Stepdown Question

[Milky]

Having a bit of a senior citizen moment. I've bought another stepdown from maplin after the existing one gave up....

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-230v-to-110v-300w-voltage-converter-vr05f

...and realised that I've only ever run US kit off my old one. So, am I okay to run 100v Jap machine on this 110v US plug? Never considered it before. Usually wouldn't be too worried but we're in "frying £500 of kit" territory

 

[guddler]

Not sure on the voltage. Probably. But what kit are you running off it? 300W isn't much!

 

[Milky]

Not sure on the voltage. Probably. But what kit are you running off it? 300W isn't much!

It'll be the FM Towns I picked up earlier in the week. I'm a bit wary about this TBH but can't find any (non-dodgy) sites that sell proper 100v stepdowns!

 

[anj]

the jap stuff is 100v on the dot , and i have blown jap stuff up using a 110 step-down, i do have a spare 230 - 100v 800kva stepdown if thats of use to you

 

[Milky]

Thanks for the info dude! That would be my worst nightmare so definitely going to ignore the 110v and go for a 100v converter. Dad reckons he's got one buried in his loft from the days when he had some bells-n-whistles 70s Japanese hi fi set up so will see if I can dig that out first. Thanks for the offer too - i'll let you know

 

[JohnnyChaos]

a lot of jap candy owners use stepdowns at USA voltage. I did too and it was fine.

 

[anj]

i think it depends on the tolerances of the step down , dome of the maplin/Chinese stuff they over volt stuff , i had a maplin 110 that was spiting 150 v out so just be careful

 

[simonden]

A lot of it is down to tolerance, in the EU the required tolerance is -10% +6% hence that 230v can be used anywhere in Europe (220v-240v).

Not sure of Jap regulations and we are talking about equipment that was manufactured when regulations were probably not as strict.

 

[simonden]

i think it depends on the tolerances of the step down , dome of the maplin/Chinese stuff they over volt stuff , i had a maplin 110 that was spiting 150 v out so just be careful

Snap

 

[Milky]

Thanks for the advice guys, going to err on the side of caution and ignore my 110v stepdown

 

[guddler]

Try "AirLink Transformers":
http://www.airlinktransformers.com/japanese_voltage_converters/japan_uk_voltage_converters/UK-JA0250/

Not cheap by any means, but I'd trust them 100%.

Not sure on what VA you'd need. Do you know the current draw of the console? I had never even heard of that console until you posted the pic of it. Should be able to work out the VA you need approximately. I think I've got a simplified calculator in the reference section of my website. Just make sure you add in some headroom.

The reason I mentioned the 300W not being enough is because I've seen a 300W Maplin US step-down quite literally melt after the owner ran an Asteroids Deluxe off of it for a few hours

Quite amusing, really, but in fairness it was actually dangerous, if there hadn't been a lot of people around and someone playing it, it could have gone un-noticed and caused a fire!

 

[Milky]

Quick update: dad's stepdown was this lethal looking thing that was borderline fossilised. As such, took Guddlers advice and getting one of these later in the week:

http://www.airlinktransformers.com/japanese_voltage_converters/japan_uk_voltage_converters/UK-JA0050/

...which was the recommendation from the specialists as the Marty is 25w

Thanks again, G!Milky2014-02-24 18:25:05