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Are step down converters absolutely necessary?
https://forum.lddb.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=3660		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  elahrairrah [ 21 Jan 2014, 18:50 ]
Post subject:  Are step down converters absolutely necessary?
So I'm thinking of getting another Japanese LD player again. I already regaled you with the tale of my selling my CLD-R7G, so now with the Japanese Yen to USD exchange rate being better than its been for a while now (104 yen to the Dollar), I'm browsing the LD player section on YJA again.

One question though, is a step down power converter absolutely necessary for a Japanese player to be utilized in the US? It wasn't necessary for the R7G, as--prompted by Duncan/LD Service--I opened up the R7G and the power supply had a rating of 120V 50/60Hz on it (US current.) So I never used a converter.

I take it that is not the case for all Japanese players? I did bring a Japanese Aiwa shelf system home from Japan and used that without issue on US current. Will it just shorten the life of the power supply if I don't?
Author:  signofzeta [ 22 Jan 2014, 00:49 ]
Post subject:  Re: Are step down converters absolutely necessary?
Unless it's really fancy shmancy delicate stuff like tube amps or scientific equipment, I really don't think it matters. I've never used one. Home current in the US varies from house to house almost as much as the difference between US and JP wiring. You're more likely to have a problem resulting from the converter melting down than you are from a %10 voltage difference.
Author:  substance [ 22 Jan 2014, 01:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Are step down converters absolutely necessary?
It appears electric companies required to provide homes electricity between 110-125V RMS. 118-120V is most common.

I have 3 dedicated lines with dedicated breakers feeding my audio/ video gear. I have 3 separate Panamax M5300-PM power conditions on each end. 1 feeding power amps, 1 feeding pre-amp and digital audio, 1 feeding video gear. I can monitor voltage all 3 of them at the accuracy of these Panamax units. I get 120-122V most of the time. Seldom I see 123-124V. Very rare occasions I see 119V.

Japan uses 100V. From my sources in Japan the electric is very stable at 100-101V. There is a %20-25 difference between US and Japan voltage. I am sure most electronics are designed to compensate occasional variations in electricity but running at %20 more voltage constantly can hurt in the long run.

120-100V step down adapters are cheap. I paid $30 for mine which is 110watts rated. LD players use less than half of that. So you could even use a small/cheaper converter.
Author:  admin [ 22 Jan 2014, 06:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Are step down converters absolutely necessary?
elahrairrah wrote:
One question though, is a step down power converter absolutely necessary for a Japanese player to be utilized in the US?


I've had CLD-R5 and LD-S9 working fine on 110V but my HLD-X9 absolutely didn't like it: video and sound glitches.
It's not very expensive, I'd add a step-down 110->100V with each player.

In the end I bought a 1000VA @ 100V converter where everything Japanese is plugged on (Japanese amp, LD players, DVD players, MUSE decoder, HDDVD player, portable MD, etc.).

Julien
Author:  elahrairrah [ 22 Jan 2014, 22:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Are step down converters absolutely necessary?
So I guess it's a case of better safe than sorry, then? Might as well grab one then.
Author:  krbahr [ 23 Jan 2014, 00:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Are step down converters absolutely necessary?
For the Japanese units with 100VAC supplies like the X9 and X0 plugging them directly into US outlets will shorten the life of the power supply.
Author:  substance [ 23 Jan 2014, 04:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Are step down converters absolutely necessary?
Yes I was hoping I could swap out the power supply on my x0 with one from s2 but ldservice said it wasnt possible as they are very different. It seems they only share the chasis and some mechanical parts, nearly all electronics are different
Author:  blam1 [ 19 Mar 2014, 23:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: Are step down converters absolutely necessary?
I have the last model produced in Japan, the DVL-919. It plays just fine without a step-down transformer. I do have a step-down transformer for the LG-1 decoder however.
Author:  elahrairrah [ 14 May 2014, 15:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Are step down converters absolutely necessary?
I bought this Yamaha RF demodulator on Yahoo Japan:
http://page18.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/a ... w102273420

It says it's untested, but for the price they were asking ($10) I took a chance. Do any of you'd think I'd need a step down power converter for this?
Author:  signofzeta [ 15 May 2014, 01:51 ]
Post subject:  Re: Are step down converters absolutely necessary?
I think they sold that model in the US. If that's the case, someone here probably has it. If the power supplies are the same then you don't need one.

If you do get one, don't buy a cheap piece of crap. Stepdown converters can and do fail which can cause even bigger problems than the excess heat of an extra 10VAC.
Author:  substance [ 15 May 2014, 02:33 ]
Post subject:  Re: Are step down converters absolutely necessary?
There are two Yamaha models. 1 is japan only and is 100v. The other is international and 100-240 auto switching. The ones sold in the us were international models. I believe these units have built in power supply opposed to separate brick. You will need a step down converter.
Author:  bguzman [ 15 May 2014, 03:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: Are step down converters absolutely necessary?
The APD-1 that I have lists 120V 60Hz so I agree with substance.
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