Power Distribution

DRAFT (WORK IN PROGRESS ARTICLE - PLEASE DO NOT RELY ON THE INFORMATION BELOW UNTIL MARKED AS COMPLETED)

One aspect of retro-gaming setups that that is sometimes downplayed is power distribution. Almost all mainstream video-game consoles from the Magnavox Odyssey in the first generation, to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, make use of a type of AC/DC power supply, and the process of safely setting up a power distribution setup for multiple consoles can get quite complex. The purpose of this article is lay out how power flows through an electrical system, provide simple explanations of some of the technical language involved, and provide useful advice to users of original retro-gaming hardware.

Explanation of Terms

Term	Definition	Use in Retro-Gaming context
Voltage	Voltage is the force that push electrons (tiny negatively-charged subatomic particles) through a circuit to produce electricity.	Generally speaking, the "Voltage" figure on the power supply should match the voltage expected by the console, as closely as possible.
Circuit	A circuit is the path between two points in which electricity flows.	At the beginning of a circuit, electricity has a certain amount of force. It also has a certain amount of force at the end of the circuit. The difference between these two amounts is the voltage (measured in "volts").
Current	Current is the act of the electrons flowing through the circuit. Each electron pushes the one in front of it, creating a continuous current. The higher the voltage, the faster the current.	-
Direct Current (DC)	Direct Current happens when electrons flow in only one direction. When the source runs out of electrons, there will no longer be an electrical current.	Most things use batteries, such as toys, phones and video game consoles use Direct Current.
Alternating Current (AC)	Alternating Current is different from Direct Current because electrons are flowing back and forth between two points. When the electrons change directions, the voltage drops. This type of current reuses electrons.	Alternating Current is useful for powering large things over long distances (for example, hospitals, offices, and homes as some larger appliances such as fridges and dishwashers).
AC/DC Adapter	AD/DC adapters are devices that transform an AC input into a DC output, and optimizes that output for use with consumer electronics, including gaming consoles.	The vast majority of home video game consoles ever produced use some kind of AC/DC adapter to supply the power that they need.