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European Nintendo DS charger

AisengardAisengard Registered User regular
edited April 2010 in Games and Technology
I'm going to Italy for two weeks, and would like to bring my DS along with me. Only problem - the American DS charger only works in America.

Any clue as to where I can get a European DS charger that won't A.) Break, or B.) Fry my DS?

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  • fencatfencat Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    you can always just buy an american to european converter, which is easy to find and most likley cheaper..
    Powerplug converter that is.

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  • Jam WarriorJam Warrior Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Seeing as chargers come with a built in transformer I'm 99% certain you just need a standard dirt-cheap socket adapter.

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  • fencatfencat Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Seeing as chargers come with a built in transformer I'm 99% certain you just need a standard dirt-cheap socket adapter.

    can confirm that this works. I used it when I was in the US and also using it now when I moved from Belgium to Ireland.
    They are cheap usually around $4 or so, and works just fine.

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  • AisengardAisengard Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Yes, I know you can buy the adapters, but I looked at the American DS charger and it said it was rated for 100V. Voltage in Italy comes at 240V. Laptops and my phone can switch between them just fine (just need a plug adapter), but I wasn't sure if the DS charger could as well.

    Here's a picture of my Dell laptop charger, showing it can handle voltages from 100V to 240V:

    img00087201004201401.th.jpg
    http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/7873/img00087201004201401.jpg

    Now here's a picture of my DS charger. You'll see that it doesn't have that 240V capability, which is why I don't think it would work in Italy:

    img00088201004201401.th.jpg
    http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/377/img00088201004201401.jpg

    Fencat - is your DS charger a European version that you used in the US? Those might have the capability to take in US voltage. It just might not be the other way around.

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  • lowlylowlycooklowlylowlycook Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    If you have a laptop you could just get a USB DS charger.

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  • nefyavenefyave Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Aisengard wrote: »
    Yes, I know you can buy the adapters, but I looked at the American DS charger and it said it was rated for 100V. Voltage in Italy comes at 240V. Laptops and my phone can switch between them just fine (just need a plug adapter), but I wasn't sure if the DS charger could as well.

    Here's a picture of my Dell laptop charger, showing it can handle voltages from 100V to 240V:

    img00087201004201401.th.jpg
    http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/7873/img00087201004201401.jpg

    Now here's a picture of my DS charger. You'll see that it doesn't have that 240V capability, which is why I don't think it would work in Italy:

    img00088201004201401.th.jpg
    http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/377/img00088201004201401.jpg

    Fencat - is your DS charger a European version that you used in the US? Those might have the capability to take in US voltage. It just might not be the other way around.

    a friend bought a ds in the states and is still using it here in the netherlands with only the plug converter thingy.

    nefyave on
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  • SmokeStacksSmokeStacks Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Aisengard wrote: »
    Any clue as to where I can get a European DS charger that won't A.) Break, or B.) Fry my DS?

    In Europe?

    Just buy one once you get there. I'm sure Italy has videogame/electronics/department stores.

    If you're bringing anything else that needs power, you'd be better off with a converter though.

    SmokeStacks on
  • lowlylowlycooklowlylowlycook Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Aisengard wrote: »
    Any clue as to where I can get a European DS charger that won't A.) Break, or B.) Fry my DS?

    In Europe?

    Just buy one once you get there. I'm sure Italy has videogame/electronics/department stores.

    If you're bringing anything else that needs power, you'd be better off with a converter though.

    AFAIK, the small voltage transformers that you can buy won't work with a DS charger since it doesn't draw enough power.

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    (Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
  • AlegisAlegis Impeckable Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    I think I remember using a japanese (same as US, right?) charger here in Belgium with a simple converter.

    I also think I got a DS charger from dealextreme.com for cheap. But they're not that fast with shipping.

    Alegis on
  • fencatfencat Registered User regular
    edited April 2010
    Aisengard wrote: »
    Fencat - is your DS charger a European version that you used in the US? Those might have the capability to take in US voltage. It just might not be the other way around.

    I had a European in the US, so not sure.. But I am pretty sure it wont be a problem. Just get one of the more expensive converters (like 6$ instead of 4$) that has a fuse in it and you should be safe.

    fencat on
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