Replacing external power supply with battery

[Mike]

I am looking to battery power one of the Atari Flashback II consoles
that were on sale the past couple of weeks. The FB2 is powered by a 9v
external power supply. I remember reading somewhere's that the FB2
takes up very, very little juice and could be easily run on a 9 volt
battery. Would it be as simple as...

9v battery --> battery connector --> 2 wires --> female power jack that
fits into back of FB2

Is that all that would be necessary? It seems too easy... like I would
need to add a resistor in there or something...

Any electronic gurus out there with advice? It would be nice to have
this thing battery powered, just to make it more convenient for casual
play (and even more portable than it is already)

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Puckdropper]

I am looking to battery power one of the Atari Flashback II consoles
that were on sale the past couple of weeks. The FB2 is powered by a 9v
external power supply. I remember reading somewhere's that the FB2
takes up very, very little juice and could be easily run on a 9 volt
battery. Would it be as simple as...

9v battery --> battery connector --> 2 wires --> female power jack that
fits into back of FB2

Is that all that would be necessary? It seems too easy... like I would
need to add a resistor in there or something...

Any electronic gurus out there with advice? It would be nice to have
this thing battery powered, just to make it more convenient for casual
play (and even more portable than it is already)

Thanks,

Mike

It is a little more complex... A little. Make sure you observe polarity
otherwise you'll likely kill the thing. Manufacturers of game systems
aren't known for putting in a single more diode than they absolutely have
to.

I've powered Authentic Ataris from a 9V DC adapter in the van. If it
wasn't for the joystick cables and its sensitivity to jolts, we might
have played it more than twice.

Puckdropper

 

[Mike]

It is a little more complex... A little. Make sure you observe polarity
otherwise you'll likely kill the thing. Manufacturers of game systems
aren't known for putting in a single more diode than they absolutely have
to.

Oh, I'd definately check that... but, other than that... just straight
battery in should suffice?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Puckdropper]

Oh, I'd definately check that... but, other than that... just
straight battery in should suffice?

Thanks,

Mike

I'd think so. I'm only a hobbiest, though, so an expert may jump in and
say "No! That's the worst thing you can do!"

As I understand it, a battery gives a device the current it needs until
it cannot any longer. As long as the voltage is correct, the device
should draw the current it needs and no more.

Puckdropper

 

[Tom Biasi]

Oh, I'd definately check that... but, other than that... just straight
battery in should suffice?

Thanks,

Mike

If the device wants 9 VDC and you give it 9 VDC of correct polarity you need
only be concerned with the current draw.
If the device can operate within the current limitations of the battery, you
are fine.
Just a note: If you get tempted to use a rechargeable battery, most are not
really 9 volts.

Regards,
Tom

 

[[email protected]]

MikeIf the device wants 9 VDC and you give it 9 VDC of correct polarity >you need
only be concerned with the current draw.
If the device can operate within the current limitations of the battery, you
are fine.
Just a note: If you get tempted to use a rechargeable battery, most are not
really 9 volts.

I'm not familiar with the Atari console you are talking about.. but I
can let you know that standard 9V batteries have very little capacity,
and by connecting it the way you are, you are subjecting the console to
a varying voltage. A batteries voltage will decrease slowly as you
draw from it... depending on the current drawn, it will be fast or
slow. I'm guessing that the Console uses 9V so that it can regulate
down to 5V... When your battery hits close to 5V, regulation will stop
and the internal supple of the console will rapidly decrease.

As to whether this will cause issues...

 

[jasen]

I am looking to battery power one of the Atari Flashback II consoles
that were on sale the past couple of weeks. The FB2 is powered by a 9v
external power supply. I remember reading somewhere's that the FB2
takes up very, very little juice and could be easily run on a 9 volt
battery. Would it be as simple as...

9v battery --> battery connector --> 2 wires --> female power jack that
fits into back of FB2

I can't see why not.


If you're wanting to run it from a rechargable battery it could get
interesting as they typically aren't 9v, but it's quite likely that it'll
work fine with any voltage from 7.2 to 12V, but I can't be sure without a
detailed examination.

 

[[email protected]]

I am looking to battery power one of the Atari Flashback II consoles
that were on sale the past couple of weeks. The FB2 is powered by a 9v
external power supply. I remember reading somewhere's that the FB2
takes up very, very little juice and could be easily run on a 9 volt
battery. Would it be as simple as...

9v battery --> battery connector --> 2 wires --> female power jack that
fits into back of FB2

Is that all that would be necessary? It seems too easy... like I would
need to add a resistor in there or something...

Any electronic gurus out there with advice? It would be nice to have
this thing battery powered, just to make it more convenient for casual
play (and even more portable than it is already)

Thanks,

Mike

If it can tolerate a bit more juice, why not 8 1.25V NiMHs in series?
Radio Shack sells the necessary battery holders for a couple of bucks.

I've tried powering my old laptop (needs 18.5VDC) with 16 1.25V NiMHs
in series (I'm pretty sure there's a built-in voltage regulator on the
laptop though).

My problem, though, is that some cells end up dead / reversing
polarity, while the others continue working.

Michael

 

[Rich Grise]

I'd think so. I'm only a hobbiest, though, so an expert may jump in and ^^^^^^^^

say "No! That's the worst thing you can do!"

Is that as in "hobby, hobbier, hobbiest"? ;-)

It's hobbyist.

And, yes, a 9V battery should be fine, as long as the OP gets the polarity
right.

FWIW, I've been a professional electronics tech since 1970, and a hobbyist
since about 1960 or so. ;-)

Cheers!
Rich

 

[ehsjr]

If it can tolerate a bit more juice, why not 8 1.25V NiMHs in series?
Radio Shack sells the necessary battery holders for a couple of bucks.

I've tried powering my old laptop (needs 18.5VDC) with 16 1.25V NiMHs
in series (I'm pretty sure there's a built-in voltage regulator on the
laptop though).

My problem, though, is that some cells end up dead / reversing
polarity, while the others continue working.

Michael

You're discharging them too far.

Ed