Revolution power supply speculation
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Feb 16th 2006 at 3:38PM }
Where does the Revolution get its power from? Well, in addition to the vast resource that is the laughter
of children all across the world, electricity plays a reasonably important role in getting the console to turn on and
emit its various beeps and boops. Nothing shocking about that, right? According to a recent posting on the GAF
forums, however, the console may use an interesting method of getting its power from your wall socket.The information comes from the Official Nintendo Magazine in the UK and it states that the Revolution stand actually acts as a power supply, effectively turning a humongous power brick into an aesthetically pleasing part of the design. It seems like a solid and attractive idea, but something doesn't quite add up. If the stand is the only way of powering the Revolution, the console is restricted to a vertical position--bad news for those with cramped entertainment stands.
The news also doesn't match up with the Revolution's patent drawings, which clearly show the machine having a traditional port for a power cable and little pads on the side to allow for horizontal placement. If there's any indication of a power connector on the actual stand, we can't see it. While the scan from the magazine could have easily been manipulated into a hoax, it may be possible that the author of the article was privy either to a newly designed stand with a power cable running from the back....or a large cache of drugs. We thought about Nintendo selling a rechargeable power stand for truly wireless gaming purposes, but even that seems a little too far-fetched.
[Thanks, Christopher!]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JonathanEx @ Feb 16th 2006 4:11PM
The scan is not a hoax. I have the magazine and can confirm that is what it says.
Justin @ Feb 16th 2006 4:22PM
Why couldn't the stand act as the powersupply, but if you want to set it up horizontally you buy an externall power supply and plug it into the spot shown in the patents?
Nicholas @ Feb 16th 2006 4:32PM
How about this. The stand is the power supply, and if you want to lay it horizontally, you just take the stand off and lay it on the floor (like the 360 power supply). In other words, there's a cord from the back of the Rev to the back of the stand (just as if it were a brick power supply.
Well, I'm just playing devil's advocate.
critter42 @ Feb 16th 2006 4:36PM
I was thinking the same thing as Justin - the stand doesn't HAVE to be the only method to get power, just a more convenient one if you want to stand it up vertically.
Spence @ Feb 16th 2006 4:58PM
We were just discussing this on the Revolution Europe forums.. I think it's just a piece of plastic, the figure of 8 AC power supply means the PSU is internal, no big xbox 360 style brick.
It would be complicated engineering rising the cost of the system for a possible 'portable' function that would not really be used.
It's just a plastic stand.
RS @ Feb 16th 2006 5:05PM
Actually Spence ... the gamecube's power supply is outside of the console.
Snogrog @ Feb 16th 2006 5:10PM
I bet the stand is what's optional (like the PS2 stand) and is a power supply, but the system comes with the standard corded power supply.
Good move, nintendo, cuz I'd definitely buy this stand...the PS2 one was pointless and that's why nobody buys it...at least this way it's serving SOME purpose.
Thom @ Feb 16th 2006 5:14PM
Couldn't the unit still be placed horizontally, even with the stand as a power supply? Just lie it on its side, even with the stand still on.
DeadPlasmaCell @ Feb 16th 2006 5:50PM
I don't see anything wrong with being able to place the system horizontal with the pictured stand.. Looks like it would be rather level.
Jon @ Feb 16th 2006 6:12PM
It may be possible that the stand is the power supply and when the revolution is placed horizontally all you need to do is tether the two via an additional power cable. It is possible although I am more inclined to believe that it is just a plastic. But looking at the magazine (I have it here) it looks as if the writer seems convinced. Perhaps an optional PSU stand?
heat @ Feb 16th 2006 6:17PM
my extremely expensive sonicare toothbrush has a charging unit that might work something like this... there is no metal exposed on either end, and both look perfectly stagnant but it uses some kind of magnetic force to charge (though it does take awhile).
this is more practical for something that charges. i dont think nintendo would require us to keep it upright and in the stand, but its possible.
SuicideNinja @ Feb 16th 2006 6:26PM
Consider that the revolution could snap into the stand. Whether it is horizontal or vertical makes no difference.
The idea has merit, but I doubt this is how it will go.
I find it funny how so many in the forum on the link freak out about setting his/her console vertically. It's fine to do this; the only time it could become a problem is when dust settles in and you try to set it horizontally. But it could work the opposite way as well.
