How to open NES & SNES AC Adapters?

[WizDawg]

Anybody ever open one of these up? There are 2 strange oval type screws. I want to open up a dead NES ac adapter and wondering if there is a tool or some other way.

[JohnnyA]

I have also wondered the same thing!

[BetaWolf47]

I'm curious about this too. The only way I can think of is to smooth out the holes and twist out the screws with a pair of pliers. I actually had to have my dad cut around the screws with a power tool.

[jb143]

What exactly is the point of getting inside? Is there anything other than a transformer in there?

Edit-
When all else fails, you can always drill screws out. And if your carefull you can replace them with something else.

[dendawg]

What exactly is the point of getting inside? Is there anything other than a transformer in there?

If it outputs DC voltage, there's probably a set of rectifier diodes also, along with some capacitors to smooth out the output.

[jb143]

But NES adaptors are AC. It's just going to be a stepdown transformer. There's not going to be much to repair if that's the reason for opening one up.

[WizDawg]

OK I was able to open up my bad NES ac adapter. I used the old trick of heating up the end of a pen and jamming it in the hole to make a makeshift tool. I ruined 5 pens but was finally able to get the screws out. Nintendo definitely didn't want kids to open those up.

And yes jb143 is correct, there's just a transformer inside. There was bunch of black stuff around the prongs. Transformer is fried. I've opened up a few Sega Genesis 1602 power adapters. They have transformer, 4 diodes, a capacitor and a resistor.

[dendawg]

But NES adaptors are AC.

You're half right. OEM NES Adapters are AC, true, but the majority of third-party adapters for the NES output DC. The NES could handle either.