Genesis 1 with NES power supply

[impossiblescissors]

A friend is giving me his dead Genesis (the original, Model 1601) because it died on him. He suspects that it's because he played the system for years using the NES power supply in place of the Genesis one which he lost. I don't think this is the issue, as the voltage-regulating circuitry should be able to compensate for the difference between the two power supplies.

Does this sound correct to the Genesis experts out there? Any do you have any general troubleshooting tips for things I should do to troubleshoot the Genesis? If the motherboard is truly dead, I'll probably use the case to house an Atom-based PC emulating the Genesis games.

[ttsgeb]

I don't know if that would be a reason for it do die, but if it did go in that way, you could just replace the 7805(the only thing with a heatsink) and it would work again...

[impossiblescissors]

Is there any easy way to determine if the 7805 is still good? Perhaps using a voltmeter to measure voltage in and voltage out?

[nevermind1534]

Is there any easy way to determine if the 7805 is still good? Perhaps using a voltmeter to measure voltage in and voltage out?

That would probably be a good way to start.

[Ace_1]

I don't know if that would be a reason for it do die, but if it did go in that way, you could just replace the 7805(the only thing with a heatsink) and it would work again...

It definitely is the reason it died. The NES power supply and Genesis power supply output different types of electricity. A Genesis needs DC power, which is what the Genesis power supply outputs. HOWEVER, the NES power supply outputs AC power. If you use a DC power supply on an NES(or any piece of electronics that uses an AC power supply), it would work just fine, but if you were to use an AC power supply on anything requiring DC power, you'll kill it. Replace the 2 7805s(or single 7805 if the Genesis contains a VA7 motherboard) and while you're at it, replace the capacitors, as they might have overheated too. That Genesis should be fine then.

[Axaj]

I don't know if that would be a reason for it do die, but if it did go in that way, you could just replace the 7805(the only thing with a heatsink) and it would work again...

It definitely is the reason it died. The NES power supply and Genesis power supply output different types of electricity. A Genesis needs DC power, which is what the Genesis power supply outputs. HOWEVER, the NES power supply outputs AC power. If you use a DC power supply on an NES(or any piece of electronics that uses an AC power supply), it would work just fine, but if you were to use an AC power supply on anything requiring DC power, you'll kill it. Replace the 2 7805s(or single 7805 if the Genesis contains a VA7 motherboard) and while you're at it, replace the capacitors, as they might have overheated too. That Genesis should be fine then.

You're telling me the NES uses an AC-AC adaptor?

[kylechu]

Yeah, it brings it down to 9 volts AC. (at least according to the writing on the power brick)

[kibble]

The NES most certainly used an AC-AC adapter, which is the reason why you can find a bridge rectifier inside the metal can that's connected directly to the power input.

Running AC power into a transformer DOES NOT automatically make it DC output, it's still alternating, so you need the rectifiers to smooth it out.

[Axaj]

Yeah, it brings it down to 9 volts AC. (at least according to the writing on the power brick)

The NES most certainly used an AC-AC adapter, which is the reason why you can find a bridge rectifier inside the metal can that's connected directly to the power input.

Running AC power into a transformer DOES NOT automatically make it DC output, it's still alternating, so you need the rectifiers to smooth it out.

...

Crap. *runs away*