Using an NTSC Dreamcast in Japan

Hi all,
So I am moving to Tokyo for some work related stuff and I am bringing some of my NTSC consoles with me.

Specifically, I am worried about my Dreamcast so I have a question.

I have 4 Dreamcasts, all V1 white models, all NTSC.

One of them has a V5 MNemo USB-GDROM installed in it.

So my question is this:
What will I need to do/buy/use to get my NTSC Dreamcast working in Japan without killing it?

Can I put a japanese power supply in it? I do not think this would work though.

OR can I just buy a Japanese Dreamcast and put the USBGDROM in it? That would solve everything.

Thanks!

 

Think they use the same current & plugs.
(two prong)

Read somewhere you can't use polarized plugs, one pin/blade longer than the other.

But a quick Google should find the info you need.

 

Well Japan uses NTSC-J so you won't have any problems with video as long as you stay away from RF (TV RF signals are higher frequencies there and lack a black level). USA uses NTSC-M if you were wondering.

As for power, swapping the internal PSUs from Japanese Dreamcasts into them would work and make it look like it was designed for use there. Another option is to buy a step up transformer like this one. It basically takes Japan's 100V 50/60Hz power and converts it to 110-125V 60Hz USA power.

You could also buy an NTSC-J Dreamcast, install a region-free BIOS, and then install USBGDROM in that. You would have an orange swirl though instead of the NTSC-U's red swirl if you did that.

 

i've never had an issue using a 100v psu here or ANY customer using 100v on a US device in Japan. don't really know whats up with that., shit when you check the mains in japan with a multimeter its not all the same everywhere you go. just like in the US. some outlets i've tested push out as high as 140v here!!!!

 

Holy crap that's a lot of volts....

There are many devices out there that become underpowered when fed 100V and possibly can be damaged when the power fluctuates to 50Hz. It's safer to use a transformer or a Japanese PSU.

 

the 50hz mismatch would def be an issue. but still have never had one person use a transformer for that little of voltage.

 

I guess you're right, a transformer is probably overkill. Those transformers are designed for appliances and stuff that will be underpowered or damaged when on the Japanese power grids. The Dreamcast PSU might be fine on Japanese power. Only way to know for sure is to just plug it in. If it blows the PSU, just replace it with a Japanese one. I know an NTSC original Xbox PSU is rated for 100V-127V AC at 50/60Hz so something like that wouldn't be an issue.

 

you know whats even crazier is alot of the internal parts might not even be different. i've compared a jap saturn psu to an american one, and the only difference was the actual connector for the power cable, typical polarized instead of non polarized.

 

I've read about that on another thread on here before. I wonder how much different a Japanese Dreamcast PSU is from an American one. If they are the same, then just plug a Japanese cable in and it should work fine. Heck, it might even run cooler.

 

Thanks for the information everyone. I might just call it a day and buy a transformer. Since the DC isnt my only console. However, i might just grab a japanese DC and put JapaneseCake's bios on it

 

Shengorohachiroku.... you can just hit the Hard Off and get a donor DC for like 500-1000yen

 

I can show you how different they look...



Ted.

 

It quite clearly shows the accepted input voltage and its well within spec.

You lot seem to be making a mountain out of a mole hill.

And showing 2 PSU's made by different manufacturers doesnt show anything FYI.

 

lmfao jap psu says what? 135v!? lol

 

I think thats the US one, but its still plenty within the 100v of japan.

 

BadAd thats the japanese one.

 

Doesnt really matter, they will both have a similarly wide spec of power they accept.

 

I have japanese consoles plugged into US current and it worked well for years. The opposite should also be true.

Most PSU are made to work in a fairly wide range of voltage/frequency because the power we get isn't regulated as well as most people think.

Note: At worst, you'd fry a 10$ PSU... Not that bad ...
Note2: Any region psu works with any region dreamcast. It's just a matter of converting the input AV voltage to 3.3, 5 and 12 DC volts.

 

Every PSU is built to have tolerances of varying degrees of input, the power grid in my area ranges from 118-122vac at different times of the day/year. Would be even worse if my town relied on hydroelectric to generate the majority of it's power. Lord knows what the frequency is for that juice too.

In the case of a video game console it's cheaper to manufacture one design to use across Japan/US (anywhere 100-120vac) with the same going for European power systems. I've plugged plenty of Japanese consoles into my American outlets without any problems. Would not be shocked if modern consoles didn't support 100-240v like many laptops do.

 

Thank you for the information everyone.

So from what I read, especially from FamilyGuy, I should be fine with my NTSC psu then?