Sega CD Power Adapter

[Pezcore343]

I recently got a Sega CD from a guy on Craigslist along with both a model 1 and 2 Genesis. The only cables in the lot however were one set of cables for a Genesis, nothing for the Sega CD. Before I resort to going out and buying a power cable for the thing, is there anything that is compatible that I might have lying around?

[Enigmus]

I recently got a Sega CD from a guy on Craigslist along with both a model 1 and 2 Genesis. The only cables in the lot however were one set of cables for a Genesis, nothing for the Sega CD. Before I resort to going out and buying a power cable for the thing, is there anything that is compatible that I might have lying around?

Ever heard of the last forum thing at the bottom?

[TheDomesticInstitution]

The model 1 Sega Genesis, uses the exact same power supply as the Sega CD. Look on your Sega Model 1 power supply to check the exact specs. Look at your power cords around the house to see if any are close to the Model 1, and try and sub them for it. Whatever you do, don't use a NES power supply, because AC and DC power shouldn't mix.

[Pezcore343]

Thanks Domestic, I almost tried the NES one after reading that that and the TG-16 supplies should work, but I checked for any replies here first. Guess I have to go hunt one down.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Some here have had luck with the NES power supply, while others have fried the Sega CD. It's your call.

I bought one earlier this year, and resisted the urge to try the NES and waited until I found a better replacement.

[FABombjoy]

DO NOT USE THE NES POWER SUPPLY.

That is all.

[ncman071]

walmart and radio shack also have universal power supplies. i bought one for the original xbox wireless bridge and have had no problems

[Pezcore343]

Also this may sound like a stupid question, and somewhat unrelated to the topic, but when using a Sega CD I'm assuming I can't have a Genny cart plugged in right? I've never used one of these beasts before so I'm just assuming that I just power on the Genesis with just a CD game inserted.

More on topic, I can't find any suitable replacements. I guess I'll have to go out tomorrow and buy an adapter. I heard a PSOne adapter would work, didn't fit. I heard NES would work, wrong I/O. Why can't everything electronic have universal AC adapters?

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Also this may sound like a stupid question, and somewhat unrelated to the topic, but when using a Sega CD I'm assuming I can't have a Genny cart plugged in right? I've never used one of these beasts before so I'm just assuming that I just power on the Genesis with just a CD game inserted.

More on topic, I can't find any suitable replacements. I guess I'll have to go out tomorrow and buy an adapter. I heard a PSOne adapter would work, didn't fit. I heard NES would work, wrong I/O. Why can't everything electronic have universal AC adapters?


Yeah, if I'm not mistaken you need to remove any carts before you try a CD. I think the genesis reverts to the cart slot by default.

It's going to be hard to find a replacement for the Sega CD at a retailer. You may need to find a DP'er with one, or try eBay. Although I would guess DP would be cheaper.

[aclbandit]

Master System, Genesis Model 1, SegaCD, and *I THINK* Game Gear power supplies should all work.

DO NOT Plug in NES or SNES. You will fry it, and you WILL be sad.

[A Black Falcon]

First -- yes, the Sega CD only boots if you don't have a cart in. The one exception is of course the Sega CD Backup RAM Cart; if you want to use it to save to, have it in when you turn the system on, and the Sega CD will boot as normal but games that support it will let you use it for saving. :)


Master System, Genesis Model 1, SegaCD, and *I THINK* Game Gear power supplies should all work.

DO NOT Plug in NES or SNES. You will fry it, and you WILL be sad.

You don't need to worry about the SNES, its power supply only fits in the SNES and nothing else... I think the Japanese SFC uses the same power supply as the Famicom, but in the US, the two are completely different. The SNES has a distinctive grey connector that you plug into the system... and it outputs DC, not AC like the NES one did. 10V DC 0.85A, specifically. Not that it matters, given that the plug won't fit in any Sega system I know of.

Anyway... US Sega power supplies.