Hojimoto @ Feb 16th 2006 6:52PM
Check out the revolution patent pics that were posted on the web the other day. One of those ports on the back of the thing is obviously a place to plug in a power supply. Why does it have to have just one way to receive power?
Fish @ Feb 16th 2006 8:03PM
Heat, I have the same exact thing! Oftentimes I'll brush my teeth when I'm high because it feels cool, then spend the next 10 minutes thinking about how the bastard charges.
Anyways, I think that Nicholas' idea is the most practical.
I never really liked the idea of a vertical console though, all it takes is one Nerf football or beer bottle and thing's going to go right over.
Jimmy @ Feb 16th 2006 8:10PM
Maybe the Revolution is gonna have a battery and the stand is just to make charging it more convenient, but if you can plug somethin into the back instead if you wanna.
This stand could be good though, if they made the A/V jacks optionally work through this stand as well, you could get multiple stands and put one at every TV in the house and when you wanna move the Rev. you just gotta take it off it's stand and put it in a different stand. Because I donno about you guys, but I'm always moving my PS2, Gamecube, and Xbox around the house to different tvs and it's a bit annoying to have to drag all those cords with me and then plug it in and everything. It'd be so nice if all you had to do is take the system off a stand and put it on a different stand.
Michael Snively @ Feb 16th 2006 10:13PM
Alright, the toothbrush thing is soooo true! I have no idea how my toothbrush charges, but it does (and with no metal connections!) I love all the stand ideas that have been mentioned except for the one about just laying the revolution horizontal with the stand still on it. That'd just be dumb. I'm a fan of the A/V connections being a part of the stand and the stand CHARGING the revolution, not just providing power. Of course then the A/V connections would have to be on the back of the revolution AS WELL (see patent pictures) but it'd give u the option of stand or no stand. . . A/V cables or no A/V cables. Nintendo is really good about options.
Jamey @ Feb 17th 2006 12:06AM
Bah, the toothbrushes use induction to charge, far too inefficient to power something like a console. It's not rocket science, it's been around for years, it's just highly limited in what it can realistically be used for. I'd guess the same as some of the other posters, if it's really a power supply it's probably corded so it could be used separate from the unit for the horizontaly minded gamer. *shrugs* that's my 2 cents at least.
TME @ Feb 17th 2006 12:19AM
I thought the Revolution was powered by love.
sockatume @ Feb 17th 2006 7:58AM
Toothbrushes use capacitance chargers: I don't think they'd be suitable for the levels of juice a console requires.
The patent drawings showed only one power connector, on the back of the console. If you look at that photo, the power connector would not be anywhere near the stand. So, either it has separate hidden "docking" connectors for when it's sitting in the stand (and a power cable between the two for when it's horizontal) or the PSU isn't built into the stand after all.
jirkstore @ Feb 17th 2006 10:37AM
I see no reason why this couldn't be a power supply. It could be an option to buy one or not. The Revolution would come out of the box with a traditional power cord or you could spend a bit extra and get the stand similar to what PS2 offered sans the power supply option. I didn't see any interface port on the inside edge of the stand in the pics. Perhaps it uses a lower power charging system like my Sonicare eletric toothbrush. I just sits on the base and charges w/o any silly power ports. Just a thought.
Jimmy @ Feb 17th 2006 3:46PM
I've come to the conclusion that it's deffinatly an optional power supply. I mean, look at the sentence below the picture "This stand also works as a power supply" not the power supply, a power supply, therefore there are prolly other ways to power it such as a traditional cord thing going into the back
Kris Aubuchon @ Feb 18th 2006 12:04PM
Man, I have a sonicare too! We al have pretty clean teeth I'm assuming (with regular use)
Yeah, the sonicare thing is too in-efficient to charge a console. A console would need a solid hardwired psu - But anything's possible - I say it'll be an optional thing either way, it just seems like a good idea. I'd go vertical.
Meep @ Feb 19th 2006 2:59AM
If the Revolution can be powered by, and therefore separated from its stand, then this has to be related to the "Secret Feature" Nintendo is hinting at.
What secret feature could be up their sleeve that requires the system to be able to separate from its base easily? I can't think of one, but I am sort of drunk at the moment, so the rest of you can.