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Atari Jaguar Power Adaptor Plug Replacement

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Atari Jaguar power supply (PP-912)
The Jaguar's adaptor, model PP-912, Atari part 500273: 9 V DC at 1.2 A, centre negative (photo: Evan-Amos)

The Atari Jaguar runs from an external adaptor, Atari part 500273 (model PP-912), whose label gives an output of 9 V DC at 1.2 A and a centre-negative plug.[1] James Jones repaired an original adaptor whose plug was missing from the end of its lead by fitting a standard barrel plug, and his write-up is the basis of the steps below.[2] The job is simple, but the Jaguar's centre-negative polarity is the opposite of what most plug instructions assume. Jones warns that wiring it the wrong way round "will fry your Jaguar's chips", and the Atari Jaguar Troubleshooting Guide describes the regulator damage a wrong supply causes.[2]

Symptoms

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  • The adaptor's plug is missing, cracked, or its lead is damaged next to the plug.[2]
  • The power light does not come on. The user's guide's first checks are that the adaptor is plugged in and that the wall socket has power.[3]

Check the adaptor's output at the plug before blaming the console. Its label gives 9 V DC.[1] Jones read 9 to 12 V DC from the repaired adaptor with no load.[2]

Safety

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  • Work on the low-voltage lead only, with the adaptor unplugged from the wall except for the polarity checks.[2]
  • Polarity is the critical point. The Jaguar uses a centre-negative plug: the negative wire goes to the centre contact and the positive wire to the outer sleeve.[2][1]

Tools and parts

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  • A 2.1 mm inner diameter, 5.5 mm outer diameter barrel plug. Jones used a Tensility 55-00051 plug assembly from Digi-Key, about US$3, and bought two in case the first went wrong.[2]
  • A multimeter, wire strippers, pliers, a soldering iron and solder.[2]
Atari Jaguar adaptor plug repair, Tensility 55-00051 plug kit (James Jones)
The Tensility 55-00051 plug assembly and its two sleeves (photo: James Jones)

Procedure

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Identifying the wires

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  1. Strip back the two wires of the adaptor lead a little.[2]
  2. Find the negative (ground) wire. On Jones's adaptor it was the one with a white line along it, as expected, but check with a multimeter: plug the adaptor in, measure between the two wires and note which wire gives the negative reading. Unplug the adaptor again.[2]

Fitting the plug

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Atari Jaguar adaptor plug repair, wires soldered to the plug (James Jones)
The two wires soldered to the new plug, with the sleeves slid back along the lead (photo: James Jones)
  1. Trim the outer sleeve of the plug so that it fits over the thick insulation of the Jaguar lead, following the plug maker's instructions. For the thick lead of his adaptor, Jones cut at the groove between the "4" and "4.5" marks; a thinner lead may need more of the sleeve left on.[2]
  2. Slide the outer sleeve, then the inner sleeve, onto the lead. Do not push the inner sleeve into the outer one yet.[2]
  3. Connect the negative wire (the one with the white line on Jones's adaptor) to the centre terminal of the plug, and the positive wire to the outer terminal. This is the opposite of the plug maker's instructions; Jones followed those the first time, wired the plug backwards and had to cut it off and start again with the second plug.[2]
  4. Before soldering, plug the adaptor in and check the polarity with the meter: negative probe down the centre of the plug, positive probe on the outside. It should read about 9 to 12 V DC. If the reading is negative, swap the wires. Unplug the adaptor.[2]
  5. Solder the wires to the plug's terminals.[2]
  6. Crimp the cable clamps with pliers, taking care not to cut into the insulation: the Jaguar's wires are a loose fit in the clamps.[2]
  7. Snap the inner sleeve into place. The instructions call for an assembly tool; Jones pressed the sleeve down with the end of his wire strippers until it clicked into place, with the other end of the plug resting on his work mat.[2]
  8. Push the outer sleeve over the inner sleeve. It needs a firm push; Jones held the base of the sleeve and pressed it down into his work mat.[2]
Atari Jaguar adaptor plug repair, finished plug (James Jones)
The finished plug (photo: James Jones)

Testing

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  1. Check the polarity once more with the meter: the centre of the plug must be negative.[2]
  2. Plug the adaptor into the Jaguar with a cartridge fitted and switch on; the Jaguar does not switch on without a cartridge.[4][2]
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References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Evan-Amos, photograph of the Atari Jaguar/Jaguar CD adaptor model PP-912 and its label (Atari P/N 500273, output 9 V DC 1.2 A, polarity symbol), 20 June 2014. Hosted here as File:Atari Jaguar power supply (PP-912).jpg.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 James Jones (cubanismo), "Atari Jaguar - Power Supply Connector Repair Guide", theinnocuous.com. Personal repair guide.
  3. ↑ Atari Corporation, Jaguar 64-Bit Interactive Multimedia System User's Guide, P/N 500339, "Troubleshooting", p. 14. Hosted here as File:Atari Jaguar User's Guide (500339).pdf.
  4. ↑ Porchy, "Atari Jaguar repair log", JAMMArcade.net, 14 December 2014. Personal repair log.


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