NES Hardware Questions

[lordnikon]

A long time ago I let my friend borrow my NES games and system. Well he moved to Arizona, and I went off to college. Only when I got back into video games again did I totally regret lending him that system. BIG MISTAKE!

Well I am getting an NES again, finally. So I have some questions:

Is blowing on NES carts bad for them?

Will an SNES AC Adaptor work on an NES system? or Do I need to get an NES specific adaptor? Also if so, has anyone tried those multi-system adaptors that work for the SNES / NES / Genesis? Do they work well? I just don't want to buy something that will light my NES on fire.

Finally, as for video output, the NES has Red / Yellow AV Outs on the side right? So if I have a general composite video cable will this work? Or will I have to get an RF?

Does the NES output in Mono or Stereo?

[Push Upstairs]

The NES does mono only and the only way to get "Stereo" is to split the signal with an Y-adaptor (they can be found easily)

As for the Red/yellow on the side, a typical set of RCA A/V cables will be fine, just remember to split that audio for faked "stereo" sound.

As for the SNES adaptor...i'm not really sure.

[Scream And Fly]

The SNES AC adapter will not work with the NES. You can usually find an adapter at Radio Shack, labled as "video game AC adapter" or something. They work fine.

Blowing on carts is not good for them. Your best bet is to get some lint free cloths and alcohol and clean the contacts. Then, clean the pin connector on the NES. If it's a toaster unit, you may have to bend the pins back up slightly if the unit gives you the constant blinking problem after a cleaning.

[NEOFREAK9189]

the genesis 1 ac work

[InsaneDavid]

No need to worry about the NES AC, it's not like it's something hard to come by. (like the JVC X'Eye adapter) For the connector, forget pin bending, I still stand by that as a myth and an improper fix - many in the Technical and Restoration Society would agree. Concerning the Zero Insertion Force connector, in a PM I recently wrote...

"The ZIF connector is the piece inside the NES that the carts slide into. A walkthrough really isn't needed, you basically open your NES (screws at the bottom, lift off the top), and keep dissassembling around the cartridge connector. After removing the screws it slides off the mainboard.

I usually take a toothbrush (a NEW toothbrush, get cheap 5 for $1 ones, etc), dip it in alcohol, and then scrub the part of the connector that the NES carts plug into with it. Of course repairs change based upon the condition of the internals but those methods are something that needs to be learned with engineering experence."

I'm also amazed how many extremely competent engineers out there have web pages where they say how their "NES is broken (blinky)" so they build some alternate system out of pirate hardware, or just let it collect dust on the shelf while they begin to detail plans for some complex electronic device they're building, etc.

Blowing into the carts oxidizes the connectors, moisture is your enemy. If you keep everything clean with alcohol then you should be good to go. (no need to bag your carts unless you're going to go bury them somewhere) Search around on that, there are many threads. Good information in this thread (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=83588) (which you actually posted in).

For cleaning cartridge connectors everyone has their own methods, cotton swabs and alcohol being the most common. For hard cleaning you may want to open each cartridge and scrub the connectors with a cloth and alcohol, which requires a NES gamebit to remove the special screws on most carts. It sounds like a lot of work but if you do that NOW while you're just getting into NES stuff and keep everything clean to begin with, you'll have a lot fewer NES headaches.

You need to use a special bit to remove those screws, look around on eBay for a multitool kit similar to this one...

http://cyclictedium.blogspot.com/2004/03/review-ultimate-game-tools.html

That's a review I wrote of the toolkit I mainly use, make sure that it includes the bits to open what you need. Oh yeah, I've since found a use for the "tuning fork" bits, they open NES power adapters. You may also need to grind down the outer wall of the NES gamebit to allow easier access into the screw wells on NES carts. Stock, the bit is usually a tight fit, a little time with a grinder or a file and it slips in smooth.

[FullCircle]

David's right - bending the connectors out in the ZIF connector has never done me any better, and I've disassembled and cleaned numerous NES systems. The only problem I've noticed when you can't get a game to work is that there is a little room to play with when the cart is in the connector. If you move it to one side or the other, this usually fixes the problem because all of the pins then make contact with the correct contacts.

As far as the cables go, you can use any cables with decent shielding and RCA connectors on the ends. Splitting the mono sound output isn't really going to get you stereo sound, but it will solve the problem of outputting to one side of your speaker setup if it is a problem.

[lordnikon]

Thanks for the information InsaneDavid, I will save this for future reference. I ended up scoring a NES ac adaptor for a few bucks yesterday off amazon, and I have plenty of RCA cables laying around. I also got a pad coming, so it looks like I will be all set.

As for bagging my games, I tend to play all of my games, so they are constantly getting use. I have them all in open air, with a large bed sheet over them that I flip up to gain access to them. Dust is my mortal enemy. I have t-shirts on my consoles that I pull off when I am ready to play them.

[c0ldb33r]

I usually take a toothbrush (a NEW toothbrush, get cheap 5 for $1 ones, etc), dip it in alcohol, and then scrub the part of the connector that the NES carts plug into with it. Of course repairs change based upon the condition of the internals but those methods are something that needs to be learned with engineering experence."

Wow what a good idea! I've always used Q-tips, and they suck, you have to push really hard and all it does it screw up the q-tip. A toothbrush is a great idea. I can't believe I never thought of it. Thanks! :D

[rbudrick]

The NES is naturally mono, but there is a way to get pseudo-stereo. The NES had 5 sound channels. There are two pins on the motherboard that carry 3 and 2 sounds each. If you route each of these pins to seperate outputs (left and right), you can achieve what is essentially stereo sound. You may need to add a couple tiny components, but that's the gist.

-Rob

[boatofcar]

For cleaning cartridge connectors everyone has their own methods, cotton swabs and alcohol being the most common. For hard cleaning you may want to open each cartridge and scrub the connectors with a cloth and alcohol, which requires a NES gamebit to remove the special screws on most carts. It sounds like a lot of work but if you do that NOW while you're just getting into NES stuff and keep everything clean to begin with, you'll have a lot fewer NES headaches.

You need to use a special bit to remove those screws, look around on eBay for a multitool kit similar to this one...

http://cyclictedium.blogspot.com/2004/03/review-ultimate-game-tools.html


Our own Sylentwulf has a store at www.electricquarter.com that sells game bits, if you only need the NES one. I recently purchased one from him, and not only did it arrive quickly, but I didn't have to grind it down to make it fit in the cart holes.