fishythought
Novice
Joined: January 2022
Posts: 36
Location:
|
Post by fishythought on Jan 20, 2022 23:18:35 GMT
HI,
I just bought a Japanese Saturn, so I'll need to either get step down transformer or replace the PSU. I'm looking for something cheap but not "potentially burn your house down" cheap, I have a PAL Saturn as well and I'm tempted to swap the PSU's but I don't want to leave my PAL Saturn useless either.
I was looking at this step down transformer on Amazon
I was also looking at this replacement power supply but its out of stock at the moment
Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jan 23, 2022 10:42:46 GMT
I personally wouldn't trust the Kaico PSU, they aren't known for producing high quality stuff. There was a good replacement PSU from Mobius Strip but he's not making them any more.
I did replace the PSU in my Saturn and it's been ok, the Dreamcast however has been much more hit and miss and I sort of wish I'd never done that.
|
|
fishythought
Novice
Joined: January 2022
Posts: 36
Location:
|
Post by fishythought on Jan 23, 2022 19:38:03 GMT
Thanks for the info.
I asked the same question on the Saturn sub Reddit and someone recommended this one from Dragon City
Not much information about it online, Retro RGB mentioned them on his website and there's an installation video on youtube from Dragon city but its in french.
I was a bit skeptical about this one
Mainly because its a Chinese clone of another PSU, but apparently they are all based on an open source design.
I was also thinking about getting this step down transformer originally
But the community (at least on the Saturn sub Reddit) seem pretty split on step down transformers vs replacing the PSU.
|
|
|
Post by davyk on Jan 23, 2022 23:24:05 GMT
I just use a step down. Sure it's a bit fiddly having a power brick but it works.
|
|
fishythought
Novice
Joined: January 2022
Posts: 36
Location:
|
Post by fishythought on Jan 24, 2022 0:00:16 GMT
I just use a step down. Sure it's a bit fiddly having a power brick but it works. Yea, Ive done a search on the forum and everybody here seems to be more about the step done transformers, especially the cheaper ones. I was looking at this originally on Amazon
The reviews aren't as good as the Bronson one I linked above but its cheaper and a lot smaller, one of the people who reviewed it even said they use it with a white Japanese Saturn.
|
|
|
Post by davyk on Jan 24, 2022 0:38:12 GMT
I have a grey and white console and use the same one with them. The rating is 80w which is way more than is needed.
|
|
fishythought
Novice
Joined: January 2022
Posts: 36
Location:
|
Post by fishythought on Jan 24, 2022 0:49:54 GMT
I have a grey and white console and use the same one with them. The rating is 80w which is way more than is needed. Good to know, the description says 50w but I guess that's still over 3 times what is needed.
|
|
|
Post by davyk on Jan 24, 2022 10:54:43 GMT
I have a grey and white console and use the same one with them. The rating is 80w which is way more than is needed. Good to know, the description says 50w but I guess that's still over 3 times what is needed. This subject pops up quite a bit from time to time. There's an older thread about this with some info. Here's the link. segasaturngroup.proboards.com/thread/11845/japanese-saturn-voltage-step
|
|
fishythought
Novice
Joined: January 2022
Posts: 36
Location:
|
Post by fishythought on Jan 24, 2022 13:02:18 GMT
Thanks.
The issue about SCART cables comes up a lot as well, Ive seen people like buckoa51 and zyrobs say European SCART cables wont work with a Japanese Saturn and that you would need an after market cable, but Ive seen other people say they got a cheap hellfire cable on Ebay and it worked fine, any advice ?.
Edit: This looks reasonable and the seller has good feedback
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jan 24, 2022 17:28:37 GMT
cables wired for composite sync won't work on European systems and indeed connecting such a cable is dangerous for your TV/scaler, otherwise they're universal. Most cables are wired for composite video for sync.
I'd spend a bit more and get a good cable from a reputable seller, like RetroGamingCables, Retro Access or thefoo.83 on eBay.
|
|
fishythought
Novice
Joined: January 2022
Posts: 36
Location:
|
Post by fishythought on Jan 24, 2022 19:19:58 GMT
cables wired for composite sync won't work on European systems and indeed connecting such a cable is dangerous for your TV/scaler, otherwise they're universal. Most cables are wired for composite video for sync. I'd spend a bit more and get a good cable from a reputable seller, like RetroGamingCables, Retro Access or thefoo.83 on eBay. Checked thefoo.83's ebay page, he doesn't have any Saturn stuff at the moment unfortunately.
I thought that issue only happened when plugging a cable wired for csync on an NTSC system into a PAL system ?. I have a PAL Saturn as well but I dont plan on swapping the cables around between the PAL and JPN machines.
I have no doubt the RetroGamingCable is great, its just the cost + shipping + post brexit import fees from the UK to Republic Of Ireland make it a bit pricey.
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jan 24, 2022 21:56:59 GMT
Any cable wired for cysnc won't work on PAL systems since the console doesn't output csync (instead, the pin is 12 volts).
Yeah I agree we need a cable shop in the EU, still I would go with him rather than some no-brand cable from eBay.
|
|
fishythought
Novice
Joined: January 2022
Posts: 36
Location:
|
Post by fishythought on Jan 24, 2022 23:34:07 GMT
Any cable wired for cysnc won't work on PAL systems since the console doesn't output csync (instead, the pin is 12 volts). Yeah I agree we need a cable shop in the EU, still I would go with him rather than some no-brand cable from eBay. Just to avoid any confusion, although I have PAL Saturn and have a Japanese one on the way (should be here tomorrow) I'm only looking for a cable for the Japanese model. I dont have a scaler (yet) so untill I do I will be using both on an old but good Sony Trinitron CRT.
RetroRGB's page says when ordering from RetroGamingCables "PAL users MUST select “sync on luma”, everyone else select “NTSC csync”
So I assume a csync RGB SCART cable will work fine with a Japanese Saturn ?.
PS - Agreed about needing a shop in the EU.
|
|
|
Post by buckoa51 on Jan 25, 2022 9:36:34 GMT
Yes you can use a csync cable on an NTSC system (US or JPN). Usually it's not required though. Hypothetically a properly shielded cable using composite video for sync should work just as well though in my experience that's not always the case.
Sync on luma is a fine option for any region, only certain older fussy scalers really benefit from csync. Also, if you get a no name cable using csync it might be wired incorrectly (without the correct attenuation resistors) and damage your TV that way.
|
|
|
Post by davyk on Jan 25, 2022 13:25:36 GMT
|
|