Power Adapter Barrel Connector Compatibility
Table
Power Adapter Barrel Connector Compatibility Table
| System
|
Voltage
|
Current
|
Barrel Size
|
Polarity
|
Official PSU Model
|
| Group 1 – 9V DC, 5.5mm × 2.1mm, Centre Negative
|
| ZX Spectrum +2 / +2A / +3 |
9V DC |
2.1A |
5.5 × 2.1mm |
 |
Sinclair PSU (various OEM)
|
| Sega Saturn |
9V DC |
1.5A |
5.5 × 2.1mm |
|
MK-2103
|
| NEC PC Engine Duo / TurboDuo |
9V DC |
1.5A |
5.5 × 2.1mm |
|
DUO-AC
|
| Sega CD (Model 1 & 2) |
9V DC |
1.2A |
5.5 × 2.1mm |
|
MK-1602
|
| Atari Jaguar / Jaguar CD |
9V DC |
1.2A |
5.5 × 2.1mm |
|
PA-1400 / MK-4120
|
| Sega Mega Drive / Genesis (Model 1) |
9V DC |
1.2A |
5.5 × 2.1mm |
|
MK-1602-05
|
| Sega Master System |
9V DC |
1.2A |
5.5 × 2.1mm |
|
MK-3025
|
| Super Nintendo (PAL) |
9V DC |
1.3A |
5.5 × 2.1mm |
|
SNSP-002E(FRG)
|
| NES (PAL) |
9V DC |
1.3A |
5.5 × 2.1mm |
|
NES-002E
|
| NEC PC Engine / CoreGrafx / TurboGrafx-16 |
9V DC |
0.85A |
5.5 × 2.1mm |
|
HES-ACA-01 / Turbo AC Adapter
|
| Group 2 – 9V DC, 3.5mm × 1.35mm, Centre Negative
|
| ZX Spectrum (16/48K) |
9V DC |
1.4A |
3.5 × 1.35mm |
|
Sinclair PSU
|
| Atari 7800 |
9V DC |
1.0A |
3.5 × 1.35mm |
|
C018187
|
| Atari 2600 (VCS) |
9V DC |
0.5A |
3.5 × 1.35mm |
|
C017945
|
| Group 3 – 9V DC, 4.75mm × 1.7mm, Centre Negative
|
| Sega Game Gear |
9V DC |
1.2A |
4.75 × 1.7mm |
|
MK-2103 (shared PSU with Saturn in some regions)
|
| Group 4 – 6V DC, 4.75mm × 1.7mm, Centre Negative
|
| Game Boy (DMG-01) |
6V DC |
0.7A |
4.75 × 1.7mm |
|
DMG-03 / MGB-005
|
| Group 5 – 9–10V DC, 4.75mm × 1.7mm, Centre Positive
|
| Sega 32X |
10V DC |
0.85A |
4.75 × 1.7mm |
 |
MK-1633
|
| Sega Nomad |
10V DC |
0.85A |
4.75 × 1.7mm |
|
MK-1633
|
| Sega Mega Drive / Genesis (Model 2) |
10V DC |
0.85A |
4.75 × 1.7mm |
|
MK-1633
|
| Atari Lynx (Model 1) |
9V DC |
1.0A |
4.75 × 1.7mm |
|
PA-1400
|
| Atari Lynx (Model 2) |
9V DC |
1.0A |
4.75 × 1.7mm |
|
PA-1400
|
| Group 6 – 10V DC, 5.5mm × 2.1mm, Centre Negative
|
| Nintendo Famicom (HVC) |
10V DC |
0.85A |
5.5 × 2.1mm |
|
HVC-002
|
| Nintendo Virtual Boy |
10V DC |
0.85A |
5.5 × 2.1mm |
|
VUE-002
|
| Group 7 – 5V DC, 5.5mm × 2.1mm, Centre Positive
|
| Neo Geo AES (later PRO-POW-3 / E) |
5V DC |
3.0A |
5.5 × 2.1mm |
|
PRO-POW-3 / PRO-POW-E
|
| Neo Geo CD (Front & Top Loader) |
5V DC |
3.0A |
5.5 × 2.1mm |
|
Neo Geo CD PSU
|
| Group 8 – 7.5V DC, 4.0mm × 1.7mm, Centre Negative
|
| Sony PlayStation (PS1) |
7.5V DC |
2.0A |
4.0 × 1.7mm |
|
SCPH-113
|
Notes & Warnings
- Atari 2600 (VCS) – early units use a simple 9V DC centre-negative PSU at low current. Many modern replacements are compatible, but original adapters are prone to failure with age.
- Atari 7800 – same barrel size and polarity as Atari 2600 but requires more current (1.0A). A 2600 PSU may power it but risk instability.
- Atari Jaguar / Jaguar CD – uses the same PSU spec as Sega Mega Drive 1 (9V DC, centre-negative). Safe cross-compatibility.
- Atari Lynx (Model 1 and Model 2) – both require 9V DC centre-positive. Using a centre-negative adapter (e.g. Spectrum, Master System, Mega Drive Model 1) will damage the system.
- NEC PC Engine / CoreGrafx / TurboGrafx-16 – requires 9V DC centre-negative. Later Duo models draw more current.
- NEC PC Engine Duo / TurboDuo – 9V DC centre-negative, higher current draw (1.5A). Should not be powered with weaker CoreGrafx/TurboGrafx supplies.
- Neo Geo AES – PSU requirements vary by production run. Early PRO-POW-1/2 used 9V centre-negative, later PRO-POW-3/E use 5V centre-positive. Using the wrong adapter can destroy the system.
