Tristar 64 1.1 issues

TboneTbone
in Help Wanted!
Awhile back I came across a Tristar 64 1.1, naturally I bought it since it's an extremely rare machine. When I first got back with it the biggest issue was finding a power cord that would work, evidently the NES power cord worked just fine, or so it seemed. I finally got it to boot up with a Mario 64 cart in it (n64 games are mandatory for getting it boot, but only older titles will work). It worked for awhile even though the it didn't read snes games and the X-Terminator mode didn't work. But after awhile it just stopped working alltogether, even with the same game and all of the supposed cords that work with it, genesis, jaguar, nes ac adapters. The guy I bought it from said it's made to take 1.7 amps so I'm wondering if maybe I ruined a transistor from running it on too low of amps? I know it's a touchy system but I've been trying to get it work for an hour under that same conditions as I did before to no avail. Even tried several different n64 consoles, still nothing. I've dug around the Web about the original intended power cord and haven't found any info on it, maybe some one here knows something about it. Maybe tristars are just crap? Any info would be appreciated.

Comments

  • theclawtheclaw
    Not sure, likely because the NES brick outputs AC. When most other devices want DC.
  • GuntzGuntz
    Yeah you might have killed your Tristar with that NES power adapter.
  • TboneTbone
    I hope not! From what I've gathered from the article on gamefaqs, the NES power cord is kosher. Then again there's so little information on them it's hard to say if anyone is right, I was hoping some one might have one boxed, since it doesn't have a sticker with the specs on the console itself but there might be some info on the box that it came in, you'd think anyway. Even just knowing its current would useful info, I also got it work with a random power cord that had a DC output and it worked the same. So I think it may not have gotten enough juice and actually lost some in the process causing something to bust.
  • GuntzGuntz
    If it's clone hardware, it'll use DC power and probably won't use a rectifier.



    If the Tristar does actually still work with a real DC power adapter, then consider yourself lucky. AC 9V from an NES adapter typically kills any DC powered machine it comes in contact with.
  • MogMog
    Part number for the power adapter seems to be INN40203



    I read that Atari Jaguar, Sega Master System, and Genesis should be compatible. Its 9V DC, ~1 - 1.2A , Negative tip.
  • TboneTbone
    Good to know, I was told it was 1.7 amps, I did try the jaguar and genesis model 1 cords, still cant get it to boot again. A bit worried I toasted it honestly. I do however get a black screen with a buzzing noise, that's gotta be a good sign that it still may work, never using an NES cord on one again that's for sure. I also heard that the earlier models are just plain crap, the 1.3 seems like a much more polished machine.
  • GuntzGuntz
    Black screen and buzzing noise sounds like you fried it.
  • TboneTbone
    It did that when I first got it but it did work afterwards when I found the right carts to work on it, now they don't work, but it's a sign that it does still power on. I opened it up to see if there was any visible damage on any of the transistors, didn't see anything but I know the damage on them doesn't always show.
Sign In or Register to comment.