Can A NES Adapter break a Sega CD?

[wallydawg]

Apparently I did something stupid trying to play a CD32x game today. I don't have a sega brand adapter, so I use my turbografx one that suits the sega cd just fine (good enough for me anyways since it turns on the sega cd). Not having an extra adapter for my Genesis 1, I used an NES one. Doesnt work as I get a distorted picture and a weird buzzing omitting from the Genesis system. You'd think this would stop me from switching the power cords around from the Genesis to the Sega CD, but no. Tried it that way, didn't work, and now the Sega CD won't turn on at all (the Genesis I used the NES Adapter on before it is fine though).

Is it possible for the NES to blow out a Sega CD? I'm hoping I don't have to fix the fuse on it, I did on another I got for free but the motor was bad, prolly wasn't anything I did to it but I'd rather not risk opening another unless it's extremely necessary.

Looking at the descriptions of the adapters it seems like the Sega CD needs a more powerful adapter so I doubt it would blow unless there is a different polarity or something?

[savageone]

From what I've read in the past you don't want to use anything but the Sega adapter for a Sega CD. I do specifically remember reading NOT to try and use a NES adapter just because it will fit. I'm sure you bungled up your system matey. :(

[wallydawg]

From what I've read in the past you don't want to use anything but the Sega adapter for a Sega CD. I do specifically remember reading NOT to try and use a NES adapter just because it will fit. I'm sure you bungled up your system matey. :(

"just because it fit" was the exact reason why I tried it out too haha

[smokehouse]

According to my Sega CD Mk1, it takes 1.2 amps…the NES power supply supplies 1.3 amps. You won’t necessarily blow a device with too many volts but you certainly will with too many amps…yes, .1 amp is plenty to cook something.

On top of that you can’t just plug any old power supply into a system, there’s a tip and ring of that power supply and figuring that most systems a re DC based, polarity means EVERYTHING, reverse the polarity and you will also cook somthing. I’m pretty sure that the Genesis and NES use positive ring, negative tip so that’s ok but I’m pretty sure you put too many amps into it…it’s cooked.

[wallydawg]

Yeah I usually good on using the correct power supplies, guess I got too anxious to play a game that more than likely isn't worth it even if it did work (lol Corpse Killer).

Lets say this system already had the fuse repaired. Will I be able to replace it again?

I'm just worried about the cd motor and lens and all that, as I mentioned about the last one I fixed (that was most likely DOA completely before I got it) but replacing the fuse shouldn't effect any of the stuff over there correct?

[Dave Farquhar]

Too much amperage isn't a problem because the system will only draw what it needs. When speccing replacement AC adapters I always try to get as much amperage as I can without adding too much cost, because it's likely to run cooler and last longer. I run my NES with an AC adapter that supplies at least .2 amps more than the stock unit did.

The problem with using an NES adapter with a Sega system is AC vs. DC. The NES adapter is AC, and Sega systems expect DC. I've seen tons of broken consumer electronics caused by people plugging wrong adapters into the device. Either the adapter was AC when the device expected DC, or both were DC but the polarity was wrong.

Too much voltage may or may not hurt, depending on the system's design. If a system has a voltage regulator inside that steps the voltage down to 5 volts, you won't hurt it by plugging a 12v adapter in when the stock adapter was 9v. But if the system is expecting 5 volts and doesn't have a regulator, giving it 9 or 12 volts probably will cook it.

Reverse polarity will usually cook a device unless there's something in there designed to protect it. Some devices have that circuitry but it adds cost.

If you're going to use something other than the manufacturer's adapter with something, you have to know an awful lot about what's inside the box. The original NES is famous for working with pretty much any adapter you throw at it (the only danger of running it with a 15V DC adapter that fits is that the voltage regulator will run hotter than it would otherwise and its lifespan will shorten), but the NES design is the exception, not the rule. Most other devices aren't like that, because designing them that way adds cost.

I really wish there were some kind of standard so AC plugs wouldn't fit in DC devices, and DC plugs were polarized so you couldn't feed a device reverse polarity. It would save a lot of grief. Of course even if such a standard came into being tomorrow, it would still be about 35 years too late.

[InsaneDavid]

According to my Sega CD Mk1, it takes 1.2 amps…the NES power supply supplies 1.3 amps. You won’t necessarily blow a device with too many volts but you certainly will with too many amps…yes, .1 amp is plenty to cook something.

Incorrect, it's the other way around. Circuits draw amps, they only take what they need. You could have a 500A power supply and the system would only draw the 1.2A (or whatever) it needs. Voltage however needs to be accurate or at least close as too much voltage fry a circuit and to little will usually cause problems or failures especially if the voltage regulators are tight when it comes to tolerance.

*continues reading the other responses before talking about AC and DC* oh.. nice work Dave Farquhar. lol

[smokehouse]

Incorrect, it's the other way around. Circuits draw amps, they only take what they need. You could have a 500A power supply and the system would only draw the 1.2A (or whatever) it needs. Voltage however needs to be accurate or at least close as too much voltage fry a circuit and to little will usually cause problems or failures especially if the voltage regulators are tight when it comes to tolerance.

*continues reading the other responses before talking about AC and DC* oh.. nice work Dave Farquhar. lol


As punctual as ever with the routine snotty/know-it-all taste of arrogance…well done.







I have been corrected by the master himself….please, come to my home and have your way with my wife…

[InsaneDavid]

As punctual as ever with the routine snotty/know-it-all taste of arrogance…well done.

Well shit, no sense in misinformation that will damage someone's systems.

[smokehouse]

Well shit, no sense in misinformation that will damage someone's systems.

It’s not your info I have a beef with, it’s your approach. You’re one of the most arrogant fellas on this board, your posts often piss me off but I rarely say anything...this time your being an ass was directed at me so thus the comment.

Was I wrong? Sure, but you were a fucker about it...

I pity the people that have to know you in the real world…

[Daria]

It’s not your info I have a beef with, it’s your approach. You’re one of the most arrogant fellas on this board, your posts often piss me off but I rarely say anything...this time your being an ass was directed at me so thus the comment.

Was I wrong? Sure, but you were a fucker about it...

I pity the people that have to know you in the real world…

I don't see the arrogance. His post polietly corrected your information without any trace of insult. You can't blame InsaneDavid for a "percieved" tone that you subjected onto his reply.

[Slate]

Yes your fried your SCD. If it is the top loading model, You need to replace a fuse.

[omnedon]

Lets keep it civil gentlemen. If there is a problem with posting tone and personal offense, take it to PM, as I will not tolerate any more of it in this thread.

Out of all the places on the net, this forum needs to be a place where mis-information is either not posted, or corrected immediately. If you are not sure, don't post. If you are sure, and are wrong, consider it a bonus to be corrected before doing damage to one of your own systems, or helping another damage theirs.

I have been corrected here myself. Did I enjoy it? No. Did I appreciate having my knowledge improved by the correction of another? Yes, yes I did. Anything else breeds ignorance.

Text is a limited form of discussion. Inferring another's intent is a mug's game. If there is a personal issue, deal with it in PM. If I have to deal with it, I get all *locky*.

If an NES AC adapter was plugged into a SEGACD, the SEGACD is now dead, and will need a fuse replaced to even test it again. This is extremely common, and seems to happen over and over again.