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Jap FZ-1 power supply?

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2011 10:51 pm
by boabject78
Quick question guys I'm thinking of buying a Jap FZ-1 to add to my collection I already have the Pal and US version so I'm just wanting to know if the stepdown transformer I use for the US machine will be suitable for powering its Japanese counterpart?

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 5:23 pm
by 3DO Experience
I would def suggest getting one specifically for your Japanese model.

Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 6:04 pm
by boabject78
Yeah I dont want to melt the 3do when i plug it in. I've always assumed that the Japs use the same kind of power plugs and same power voltage as the US.

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 5:25 am
by 3DO Experience
Japan's voltage is lower than the US. You can save some money by getting a transformer (USA to Japan) that's as close to the watts your console is rated at. Don't go below. And use it with your EU to US transformer.

But I do suggest you just buy a proper one.

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 5:44 am
by boabject78
Thanks for the advice my friend I'm definitely gonna look at getting another transformer now.

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 7:02 pm
by Anonymous
is 10v really that big a deal though?

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 9:35 pm
by 3DO Experience
It can be depending on what you are using. In this case electronics can overheat, some parts could get damaged over time.

If he was going the other way the most he'd have to worry about is it not working properly.

Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2011 3:14 am
by Anonymous
i didnt think 10v would be such a big difference with overheating, since many devices even use 100-240v for ease of use.. but im also not an expert on internal power adaptors so i wouldnt know..

still, as an amateur i wouldnt think 10v would be that big of a deal for the internal power adaptor personally. ive ran us and japanese hardware through the same stepdown converter for years and they all have worked just fine. the only overheating issue ive ever had was with my fat ps3, which is notorious for it, and that was the correct region for my country too.

but i suppose it doesnt hurt to be extra careful.

Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2011 9:17 am
by 3DOKid
I run a Japanese 3DO, through an a UK to American power converter and it's fine. In fact, up until this post I didn't realise there was a difference between US and Japanese power :oops:

Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2011 2:43 pm
by 3DO Experience
Japanese power is acctualy 100-110v and the US is 110-120v. I'm not saying that if you plug in your unit it will pop and fizzel immediately. But over time it will damage electronics. I have personally watched a Famicom go down because of this. It's probably safer using a stepdown that outputs US than pluging it into a US wall outlet because any spikes will be handeled by the transformer but I still wouldn't rely on that myself, you'll wish you hadn't if you unit dies.

Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 5:02 am
by sneth
Some videogame systems are more sensitive to this voltage change.

The Neo Geo will definitely blow a power board.

Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2011 3:14 am
by Anonymous
Odd, my AES has worked fine for over 7-8 years with a regular stepdown converter...

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 12:45 am
by 3DO Experience
Yeah, like you said, "with a regular stepdown converter"

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 6:29 pm
by Anonymous
Well im in sweden, where i need a regular stepdown converter for NTSC systems, as we use 220-240v in our grid.. I dont see why that would be any different from any other converter? I mean it steps down the power to 110v 100w.. I run quite a few different systems through that, including my US 3DO, which according to you would want 110-120v, and my japanese AES, with the 120v~60hz 22w power adaptor, where in japan they would run 100-110..

Every grid ive ever know, again im not an expert, runs a top and low figure, im not down on the terminology, since irregular powersupply happens, and thus most electronics allow for some variation of power.

If you can educate me on why some game consoles would be so sensitive to established acceptance of irregularities in most other electronic manufacturing id be happy to learn. I dont wanna destroy my systems from misuse. But untill you teach me otherwise, i dont think a 10v difference is that much to worry about.

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 8:20 pm
by mattyg
Most equipment have a +/- tolerance of around 10% of their voltage - far more important is your amp draw

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 9:32 pm
by boabject78
Thanks for the input guys I have managed to get my hands on a Jap to UK transformer so thanks again for the heads up, my fully working Jap FZ-1 thanks you aswell.

Hope this helps others who are thinking of getting an import machine, as it is well worth the effort.

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 11:28 am
by CasetheCorvetteman
grimm wrote:is 10v really that big a deal though?
No. Not at 100 volts its not. Its pretty near insignificant. The electronics wont always run hotter, cause the slightly higher supply voltage will mean slightly less current draw to provide the same power output. ( in theory )

Slightly higher voltage is always preferable to any under voltage. ( especially where electric motors are concerned... )
mattyg wrote:Most equipment have a +/- tolerance of around 10% of their voltage - far more important is your amp draw
Yep, at least...

And with supply voltages, the number you see is "NOMINAL", and doesnt mean that is what youll be getting. There is a tollerance that will be specified by the supply authority. As an example, Australia has a nominal voltage of 230/400 +10% to -6%, so our 230 volt single phase outlet may have as much as 253 volts, and its not all that uncommon for it to hit 245 volts or more during low demand, under heavy load during peak demand the same circuit may be as low as 225 volts.

Every electrical installation has voltage drop, and youre not going to get the same voltage everywhere in the installation.

It will also vary quite abit depending on the time of day and the demand in your local area, the more current flowing the higher the voltage drop will be.

Having said all that, you dont need to concern yourself too much with this issue for this kind of appliance. The same cant be said for all appliances, but in this case, youre pretty safe.

Re: Jap FZ-1 power supply?

Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 11:49 pm
by 3DO Experience
Unless you have a voltage spike, then you're 10% tolerance will be exceeded and you'll really wish you had put a few dollars into a transformer so you didn't need to buy a new system.

Re: Jap FZ-1 power supply?

Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 9:35 am
by a31chris
How much is a few dollars? Can I get these at an ACE hardware or Home Depot?

This is what Ebay shows me when I put in Japan to US power converter

http://www.ebay.com/sch/items/?_nkw=jap ... =&LH_CAds=

Which one do I want?

Re:

Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 9:47 am
by a31chris
CasetheCorvetteman wrote:
grimm wrote:is 10v really that big a deal though?
No. Not at 100 volts its not. Its pretty near insignificant. The electronics wont always run hotter, cause the slightly higher supply voltage will mean slightly less current draw to provide the same power output. ( in theory )

Slightly higher voltage is always preferable to any under voltage. ( especially where electric motors are concerned... )
mattyg wrote:Most equipment have a +/- tolerance of around 10% of their voltage - far more important is your amp draw
Yep, at least...

And with supply voltages, the number you see is "NOMINAL", and doesnt mean that is what youll be getting. There is a tollerance that will be specified by the supply authority. As an example, Australia has a nominal voltage of 230/400 +10% to -6%, so our 230 volt single phase outlet may have as much as 253 volts, and its not all that uncommon for it to hit 245 volts or more during low demand, under heavy load during peak demand the same circuit may be as low as 225 volts.

Every electrical installation has voltage drop, and youre not going to get the same voltage everywhere in the installation.

It will also vary quite abit depending on the time of day and the demand in your local area, the more current flowing the higher the voltage drop will be.

Having said all that, you dont need to concern yourself too much with this issue for this kind of appliance. The same cant be said for all appliances, but in this case, youre pretty safe.
ok I am not going to sweat this all that much then. I'll let it ride for now. I want to get a US FZ-10 but I like the look of the FZ-1. It's totally classic.