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Importing a Japanese PS3 slim - Electricity Question
elektra168
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hello. I am importing a Japanese PS3 slim, and was wondering what I would need to buy to plug it in: transformer? Power cable?
I have imported a Japanese stereo, PS2, DS Lite, and PSP, and have never had a problem plugging them directly into a power strip. However, I don't want to take any risks. Is there anything different / unique about a PS3 slim that would require a transformer?
If I do need to get a transformer - what kind?
Thank you,
-e168
I have imported a Japanese stereo, PS2, DS Lite, and PSP, and have never had a problem plugging them directly into a power strip. However, I don't want to take any risks. Is there anything different / unique about a PS3 slim that would require a transformer?
If I do need to get a transformer - what kind?
Thank you,
-e168
elektra168 on
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Maybe a Japanese BC model to play Japanese PS2 games?
Except he said Slim, which isn't BC.
If you really wanna import one regardless, I recently bought one here and there isn't a power adapter. Just a cord that goes straight from the wall to the PS3. So you'll need something to convert to 100V 50/60Hz.
I'll double check when I get home, though. I'm 99% sure that it only supports Japanese voltages, but just to be safe.
He also imported a Japanese PS2, so there goes PS2 games and that DVD Region...
100V 2.5A 50/60 Hz on the Japanese Slim PS3.
You also can't use the Japanese video store on PSN on a US PS3, in my experience. So maybe that? I admit it's grasping at straws.
No, actually, they aren't.
US is 120V 60Hz and Japan is 100V 50/60Hz (yes, half of the country is a different frequency). Most Japanese electronics will work in the States because they have a brick adapter or are built so that they will work for a range of voltages/frequencies, but if there isn't an adapter (like on the Slim PS3) or it won't work for that range, you really should get an adapter.
If there isn't a separate power adapter what you really need is a step-up/step-down transformer. Here is one company that makes them in a variety of wattages. Going from 500W to 1000W bumps up the weight by about 12 pounds, so they are rather heavy.
A lot of products are sold as little plugs or wall adapters but they aren't intended for extended use or with electronics. About the only thing they are suitable for blow dryers and curling irons.
OP: See the link I posted and pick the wattage that you'll need for your electronics. If you plan on importing more consoles consider getting one that can handle a larger load so you can just pick up a surge protector and use multiple devices off of one transformer. Here is one site that carries those PowerBright transformers, but I've never shopped there before so feel free to look around for other retailers.
This is why I wouldn't recommend it for a PS3. I'd say look into a site like play-asia or something that sells asian consoles for import, as they might sell appropriate adapters/transformers that could be used with it. Offhand, I can't think of any sites that would sell something else, as my PS3 is the first piece of electronics that actually will require me to deal with it if I move back State-side.
See, that's why I recommended something appropriate above and below the point you bolded:
Didn't mean to come across as otherwise. Sorry about that.
On Play-Asia, it lists a Japanese PS3 as 110V. I can't seem to find a product that converts from 110 to 100 - does such a thing exist? Would the 120-to-100 converter still work?
As for the 50/60Hz thing - Am I correct in assuming that Japanese electronics can use either one, so it's ok because we are on 50Hz in the U.S.?
Thanks - FYI, I am considering importing the FFXIII special edition console, so that is why I am asking. DVD's and PS2 games are no problem because I have a 360 and PS2. As long as the Japanese PS3 can play U.S. Blu-Rays and games, that is all it needs to do.
-e168
You would only need something to step down 120V to 100V, since Japanese electronics are built to use either 50/60Hz (and the US is 60Hz, btw).
300 watts should work fine if that's all you intend to use it for, but since the difference between the 300 and 500W one is $5 you might want to consider it as well.
Cokebotle said his PS3 is labeled as 2.5A, and Ohm's Law says that if you multiply current (amperes) by voltage you'll get power (in this case, watts). Since Japan uses 100V for their power and the PS3 draws 2.5 amperes you get 250W, so the 300W unit should have you covered.
Yeah, the way I read it it sounded like you were saying that the transformer wasn't want he needed. Even with the emphasis it sounded like it was being applied to my post as a whole :P Those other products usually just "chop" the excessive voltage off of the power source (makes sense if you look at it with an oscilloscope) instead of properly lowering it, so for electronic equipment the end result is really dirty power.
Yeah, I know what you mean (did EE as undergrad, just never got the hang of studying :P).
One interesting thing I wasn't expecting - The Japanese PS3 does play U.S. DVD's just fine. I don't mean Blu-Ray, I mean a plain old U.S. DVD from Netflix.
The button layout it different when you're in the system menu - Circle is equivalent to X. I knew this, but it took a tiny bit of getting used to.
Now I am kind of worried that I should get a converter for my 100V stereo. I've always just plugged it into the wall and it's worked fine, but I wonder if I'm causing damage.
Thanks all for all your feedback, it was very helpful.
-elektra168
As for the stereo, just look at the back where it lists the power information.