MK-1602 or MK-1602-1 -- Sega Genesis 1, Sega CD 1 and 2. This power supply may also work with Master Systems -- they are very similar to SMS power supplies, which are model 3025. The MK-1602 is 9 volt DC 1.2 amp, the MK-1602-1 10 volt DC 1.2 amp, and the 3025 9 volt DC 1 amp. All have the same kind of plug. I'm not sure why they have two different models of the Genesis 1/Sega CD power supply, one outputting 9V and the other 10V, but either should work the same. I've got a 1602-1, it works the same as a regular 1602.

MK-2103 -- Sega Genesis 2, Sega 32X, Sega Game Gear. The Game Gear power supply is indeed identical to the Genesis 2/32X one, if they actually did sell them separately, so just use a Genesis 2 power supply for it, they're quite common and the GG really needs that power, given its battery life. Output 10V DC 0.85A

MK-1479 -- Sega (Majesco) Genesis 3. 10V DC 0.3A. Not used by any other systems. Interestingly, the Majesco Game Gear (2000 system re-release) manual warns you to not use a Master System, Master System II, or Genesis 3 power supply with the Game Gear, as the Majesco Game Gear uses the same power supply as the Sega ones. Oddly, while it does say use model 2103, it doesn't say that that is the Genesis 2/32X power supply... or not to use a Genesis 1/Sega CD power supply either. Why mention the SMS but not the Genesis 1? Odd. :)

[Baloo]

First -- yes, the Sega CD only boots if you don't have a cart in. The one exception is of course the Sega CD Backup RAM Cart; if you want to use it to save to, have it in when you turn the system on, and the Sega CD will boot as normal but games that support it will let you use it for saving. :)



You don't need to worry about the SNES, its power supply only fits in the SNES and nothing else... I think the Japanese SFC uses the same power supply as the Famicom, but in the US, the two are completely different. The SNES has a distinctive grey connector that you plug into the system... and it outputs DC, not AC like the NES one did. 10V DC 0.85A, specifically. Not that it matters, given that the plug won't fit in any Sega system I know of.

Anyway... US Sega power supplies.

MK-1602 or MK-1602-1 -- Sega Genesis 1, Sega CD 1 and 2. This power supply may also work with Master Systems -- they are very similar to SMS power supplies, which are model 3025. The MK-1602 is 9 volt DC 1.2 amp, the MK-1602-1 10 volt DC 1.2 amp, and the 3025 9 volt DC 1 amp. All have the same kind of plug. I'm not sure why they have two different models of the Genesis 1/Sega CD power supply, one outputting 9V and the other 10V, but either should work the same. I've got a 1602-1, it works the same as a regular 1602.

MK-2103 -- Sega Genesis 2, Sega 32X, Sega Game Gear. The Game Gear power supply is indeed identical to the Genesis 2/32X one, if they actually did sell them separately, so just use a Genesis 2 power supply for it, they're quite common and the GG really needs that power, given its battery life. Output 10V DC 0.85A

MK-1479 -- Sega (Majesco) Genesis 3. 10V DC 0.3A. Not used by any other systems. Interestingly, the Majesco Game Gear (2000 system re-release) manual warns you to not use a Master System, Master System II, or Genesis 3 power supply with the Game Gear, as the Majesco Game Gear uses the same power supply as the Sega ones. Oddly, while it does say use model 2103, it doesn't say that that is the Genesis 2/32X power supply... or not to use a Genesis 1/Sega CD power supply either. Why mention the SMS but not the Genesis 1? Odd. :)

SNES and Virtual Boy actually share an AC adapter. But other than that, your descriptions of which AC adapters go with what are spot on.

[A Black Falcon]

You're quite right, I forgot about that... it is true that the VB can't just use a stock SNES adaptor, though, you need the AC Adapter Tap for the Virtual Boy. It's a little annoying, because I have a Virtual Boy, and a SNES, but can't use my VB with AC power because I need that tap, and they're a bit costly (and you can't use the Japanese ones, those use Japanese SFC power supplies), and the system's battery life is poor. I'll get one someday...

