N64 Power Issue - how many amps?

Neildo_64 · Post by **Neildo_64** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:25 pm

I just got 2 N64s and I cant get either one to work. I have them wired to a 1300mA universal power adapter at 9V (also tried 12) with a TI dc converter. The red light comes on and the screen does a little flash thing, but nothing happens. They both have just the jumper pack and I tried with multiple games. Neither console has been opened yet, I just have the power plug wired to my converter and adapter. I tested the lines with my multimeter and they are correct voltages.

Do I have enough power going to the N64? Or what is the deal here? Any help is greatly appreciated.

kasar · Post by **kasar** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:11 pm

the n64 system have two voltage inputs:

12v, 800mA (this is very easy to get, this will work with your universal adapter)

3,3v 2700mA (I think here is when the trouble is comming, this section require a lot of power,so this will not work with your universal adapter, i think you will need more amps for power your system

)

I got those values from the original n64 ac-dc converter, so maybe the system needs a little lower power, anyway the 3,3v 2700mA, will not work with your 1300 mA adapter.

Neildo_64 · Post by **Neildo_64** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:41 pm

Thanks. i knew the 12v took relatively low amps, so I figured the problem was not enough amps on the 3.3v line. Hopefully this will solve my problems.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:22 pm

You can run the 3v line at 1amp fine, with the Jumper Pak, you need about 1.5amps if you want the Expansion Pack. The 12v line (7.2v-12v) is about 800mAh or less, plus your PSone screen (about 750mAh if using unmodded screen). That means you need about 2600mAh for Jumper Pak and about 3100mAh for Expansion Pack. These are minimums of course, in some games like Goldeneye you might need some extra. (? 3amps - 3.5amps max?).

You may recall in my Nintendo 64 Advance I used a PSone adapter, 7.5v 3amps; it powered everything fine, including using an energy inefficient Sony Walkman 1amp 3v car adapter.

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:50 pm

Gah! I see mAh strewn everywhere without abandon. Units people! we are talking in mA here.

The dc-dc converter will keep product of voltage and current the same. The voltage goes down, the current goes up, and it should only draw like 600mA off of your power supply.

That said, you are still way over the limit with the screen and everything running at the same time.

w00tLOL · Post by **w00tLOL** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 12:10 am

i do think he knows what he meant.

the minimum battery life for a handheld would be ~ 1 hour

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:21 am

w00tLOL wrote:i do think he knows what he meant.

the minimum battery life for a handheld would be ~ 1 hour

He is using mains power not batteries, and there isn't enough amps available which is why the N64's don't run.

Neildo_64 · Post by **Neildo_64** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 4:27 pm

Just thought I would let everyone know that the amps was the issue, as they run fine on the regular N64 power supply (finally found one).

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:04 pm

...that's what we were saying...