After playing my Famicom AV for a while the game got real hot and smelt bad.

[Urzu402]

Well it smelt like burning plastic or something. Is this normal with Famicom AVs. I'm talking about like close to an hour's worth of play like 45 minutes.

[Tupin]

Are you playing a pirated game? Those were made cheaply and actually can overheat easily.

[Urzu402]

Are you playing a pirated game? Those were made cheaply and actually can overheat easily.

I don't think its a pirate, everything about it looks legit. The game in question is Rockman 5, I mean it wasnt like burning hot it was noticeably warm though and it did smell like burning plastic.

[Gameguy]

If it catches fire you've played it too long.

[SpaceHarrier]

Having trouble with Napalm Man?

[FoxNtd]

If your game doesn't look like this, then it's a pirate.



Furthermore I can play the AV FC for several consecutive hours and never have the smell of burning plastic. What AC adapter are you using?

[Urzu402]

If your game doesn't look like this, then it's a pirate.



Furthermore I can play the AV FC for several consecutive hours and never have the smell of burning plastic. What AC adapter are you using?

It looks like that, I am using a Sega Genesis model 1 AC adapter.

[Urzu402]

Also the smell of buring plastic came from where the contacts are.

[FoxNtd]

I checked the FC adapter and the Genesis model 1 adapter since I have both. They're both outputting 10V DC but there is a difference. The FC adapter is marked 850mA but the Sega adapter shows 1200mA (1.2A). I wonder if the higher amperage is what is the cause for the excess heat building up. Maybe you should get the Japanese Nintendo adapter; it's the same part/adapter for both the FC and SFC (part number HVC-002).

[Gameguy]

I checked the FC adapter and the Genesis model 1 adapter since I have both. They're both outputting 10V DC but there is a difference. The FC adapter is marked 850mA but the Sega adapter shows 1200mA (1.2A). I wonder if the higher amperage is what is the cause for the excess heat building up. Maybe you should get the Japanese Nintendo adapter; it's the same part/adapter for both the FC and SFC (part number HVC-002).

Higher amperage doesn't matter, it will only take what it needs. It's more like the maximum amperage that the adapter can supply, systems won't always use as much current as the adapters list. The thing is while some Genesis Model 1 adapters output 10V, most seem to be rated 9V. They changed the adapters during production of the Model 1s, so his might be slightly underpowered to run the Famicom properly.

[RP2A03]

Also the smell of buring plastic came from where the contacts are.

Are you sure it smells like burning plastic and not like warm electronics? Also, doesn't the heat from the voltage regulator vent out near the cart slot? Perhaps the smell is originating from there and is contaminating the game.

[stalepie]

You shouldn't use that adapter. I burnt (destroyed) a good AV-modded Famicom I got off Ebay some years ago by accidentally plugging in the Genesis adapter.

There was actually a wisp of smoke that came out the back!

[wiggyx]

I checked the FC adapter and the Genesis model 1 adapter since I have both. They're both outputting 10V DC but there is a difference. The FC adapter is marked 850mA but the Sega adapter shows 1200mA (1.2A). I wonder if the higher amperage is what is the cause for the excess heat building up. Maybe you should get the Japanese Nintendo adapter; it's the same part/adapter for both the FC and SFC (part number HVC-002).

Higher amperage doesn't matter, it will only take what it needs. It's more like the maximum amperage that the adapter can supply, systems won't always use as much current as the adapters list. The thing is while some Genesis Model 1 adapters output 10V, most seem to be rated 9V. They changed the adapters during production of the Model 1s, so his might be slightly underpowered to run the Famicom properly.

AC adapter was what immediately came to mind for me as well.

OP, seems like that's where you should start troubleshooting

[Urzu402]

Ok the Genesis power adapter I am using is one rated at 10v. Now I do have the adaptor that came with my Famicom AV, I didn't want to use it becasue of the output differences of US to Japanese outlets. I was afraid that was going to do something bad to the Famicom.

[FoxNtd]

Ok the Genesis power adapter I am using is one rated at 10v. Now I do have the adaptor that came with my Famicom AV, I didn't want to use it becasue of the output differences of US to Japanese outlets. I was afraid that was going to do something bad to the Famicom.

I'm willing to bet you're taking more risk using that Sega adapter than the matching FC adapter. Your outlet is only 10 volts higher than a Japanese outlet and the adapter is converting to DC anyway. As with any electronics regardless of country of origin, I use surge suppressors for everything.

[Parodius Duh!]

Not using a voltage convertor? I learned my lesson after frying 2 saturns, if you care about your Japanese systems do NOT listen to anyone that says its okay to run it bare through a US outlet, if a power spike happens say goodbye to your system, your already running 10-20+ extra volts into it.


Oh you switched the power adapter around? Thats a terrible thing to do to a famicom, always use its official adapter. Switching adapters usually leads to problems as well.

You can take my word for it, famicom is the only thing I collect.

[Razo00]

Not using a voltage convertor? I learned my lesson after frying 2 saturns, if you care about your Japanese systems do NOT listen to anyone that says its okay to run it bare through a US outlet, if a power spike happens say goodbye to your system, your already running 10-20+ extra volts into it.


Oh you switched the power adapter around? Thats a terrible thing to do to a famicom, always use its official adapter. Switching adapters usually leads to problems as well.

You can take my word for it, famicom is the only thing I collect.

Couldn't agree more. I also run a voltage converter on my jp neo aes. Its a massive heavy converter I bought online years ago but it does the job. I've never fried any of my jp systems, but why take the chance.

[Gameguy]

There's a youtube video that explains the basics about this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36J_Ejnv2qc

[stalepie]

Sorry, I meant to say I used a NES adapter on the Famicom. Don't think I did a Genesis one. That video made me remember.

[FoxNtd]

Sorry, I meant to say I used a NES adapter on the Famicom. Don't think I did a Genesis one. That video made me remember.

NEVER CONNECT AN NES ADAPTER TO ANYTHING THAT IS NOT A NES!

Why is this so important? Because those boneheads released the NES adapter without doing conversion to DC! It feeds AC directly to the console and since every other console doesn't have this stupid design, if you try using the NES adapter you will blow the unit. I still don't understand why the NES adapter is a brick if it isn't doing any conversion.

I've been using a bunch of Japanese consoles without voltage transformers. Famicom, Saturn, PS2, etc.... I haven't broken anything! Like I said I always use surge suppressors to keep my consoles and TV safe.