. The US SNES uses DC. That might not matter, though - can't think what rectification there is on a SNES offhand. In which case, a Genesis PSU might just about do it... if it's the same polarity. It's late, I'm tired, can't think - someone will confirm, no doubt. The Genesis PSU outputs a slightly lower current, but I think the Super Famicom was quite low so you'll probably be OK there... not that I normally recommend going under.

As for needing two cables... not really. You could always switch it. The PAL one has a +12V line that the US one doesn't. Other than that, it's just the 75 ohm resistors on the video lines.

 

They were probably just playing it safe by suggesting the sync stripper because RGB stuff outside of Europe isn't really standardized. Some monitors & scalers are really picky and need a pure sync signal off the sync stripper while others have no trouble digging through a video signal and finding the sync. I don't know if all PVMs fall into the latter category, but the newer ones which can handle component as well as RGB video definitely do. It still kind of sucks that you ended up paying extra for an unneeded sync stripper though. Hopefully the AC adapter is all that is needed to sort this thing out, then you will truly be done (well, almost.... there's still the matter of eventually getting a SCART cable for your NTSC SNES ) .

 

That's great, thanks for all your help on this. Fingers crossed on the new ac adapter - to be fair to the cable guys it sounds as though they have had some testing issues themselves with their PAL SNES, certain cables they made up with a few pins soldered incorrectly for anything other than scart based TVs, which explains stuff going wrong, I am hoping they will fix the issue on the cable, should it need doing. Really appreciate everyone's help.

 

If if you want a laugh, you guys might like to know the multi ac/dc adapter arrived today.... It doesn't fit the PAL SNES

turns out that the PAL SNES inside pin is thicker, which explains why the UK adapter works on the thinner genesis and nes ac inputs.

So I'm thinking, lop off the PAL jack and re solder it to the new US ac adapter cable... Provided I checked polarity with a meter I should be fine. I found a walk through www.silysavg.com/tutorials/ac-dc_power_adapter_customizing.html

Will this work though?

 

Ahhh, I had no idea the PAL SNES had a different size connector. Your plan will work. The polarity doesn't matter because the PAL SNES was originally designed to take an AC input. The rectifier inside your SNES will automatically convert any AC or DC input into DC with the proper polarity.

 

Thats great, will let you know the outcome

 

Good news... After making up an ac adapter cable for the PAL SNES, it worked straight away! - It was not getting enough power to it all along. Thank you so much Pablo for pointing this out!

RE The PAL RGB SCART cables, (the first I received wasn't wired correctly) it worked, but the picture was snowy and way too bright- colour wise. But the second works really well, outputting clean fine scan lines on the PVM with nice colours-

I am going to make use of the other cable, re soldering and switching resistors/caps for NTSC, to use with my NTSC SNES.

Thanks again everyone for your input, finally have both consoles set up and looking great

 

Glad to hear your PAL SNES ordeal is finally over

For the NTSC Scart cable, the only components you need on the video signals are 3 220uf capacitors for the R, G, and B lines.