- Neo Geo CD – requires 5V DC centre-positive at 3A. A very specific PSU; substitutes must exactly match.
- Nintendo Famicom (HVC-002) – requires 10V DC centre-negative. Cannot be safely powered with NES (PAL) or SNES (PAL) adapters.
- Nintendo Game Boy (DMG-01) – uses a 6V DC PSU, centre-negative. Do not use 9V adapters intended for other Nintendo or Sega consoles.
- Nintendo NES (PAL) – same as PAL SNES, but NTSC NES (US/Japan) typically shipped with a 9V AC PSU. Do not interchange with PAL systems.
- Nintendo Super NES (PAL) – uses 9V DC centre-negative. NTSC models often shipped with AC adapters instead of DC, making them incompatible with PAL PSUs.
- Nintendo Virtual Boy – also uses 10V DC centre-negative (same as Famicom). Power requirements are stricter than most Nintendo consoles.
- Sega 32X – same PSU spec as Mega Drive 2. Tower of Power setups (MD + 32X + Mega-CD) require multiple adapters, not a single shared PSU.
- Sega CD (Model 1 & 2) – same PSU spec as Mega Drive 1. Compatible supplies can be interchanged.
- Sega Game Gear – draws a high current; cheap adapters often cause humming in the audio and unstable video.
- Sega Master System – compatible with Mega Drive Model 1 PSU (same voltage, current, and polarity).
- Sega Mega Drive / Genesis Model 1 vs Model 2 – Model 1 is centre-negative, Model 2 is centre-positive. Swapping these power supplies will damage the console.
- Sega Nomad – uses the same PSU as Mega Drive 2 (10V, centre-positive). Do not use a Model 1 PSU.
- Sega Saturn – uses the same barrel as Model 1 Mega Drive but requires more current (1.5A). A weaker PSU may boot the system but cause crashes.
- Sony PlayStation (PS1) – requires 7.5V DC at 2.0A. Using 9V adapters directly can overheat or damage the console. The barrel plug (4.0 × 1.7mm) is smaller than most Sega/Nintendo connectors and not interchangeable.
- ZX Spectrum (16K/48K) – requires a regulated 9V DC centre-negative supply. Original Sinclair PSUs were unregulated and can output up to 14V off-load, risking damage to modern peripherals.
- ZX Spectrum +2 / +2A / +3 – higher current draw (2.1A). A weaker Spectrum 48K PSU is not sufficient.
- General note on amperage – it is safe to use a PSU rated at a higher current (A) than required, but never lower. Voltage and polarity must always match.
Cross-Compatibility
Safe PSU Cross-Compatibility
| PSU Model
|
Can Safely Power
|
| Sinclair +2 / +3 PSU (9V DC, 2.1A, 5.5 × 2.1mm, centre-negative)
|
ZX Spectrum +2/+3, Sega Saturn, Sega Mega Drive 1, Sega Master System, Sega CD, Atari Jaguar, PC Engine Duo, NES (PAL), Super NES (PAL), PC Engine/TurboGrafx
|
| Sega Saturn PSU (9V DC, 1.5A, 5.5 × 2.1mm, centre-negative)
|
Sega Saturn, Sega Mega Drive 1, Sega Master System, Sega CD, Atari Jaguar, NES (PAL), Super NES (PAL), PC Engine/TurboGrafx
|
| Sega Mega Drive 1 PSU (MK-1602, 9V DC, 1.2A, 5.5 × 2.1mm, centre-negative)
|
Sega Mega Drive 1, Sega Master System, Sega CD, Atari Jaguar, NES (PAL), Super NES (PAL), PC Engine/TurboGrafx
|
| Sega Master System PSU (9V DC, 1.2A, 5.5 × 2.1mm, centre-negative)
|
Sega Master System, Sega Mega Drive 1, Sega CD, Atari Jaguar, NES (PAL), Super NES (PAL), PC Engine/TurboGrafx
|
| Atari Jaguar PSU (9V DC, 1.2A, 5.5 × 2.1mm, centre-negative)
|
Atari Jaguar, Sega Mega Drive 1, Sega Master System, Sega CD, NES (PAL), Super NES (PAL), PC Engine/TurboGrafx
|
| Sega Mega Drive 2 / Genesis 2 PSU (MK-1633, 10V DC, 0.85A, 4.75 × 1.7mm, centre-positive)
|
Sega Mega Drive 2, Sega Nomad, Sega 32X, Atari Lynx (Model 1 & 2)
|
| Nintendo Famicom PSU (HVC-002, 10V DC, 0.85A, 5.5 × 2.1mm, centre-neg
PSU Cross-Compatibility Matrix
| PSU \ System
|
ZX Spectrum +2/+3
|
Sega Mega Drive 1
|
Sega Mega Drive 2
|
Sega Saturn
|
Atari Lynx
|
Nintendo Famicom
|
| ZX Spectrum +2/+3
|
✓
|
✓
|
✗
|
✓
|
✗
|
✗
|
| Sega Mega Drive 1
|
✓
|
✓
|
✗
|
✓
|
✗
|
✗
|
| Sega Mega Drive 2
|
✗
|
✗
|
✓
|
✗
|
✓
|
✗
|
| Sega Saturn
|
✓
|
✓
|
✗
|
✓
|
✗
|
✗
|
| Atari Lynx
|
✗
|
✗
|
✓
|
✗
|
✓
|
✗
|
| Nintendo Famicom
|
✗
|
✗
|
✗
|
✗
|
✗
|
✓
|
|