[Kokonoe]

Excuse the necro, but if someone plugged in the NES power supply once, is there still a chance the SEGA CD isn't fried?

[Gentlegamer]

Excuse the necro, but if someone plugged in the NES power supply once, is there still a chance the SEGA CD isn't fried?

If you're lucky, the fuse in the Sega CD blew and protected the components.

[Kokonoe]

If you're lucky, the fuse in the Sega CD blew and protected the components.

So if the fuse blew, would I have to repair something?

[JSoup]

So if the fuse blew, would I have to repair something?

Yes.
A blown fuse.

[Kokonoe]

Well, I'm going to hope for the best, then. I did input the NES AC into my Genesis before without knowing the repercussions and it still worked fine, maybe it'll be the case here.

[Emperor Megas]

If you're lucky, the fuse in the Sega CD blew and protected the components.


So if the fuse blew, would I have to repair something?


Yes.
A blown fuse.I can't stop smiling.

[bb_hood]

I repaired a sega cd with a blown fuse once, its surprisingly easy.

[Gameguy]

Master System, Genesis Model 1, SegaCD, and *I THINK* Game Gear power supplies should all work.
Just to make things a bit more clear, some Game Gears do use the Model 1 adapter, but most I've come across use the Model 2 adapter. It seems they started selling them at the same time as the Model 1 Genesis so they used the same adapter, but when they switched to the Model 2 Genesis they changed the adapters the Game Gears used to match those new consoles.

[theclaw]

Maybe. My impression was Genesis 2 adopted the USA Game Gear power adapter, not the other way around.

[Gameguy]

Maybe. My impression was Genesis 2 adopted the USA Game Gear power adapter, not the other way around.
All I can tell you for sure was that I've come across North American Game Gears using both Model 1 and Model 2 adapters, as well as finding official North American Game Gear branded adapters that are Model 1 and Model 2 compatible. I have no idea why they would change the adapters used if it wasn't to match the production of the Genesis adapters being produced at that time.

[FABombjoy]

I would like to see a pic of these Game Gears. I would suspect post-manufacture modification.

I have GG S/N 0000092 and it's set up for the 2103 power supply. Still have my original release GG (20xxx) and it's the same. Every unit between those and the last-of-the-last Majesco GG units have all been 2103.

[Gameguy]

If I still have them I'll take pictures. Did Game Gears from other regions use different adapters?

[FABombjoy]

According to the service manuals the European versions have a slightly different power supply circuit. It's possible these units may have a different size DC jack as well.

Looking at my own reference photos, I do see that there is a difference in jacks between a 2 ASIC European version (837-7996) and a 2 ASIC NA version (837-7719-01). Unfortunately I don't have good enough angles to determine if the plug width is different, only that the jack has different design features.

Since power supplies tend to stay in their home region, it's certainly possible for a difference like this to go largely unnoticed.

[Gameguy]

Doing a brief search online it seems Japanese(and possibly European) Game Gears used Model 1 adapters. My console might be Japanese then, it did come with an official Sega Game Gear branded adapter that fit in North American outlets so it wasn't modified and wasn't European. I remember someone else here posted that there were different versions released in North America using both power supplies so I just accepted that as an explanation. I still barely used it and haven't looked at it in ages, assuming it's one I still kept. I should have done more research. :beaten:

[FABombjoy]

Neat! The GG is like 25 years old and there's still plenty of things to learn about it :D

[theclaw]

Japanese systems have a different region mode. You'll tell right away on games like Streets of Rage.

[Az]

As a bit of info it is safe to use a 12v adapter on a Genesis/32x/Sega CD as long as the polarity is correct. The increase is minimal enough for the internal voltage regulators to adjust the power without problem.

I have a homemade trio-type 3-in-1 power adapter I use for my model 1 MD, model 2 SCD, and 32x at the same time. It's made from a Gamecube adapter that outputs 12v and around 3amps, which is plenty enough amperage for electric hogs like using the Mega Everdrive with 32x & CD still attached.