Dangers of using controllers on wrong system? (Gen/SMS/2600)

[pierrot]

After glancing at some schematics, I was about to rescind my endorsement of using the Genesis controller on other consoles

Do you mind explaining why from a technical standpoint?

I'm not sure that I feel sufficiently qualified to declare it safe, or not, but I don't see any issues with using the Genesis controller on the SMS. They both appear to use pin 5 for power, and pin 8 for ground. My concern is with the 2600 and Colecovision. The former appears to use pins 7 and 8 for power and ground, respectively. The schematic for the Colecovision was somewhat hypothetical, so I don't know that I would really want to sit down and analyze it, but it's much more complicated. According to that schematic, pins 5 and 8 are tied to some combination logic for controller enabling, but they're also tied to -5 volt power. The voltage divider tied to arrays of pull-down resistors (of some, apparently, undetermined values) on the controller inputs, also confuses me a bit. I know that I've used the Genesis controller with the Colecovision once before, though.

Regardless, my main concern would be for the multiplexer chip in the Genesis controller. It probably has high impedance on the outputs, but--.

[Exhuminator]

So what components do you feel would be at risk of failure?

[ApolloBoy]

My concern is with the 2600 and Colecovision. The former appears to use pins 7 and 8 for power and ground, respectively.

There shouldn't be a single issue with the 2600. The select pin for the multiplexer inside the Genesis controller would be held high with 5V (which is perfectly fine for a TTL chip like this), so there would be absolutely no problem using a Genesis controller with the 2600.

[pierrot]

You're right, that pin is tied to the selector pin. It's still concerning, though: Not due to the voltage; rather, current.

Edit - Just to elaborate on that thought: It's not a good practice to tie an input high, off the 5V rail, without a current limiting resistor in series.

[Thierry Henry]

My mighty Genesis controller has not caused any damage in any other console.

Not on any other "console" but I've had issues when using a Genny pad on my Commodore 64.
One of the C64 chips got damaged.

[samsonlonghair]

My mighty Genesis controller has not caused any damage in any other console.

Not on any other "console" but I've had issues when using a Genny pad on my Commodore 64.
One of the C64 chips got damaged.

Really? Fascinating.

You're the first person I've spoken to with first hand experience of a Genesis controller harming any other system. This makes me reconsider my cavalier attitude regarding DB9 post-facto interoperability.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Genesis controller is fine for 2600.
Do NOT use one with the C64.
ColecoVision is an interesting case. I've never even bothered to try as so many Coleco games require more buttons than the Genesis controller possesses.

[KalessinDB]

Yeah basically every Colecovision game I've played requires the num pad to choose difficulty level on boot up if nothing else.