Atari 7800 Help

[Limewater]

Fart. If by power supply you mean AC adapter, yup.


I can get a flicker of light from the console if I bend the AC wire that is closest to the console. If the wire bends a little, the console shuts off. I don't want to bend the wire and screw up the whole AC adapter cord though.

Where on the wire do you bend it to get it to flicker on and off? Near the power brick, or near the plug that goes into the console?

[Luke]

Fart. If by power supply you mean AC adapter, yup.


I can get a flicker of light from the console if I bend the AC wire that is closest to the console. If the wire bends a little, the console shuts off. I don't want to bend the wire and screw up the whole AC adapter cord though.

Where on the wire do you bend it to get it to flicker on and off? Near the power brick, or near the plug that goes into the console?

Near the console. I got it to work for a few minutes, but then the wire relaxed/settled and the console turned off again.

[Hobie-wan]

Fart. If by power supply you mean AC adapter, yup.


I can get a flicker of light from the console if I bend the AC wire that is closest to the console. If the wire bends a little, the console shuts off. I don't want to bend the wire and screw up the whole AC adapter cord though.

Where on the wire do you bend it to get it to flicker on and off? Near the power brick, or near the plug that goes into the console?

Could be a dirty connection, bent plug pins that aren't making good contact, or a break in the wire. It is at least sounding fixable.

[Luke]

Could be a dirty connection, bent plug pins that aren't making good contact, or a break in the wire. It is at least sounding fixable.

Best way to clean the connection? And while I'm here, best way to clean 2600 games?

[Limewater]

Apparently the 7800 power supply has a proprietary tip. You could still get it working if you didn't mind soldering on a new power connector.

However, it looks like this place:

http://www.atariguide.com/store/products.htm#OACCESS

sells new 7800 power adapters for $11.99 I think that actually included shipping. It would probably cost you almost that much to fix it yourself. There may be better sources. That's the first one I came across.

However, as Hobie said, you want to be pretty sure before you buy it. It would be a shame is the problem is actually the plug in the console.

If you can, try to check your voltage readings on the connector while you jiggle the power cord a little bit. If you can find a position where your voltage drops off but you are keeping good pin connections, then you know the problem is the power supply.

[Luke]

Apparently the 7800 power supply has a proprietary tip. You could still get it working if you didn't mind soldering on a new power connector.

However, it looks like this place:

http://www.atariguide.com/store/products.htm#OACCESS

sells new 7800 power adapters for $11.99 I think that actually included shipping. It would probably cost you almost that much to fix it yourself. There may be better sources. That's the first one I came across.

However, as Hobie said, you want to be pretty sure before you buy it. It would be a shame is the problem is actually the plug in the console.

If you can, try to check your voltage readings on the connector while you jiggle the power cord a little bit. If you can find a position where your voltage drops off but you are keeping good pin connections, then you know the problem is the power supply.

Thanks a ton and a half. I'm friends with a apartment maintenance worker, he'll have a voltage reader.

[dsheinem]

I have this exact same problem with my 7800, although all my buttons are in the right place. The 10 second trick did nothing, and I THINK it is just a faulty power supply but I have no way to know for sure. I've plugged in the AC adapter to see if it gets warm. Thanks for the other links, though. I might just end up buying a replacement 7800 at some point if I can find one cheap.

[Hobie-wan]

And this is the point where I say "If I were there I'd take a look for you". Ah well.

[Luke]

And this is the point where I say "If I were there I'd take a look for you". Ah well.

I'll PM you my address. I'll expect you to be here tomorrow, 8am.

Sharp!

[Hobie-wan]

And this is the point where I say "If I were there I'd take a look for you". Ah well.

I'll PM you my address. I'll expect you to be here tomorrow, 8am.

Sharp!

Man, I was already there. Nobody answered the door. Didn't you see the sticky note I left?