Japanese Dreamcast questions

[mjmjr25]

Now I just have to get some Japanese Dreamcast games. I wonder how much the Godzilla game is going to cost me.

PM me if you like, I have a spare Godzilla Generations if that is the one your after. Not looking for much.

[Jamisonia]

The DC will not be directly compatible with our power grid. Yes you may be able to find a power plug that will fit, but the internal transformer is expecting to get 100VAC not 120VAC. When I bought my Famicom I ran it off of our power grid for awhile, and contemplated getting a step up transformer. It ran fine, but it ran very hot. The AC adapter would be burning to the touch, so I decided to buy a step up transformer, so its very cool now. If you run it on our power grid the DC will run hot, and heat is the enemy to long term longevity of electronics. I bought this one:

http://www.voltageconverters.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=VC100J

[D.D.D.]

Yeah I would get a power transformer. Lots of people say you don't need one but I've always been on the cautious side. Besides, that's a really good deal on that link.

[gennss]

I've had my JP dreamcast for years and never had an issue. I'm pretty sure they make them the same so when they have to change regions they don't have to manufacture the same part. But I'm not an electronics guy...

[Jamisonia]

No they definitely put a different transformer into the DC. I doubt they even manufactured it. It was probably an off the shelf part. I suppose if you were so inclined you could replace the internal transformer with one that accepted 120VAC that output the DC voltage and Amps the Dreamcast needed.

It probably would be okay, but over the long term it probably won't be good for the system, and it will run hotter.




If you can't find the right power cable at a thrift store monoprice is your friend:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ ... 1&format=2

[Hobie-wan]

The DC will not be directly compatible with our power grid. Yes you may be able to find a power plug that will fit, but the internal transformer is expecting to get 100VAC not 120VAC.

Unless there are other revisions, a step down transformer will not be needed. I doubt they would tool up to make separate 100V power supplies as that would cost more than simply making all of the NTSC ones 100-120 compatible.

From the back of my J-DC:

[Jamisonia]

The DC will not be directly compatible with our power grid. Yes you may be able to find a power plug that will fit, but the internal transformer is expecting to get 100VAC not 120VAC.

Unless there are other revisions, a step down transformer will not be needed. I doubt they would tool up to make separate 100V power supplies as that would cost more than simply making all of the NTSC ones 100-120 compatible.

From the back of my J-DC:

I also stand corrected in this thread.

[mjmjr25]

^I have 2 DC-J running in my house for a few years, never any power issues - I have zero converters of any kind. While were at it, same goes for SAT-J, PSX-J, PS2-J, N64-J etc.

Oh, and very interesting to note - the PAL N64 console will run on a US AC adapter, the wall plug is different, but the console input is the same. No issues.

[Hobie-wan]

Oh, and very interesting to note - the PAL N64 console will run on a US AC adapter, the wall plug is different, but the console input is the same. No issues.

Well that makes sense. The console guts are still going to want the same volts and amps. The only difference might be whether it cares about 50/60 Hz power. It is still a power brick, just one with 6 pins not 2 like a plain old barrel plug.

[mjmjr25]

Oh, and very interesting to note - the PAL N64 console will run on a US AC adapter, the wall plug is different, but the console input is the same. No issues.

Well that makes sense. The console guts are still going to want the same volts and amps. The only difference might be whether it cares about 50/60 Hz power. It is still a power brick, just one with 6 pins not 2 like a plain old barrel plug.

Interesting in that a PAL game won't play on a JP/US N64 (even w/tabs removed from cart bay). So I had to order a PAL N64 to play Taz (during my N64 boner days). Of course came w/a EUR AC Brick - so figured what the hay, put in the US brick and no issues ever.