Atari 2600 Power Cord

[Phanstar]

Anyone know of a retail store that sells a universal AC adapter that will work with the 2600?

I recently pulled my Atari out of storage and am missing the AC adapter. The ones on ebay seem to be selling for about 15.00 bucks or more. I am hesitant to spend so much when I have no gaurantee my system and controllers still work too, and I can buy a complete system for 55.00.

[theredlineboss]

When I picked up my first 2600, it was also missing the adapter. Based on the below thread, I looked around + located a used cell phone power adapter which worked...for 2 or 3 bux. :D
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/83559-how-important-is-wattage-on-a-2600-power-adapter/

As for something available retail...I'm not sure what's currently available. One of the posters in the link mentions a unit from walmart, but I haven't looked into it.


-Rob

[Steve W]

Where are you located? I know that Play N' Trade stores sometimes sell new power supplies for around $10. And I wouldn't worry about that Atari 2600 not working, other than the power switches getting iffy over time (usually from kids like me 'frying' games back in the day) they're built like tanks. Clean it, and it should be fine.

[goatdan]

Anyone know of a retail store that sells a universal AC adapter that will work with the 2600?

I recently pulled my Atari out of storage and am missing the AC adapter. The ones on ebay seem to be selling for about 15.00 bucks or more. I am hesitant to spend so much when I have no gaurantee my system and controllers still work too, and I can buy a complete system for 55.00.

Depending on what else you're looking for:

http://www.goatstore.com/Products/Atari/2600/111650/AC_Adapter/

I know that I've also got controllers in stock (and trust me, unless your system was in a fire or you smashed it, I can't imagine it won't work -- I've only ever had one 2600 system not work, and it is because someone took it apart and snapped the switches off the motherboard!)

You could pick up some games too while you're at it :)

Hope that helps.

[Phanstar]

I am not too worried about the base unit not working. But I don't know the condition of my Joysticks or my Paddles. I know I need a power adapter and an RF unit. That looks like it is going to run me 20 dollars or more just for it. So if after buying that, I still need to buy Joysticks and Paddles, then just getting the complete unit for 55 bucks makes more sense. Thanks for your answers. I might look into the one at wal mart because then if it turns out my controllers are all dead I can just return it, and go buy the complete unit from my local consignment shop.

Don't mean to be so stressed over a small amount of cash, but I am DIRT DIRT poor so the difference between 20 bucks to get this working and 55 is a VERY big deal to me, so thank you again for your help.

[Cornelius]

Are there any thrift stores around you? Most have a bin full of power supplies or a wall with a bunch on hooks. Shouldn't be too hard to find one that has the right power requirements, then you can just cut and attach the right connector on it, which I believe is just a standard mono audio jack (someone please correct me if I'm wrong).

Here, I've got one handy... it is 9V 500mA, center Pos.

[goatdan]

I am not too worried about the base unit not working. But I don't know the condition of my Joysticks or my Paddles. I know I need a power adapter and an RF unit. That looks like it is going to run me 20 dollars or more just for it. So if after buying that, I still need to buy Joysticks and Paddles, then just getting the complete unit for 55 bucks makes more sense. Thanks for your answers. I might look into the one at wal mart because then if it turns out my controllers are all dead I can just return it, and go buy the complete unit from my local consignment shop.

Don't mean to be so stressed over a small amount of cash, but I am DIRT DIRT poor so the difference between 20 bucks to get this working and 55 is a VERY big deal to me, so thank you again for your help.

It's totally up to you, of course, but even if all of your controllers are dead, you can probably get a new controller, RF switch and power supply for around $30ish. If the deal for $55 includes multiple joysticks and guaranteed working paddle controllers, then it probably is a decent deal.

Note that you can get the RF adapter things that plug directly into the cable line for like $3.50 at a lot of places.