Heads up about those cheap 'universal' power adapters for old game consoles

I grabbed a generic 9V adapter for my old Sega Genesis from a discount site for about $12, thinking it was a simple fix. Plugged it in, heard a weird hum, and then the system just went dark. Took it to a repair shop in town and they said the voltage was wrong and fried a chip, costing me $80 to fix. The guy there told me these cheap adapters often lie about their output and can wreck old electronics fast. Now I only buy brand name or ones made for the exact model. Anyone have a good source for safe Genesis power supplies that won't break the bank?

2 comments

2 Comments

dakotal164d ago

Oof, that "weird hum then dark" story is way too familiar. I did the same thing with a cheap adapter for my model 1 Genesis and it cooked the sound chip. I ended up getting a Triad power supply from a retro gaming shop online, it was like $25 and has been solid for years. They make ones that match the exact voltage and plug size, so no risky guesswork.

black.wesley4d ago

Yeah, the hum is such a bad sign. I fried a Sega CD the same way with a sketchy universal adapter. After that, I just bit the bullet and ordered the exact right power brick from Console5. It cost a bit more upfront, but my Genesis and CD have been fine for like five years now. I mean, it's just not worth the risk with these old systems.