Can anyone confirm whether the Japanese version NY unit can run on US 120v, despite it being specified as a 100v device (in the same manner JP PS2's will happily run on 120v)? Or is a step-down required? Cheers, Limey.
Exactly the same reason I decided to remain silent - my only experience is via a convertor - so I'd hate to say ''Do it!" and discover that it fries an NY. As far as I was aware, Japan ran on the same voltage 110-120vac. On the back on my SCPH-1000 it's listed as 100vac - surely there are a few members in the US who are running them directly, without convertors? Same PSU btw. My step-down is listed as 110vac-120vac, not 100. Ergo.......
Indeed, as my old Systemdek IIX turntable can attest to. It came with me when I moved over to this side of the pond & I quickly found that music sounds funny when it's played 20% too fast... :katamari: Actually, that was pretty much the only UK electronic item that gave me trouble over here - most stuff isn't that dependant on the mains frequency anymore (partly because Japanese electronics has to cope with both 50 & 60Hz, as it's different depending on location in Japan). Anyway, thanks for the input guys - I strongly suspected that the Japanese NY units would be OK on US voltage - every other piece of imported Japanese electronics I have has worked fine, but it always pays to ask first. The main thing you have to watch for here, is overvoltage spikes putting stuff over it's tolerance range, so I use several UPS's & numerous surge dampers.
I know, but for some reason I just don't like the idea of altering an NY unit like that. I'd do it in a heartbeat for a regular unit, mind you...
Technically US is 110V and Japan is 100V. Europe is 230V and the UK always used to be 240V, but everything is now rated at 230V. You shouldn't need to worry, the supply to your house is not exactly the quoted value anyway. I run japanese consoles and US consoles on the same step down convertor. The annoying thing is that Sony didn't fit auto sensing power supplies. BTW if you pick up what you think is a PAL PSX and turns out to be an NTSC PSX and plug it into 240V it will run through the boot up screen and then you'll hear a popping sound and smoke will pour out the back. When you open it up the big capacitor on the power board will have the top blown off it. I don't know what happens if you plug a PAL into 110V. smf
Actually, I believe that US mains voltage is spec'ed to be 120v, with something like a +/-10% tolerance either way. According to my UPS/multimeter, the volts at my place mostly hover around 118v, but do indeed move around by as much as ~10v up or down. Most US equipment power supplies can take the voltage swings without problem and it's been my experience that this is also so for most Japanese stuff running on US mains. The thing is that you are probably pushing the tolerance range of a Japanese supply by a little more than might be healthy, particularily in overvoltage situations. As for plugging PAL (ie:Brit 240v) stuff into US 120v supplies - it depends on the device. I brought over some stuff like a boom-box that will work on the lower voltage, but it struggles to start up the CD player from time to time. My old PAL TV definately needs the step-up transformer to be in circuit. To avoid accidentally barbequeing my US stuff by plugging it into my stepped-up supplies, I use UK plug/sockets on all my 220-240v stuff & only ever use US style 2-pin cables on US/JP equipment.
I do something similar with all Japanese & US models. I actually leave the flex attached and prior to plugging anything in I double check. The import consoles are the only ones nobody else is allowed to play with or move just to ensure they don't have accidents. So, all boxes are marked "JAPANESE" or "US". Makes it sound like I have a lot, but not really. Just the few I do have are kept apart. :thumbsup:
Well, I should confirm for the record that my Japanese NY unit does run OK on regular US ~120v. I wouldn't leave it running for days, as it does get a little warmer than my other PS1 units get - but it seemed ok after about 4-5 hours continuous use. Cheers, Limey.
