View Full Version : Darned Power Bricks
Sonicwolf
02-10-2009, 06:37 PM
It occurs to me that power bricks are the bane of most video game collectors existance, especially for older consoles like the Super/Nintendo Entertainment System and Genesis/Megadrive, these things make plugging in multiple consoles impossible. A big problem is the Genesis/Megadrive with the addons. If you have a CD addon and the 32x attached you have to have 2 power bars to be able to plug the damned thing in. I think its time a 3rd party company should start making power bricks for old game consoles that are located halfway between the plug and the console power tip, like the modern 360 power cord idea except alot smaller. Any thoughts?
I don't know if such a product has mass market appeal.
Imstarryeyed
02-10-2009, 07:39 PM
Funny you should mention that.. I was just complaining that the Commodore Vic - 20 power supply is a brick located in the center of the cord and how frustrating it is for us at the store because we have counters and it falls halfway down the cord! I was just saying how terrible of an idea it was for them to do that! Ha ha...
I do however like how many modern laptops do it, short cord from brick to the wall that is detachable and generic and a long cord from brick to tip, so the brick sits nicely on the ground.
One more tip folks pull out a black sharpie marker and label your generic power supplies so when they are separated you can always find the correct power to the console!
On the same note if anyone on this board has a Telegames Dina 2 in 1 system please let me know I am desprately looking for info on the generic power supply as mine got lost and I would like to find a replacement.
Any help anyone can give me would be a great help!!
Here was the thread I made in Technical and Restoration asking for help as well..
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127563
tubeway
02-10-2009, 07:40 PM
I imagine the very items you speak of exist in the inventory of electronic part company catalogs. They're just not marketed as classic video game A/C adaptor replacements.
duo_r
02-10-2009, 07:48 PM
I think most would not want to replace their OEM AC adapter with a special aftermarket one. Sega actually released a power strip that can hold 4 AC Adapters, so it pretty much covers a Sega Genny + 32X + CD and one extra (system of your choice). It had the sega logo on it. I had two of them and they fetched a pretty penny a few years ago so I sold one of them. I can always upload a photo later if you want to see it. But besides that, have you ever considered the power squid? One squid could handle like 6 AC adapters.
Erik
It occurs to me that power bricks are the bane of most video game collectors existance, especially for older consoles like the Super/Nintendo Entertainment System and Genesis/Megadrive, these things make plugging in multiple consoles impossible. A big problem is the Genesis/Megadrive with the addons. If you have a CD addon and the 32x attached you have to have 2 power bars to be able to plug the damned thing in. I think its time a 3rd party company should start making power bricks for old game consoles that are located halfway between the plug and the console power tip, like the modern 360 power cord idea except alot smaller. Any thoughts?
Gentlegamer
02-10-2009, 07:57 PM
I use short (about 1 foot) extenstion cables to plug the old brick style adapters into, then run the other end to the power strip. Works great!
theChad
02-10-2009, 07:58 PM
I think you're over-thinking this. Just get some short extension cords and voilą.
The 1 2 P
02-10-2009, 08:00 PM
My Jvc X Eye alliviates the problem of having two power bricks for a Genesis and Sega cd because it's all-in-one.
duo_r
02-10-2009, 08:02 PM
there is also a mod where u can power the Genesis and Sega CD with only 1 power brick.....
tubeway
02-10-2009, 08:08 PM
But besides that, have you ever considered the power squid? One squid could handle like 6 AC adapters.
Erik
This. Power Squids can be found at Target for ten bucks. Problem solved.
Mods, please lock this thread.
Just kidding.
bangtango
02-10-2009, 09:05 PM
Funny you should mention that.. I was just complaining that the Commodore Vic - 20 power supply is a brick located in the center of the cord and how frustrating it is for us at the store because we have counters and it falls halfway down the cord! I was just saying how terrible of an idea it was for them to do that! Ha ha...
