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From: kehres@lance.tis.llnl.gov (Tim Kehres)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: 100V Japanese products on 120V US lines
Keywords: power conversion, burning toast smell
Message-ID: <657@ncis.tis.llnl.gov>
Date: 31 Dec 89 01:17:15 GMT
References: <3215@uceng.UC.EDU> <7200@chaph.usc.edu>
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In article <7200@chaph.usc.edu> kawaguch@girtab.usc.edu (Atsushi Kawaguchi) writes:
> Almost all electronic appliances have +-10% tolerance on power line,
> so anywhere between 90 to 110VAC is guaranteed to work, but I doubt
> any appliance can be damaged by 'pushing' a bit further to 120v.  I've
> been using Japanese spec stereos, TV, etc. rated at 100v for years, and 
> nothing bad happened.  There are transformers sold at some places just to 
> convert US AC line to Japanese AC line, but I don't think it's necessary.

A colleague of mine picked up some equipment in Tokyo a little over a year 
ago and did just this and ended up with a piece of equipment that did not
work about 6 months later.  The description of what had failed sounded like
a failed power supply.  You need to be careful when doing this.  If the
equipment is speced for 90-120 VAC, then there should not be any problem.
Unfortunately however much of the equipment for the Japanese market is
designed for only 100 VAC, 50/60 Hz.  For this equipment, unless you don't
mind the possibility of damaging the equipment, it is much better to just
spend the $15.00 or so for the step down transformer.

Tim Kehres