Bargain video game finds are broken (big surprise)

[carslayer]

As I mentioned in my other post, I recently found two Sega Saturns and bought them both ($50 CAN for both, two controllers, all the cables and some sports games), as well as a small SNES Mini with no cables or controllers (10$ !!). I had been looking for a Saturn for years without wanting to resort to eBay, and while i already have a SNES Mini, i just couldnt resist at 10$.

Two of the consoles look horrible, you wouldnt BELAIVE the condition of the SNES, it was like someone wrote numbers and did math all over the front, there was (literally) MOLD on the bottom, the cartridge slot had some brown gunk inside of it, and it was in horrible shape. I knew simple wiping it with a damp cloth wouldnt do it, but luckily i had my nintendo security screwdriver. i took off the plastic and filled up the sink with hot water and soap, the scrubbed for almost half an hour, then blow dried it. I used a ton of rubbing alcohol on the cartrige slot and 11 Q-Tips, and finally, it looked great!



so then i go to plug it in where my good SNES2 is, and guess what?







If you look carefully, and if you own an SNES 2 yourself, then you will realize that the power cord isnt right. normally, it is a round plug, but here it is two metal pins. the plug that is supposed to go on the end is missing!

A comparison:

That is normal (sorry for the bad quality)

I have never seen something like that. two pins side-by-side in the middle, and another pin on the bottom.

any suggestions? should i build my ownplug? does anybody know what each of those 3 pins do? thanks in advance for any help.

[Mozgus]

Any chance you could resize those pics? Just FYI, this forum has it's own image host integrated in. All you do is click "Add image to post" below the text box, and it makes nice clickable thumbnails for ya instantly.

On topic, you first said the power jack has 2 pins, then you said 3. Which is it? If it's two, it's simply a positive and a negative, which would be easy enough to hardwire directly to the original AC power cord's + and -.

Honestly, I don't know jack about electricity, but you got nothing to lose at this point....except for your home and family when it all surely goes up in flames.

[carslayer]

oh, sorry. i have never uploaded pictures here before.

[durkada]

Two complete unverified thoughts:

1 - These pins may be designed to terminate in a female socket/coupler -- now missing.

2 - Canada still receives a great many imports from France, sometimes even mundane things which would be available in North American format -- perhaps France used different dongles?

And a question -- am I missing something? I've read quite a few posts here and there about people's love for the SNES 2/Mini. What's the allure? I picked one up from a major department store when they were liquidating the Nintendo 16-bit supplies -- and had been reasonably happy with it. Until, of course, I discovered the bugger was incapable of producing an S-Video signal.

[Pullmyfinger]

I got SNES with both type of connectors, and both work with the same adapter

[Cerulean]

Two complete unverified thoughts:

1 - These pins may be designed to terminate in a female socket/coupler -- now missing.

2 - Canada still receives a great many imports from France, sometimes even mundane things which would be available in North American format -- perhaps France used different dongles?

And a question -- am I missing something? I've read quite a few posts here and there about people's love for the SNES 2/Mini. What's the allure? I picked one up from a major department store when they were liquidating the Nintendo 16-bit supplies -- and had been reasonably happy with it. Until, of course, I discovered the bugger was incapable of producing an S-Video signal.

Really? SNES can but SNES Mini cant.............interesting.

[carslayer]

well, I tried the adapter on my other SNES 2, and it didn't run, plus it was very loose. so i took some pliers and spread the pins farther apart, so that when i plugged the adapter in it had a tighter fit, and it worked! even though the round plastic connector had broken off, the metal pins still workied with the SNES adapter. so thanks for the help guys.

And to answer your question:

-- am I missing something? I've read quite a few posts here and there about people's love for the SNES 2/Mini. What's the allure? I picked one up from a major department store when they were liquidating the Nintendo 16-bit supplies -- and had been reasonably happy with it. Until, of course, I discovered the bugger was incapable of producing an S-Video signal.

The SNES Mini is my favorite console of all time. I don't know why, but it just seems better than the original in every way: It looks better, it is smaller, more reliable, i think the fact that it is hard to find is a factor, and even the internals are simpler. Ionce took apart my original Super Nintendo to cut off the clips that prevent it from playing Super Fammicom games (I had just ordered bomberman 4) and getting it back together was very difficult, with all the levers and buttons, wires were everywhere, and the metal pins that are controlled by the Eject button (wich is useless) really get in the way when putting one back together. The senes Mini, on the other hand, is simply two peices of plastic and a circuit board, with everything on one chip. controller ports, cartrige slot, power buttons, all on the motherboard. This makes it easy to open, easy to clean, easy to portabilize (i want to try one of Ben Heckendorn's projects eventually) and easy to rebuild. It doesn't matter to me about the lack of s-video, i never use that kind of plug. I prefer to have an a/v switcher for all my consoles, and i prefer RCA jacks while avoiding s-video and RF. So for me, the SNES Mini is the best console ever made, with the dreamcast at a close second. I am going to give this spare SNES Mini to my little sister (she''s seven), teach her to take care of it, and give her a copy of mairo Kart to enjoy.





Oh yeah and the SNES Mini doesn't change colors over the years.

[neohx_7]

...i prefer RCA jacks while avoiding s-video and RF...

If you upgrade your TV you won't be saying that. The good old days when TVs made low res look good... they're gone...

[Cerulean]

The only time you should not go Svid is when you are playing shooting games and you have a shitty TV. Other than that tho and its a crime.