The Vic-20 power supply sucks. But so does the CD-i power supply, which has the same problem. The GameCube power brick isn't so hot either.
Jorpho
02-10-2009, 09:18 PM
The N64 design, with the brick right on the console end, made the most sense, no?
But yeah, go squid.
Chainclaw
02-10-2009, 09:39 PM
How is this even an issue for you? Have you never been down the surge protector aisle at any store? There are dozens of configurations of surge protectors / socket multipliers that are built for lots of power bricks.
Although good luck finding anything that fits the Colecovision power brick well. Even the mighty squid struggles with it.
MeTmKnice
02-10-2009, 11:39 PM
Did anyone here mention a "Squid" power cable?
yoshilime53
02-11-2009, 12:02 AM
Did anyone here mention a "Squid" power cable?
hmm, besides a million people, no.:roll:
blue lander
02-11-2009, 10:52 AM
Yeah, go with the powersquid. I hooked up 6 power bricks to a squid and then put them all in a medium sized plastic shoebox so they aren't just laying around everywhere. No mess, no fuss.
Borman
02-11-2009, 12:40 PM
This. Power Squids can be found at Target for ten bucks. Problem solved.
Mods, please lock this thread.
Just kidding.
Bingo, you guys missed yesterdays w00t that was 2 for 10$ :P
http://www.woot.com/Forums/ViewPost.aspx?PostID=2966476
thom_m
02-11-2009, 02:34 PM
I think its time a 3rd party company should start making power bricks for old game consoles that are located halfway between the plug and the console power tip, like the modern 360 power cord idea except alot smaller. Any thoughts?
The official brazilian SNES power supply is just like this. Short cord to wall, long cord from to console. And it's bivolt, too. The brick itself is kinda big, though.
I like it a lot, for the same reasons Sonicwolf listed. Too bad I forgot to change the voltage when I moved and fried mine...:frustrated:
EDIT:
I don't know if such a product has mass market appeal.
I don't know about other markets, but 3rd party power supplies for older consoles sell pretty fine here, since the original ones are expensive and hard to find/fix. I'm currently using one on my SNES, and would definitely prefer if it was like Sonicwolf described.
sidnotcrazy
02-11-2009, 03:43 PM
Great idea!
I bought a Colecovision from a board member, and it seemed like half the weight was due to its massive power brick. And the crazy thing about it is I use to plug that monster into a wall outlet directly.
Sabz5150
02-11-2009, 04:35 PM
http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2920971w345.jpg
Got a 3 pack of these at Target for 5 bucks. Lincoln solved my Sega problem.
Gentlegamer
02-11-2009, 04:37 PM
http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2920971w345.jpg
Got a 3 pack of these at Target for 5 bucks. Lincoln solved my Sega problem.Those are almost exactly what I use.
Sabz5150
02-11-2009, 04:40 PM
Those are almost exactly what I use.
Did you let out a loud "F*CK YEAH!" in the store when you saw them (as I almost did)? :)
I need to get more of them here soon... more consoles = more bricks = "bullsh*t, what a load of f*cking bullsh*t!" (to paraphrase the Nerd).
thom_m
02-11-2009, 05:14 PM
Cool thingies - that, and the Power Squid. I don't think there's anything like that on the market here. Even normal power extensions are fu**ing expensive in the city I live in.
Another option would be to make tiny extensions. Cables and plugs are usually cheap - at least, anywhere else...
Ze_ro
02-11-2009, 08:43 PM
I've had this plan for a long time that involves taking an old coffee table and outfitting it with audio and video jacks with the basic idea that I wouldn't keep ANY console hooked up, but just grab them off the shelf and hook them up in a relatively easy manner.
Just today I came up with the idea of sticking an old PC power supply in there... A standard ATX power supply has plenty of voltages available, so I could basically just make simple adapter cables to provide DC current to almost any game system (Yes, I realize there are some that use AC).
I haven't really thought this through, so there's probably some nasty downsides that I'm forgetting.
--Zero