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LITTLE PEACHES
Joined: 25 Jun 2009
Posts: 94
Location: ORANGE COUNTY, CA & TAMA, TOKYO, JAPAN
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 Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:12 pm Post subject: power converters from US to Japan |
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| I have my computer which is the only thing i am really concerned about bringing to japan with the power outlets. I understand the wattage is lower, do i have to worry about my computer getting ruined if i plug them in. please help. i know nothing about electronics. |
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Mr_Monkey
Joined: 11 Mar 2009
Posts: 661
Location: Kyuuuuuushuuuuuuu
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| Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:38 pm Post subject: |
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US electronics operate at 110v, don't they?
As i understand it, a desktop PC should be fine - just make sure you set the voltage switch on the power supply to 110v when you set it up - that 's the voltage used in Japan (or at least in Kyushu).
Laptops are no problem at all - the power supply doesn't care, you just need the correct adapter for the plug. |
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LITTLE PEACHES
Joined: 25 Jun 2009
Posts: 94
Location: ORANGE COUNTY, CA & TAMA, TOKYO, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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| i have an apple laptop...so i don't need to to do anything? i have bought the two prong thing for it bc right now it is 3 prong |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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| You don't need to do anything. The laptop (and things like camera chargers etc) have built-in convertors so they can deal with different voltages. |
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mintxleaf
Joined: 11 May 2009
Posts: 47
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| Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:18 am Post subject: |
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really, even my dell and hp laptops would be fine without a converter?
I thought someone had said in a different post that your computer can fry if you plug it in directly because of the different wattage....I'm from the US by the way, going to Yamanashi.
Thanks for the information by the way, this was one answer I've been wanting to ask for a while! =) |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:46 am Post subject: Re: power converters from US to Japan |
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| LITTLE PEACHES wrote: |
| i know nothing about electronics. |
Clearly. 
Wattage is what the machine draws. That doesn't change. The voltage is different in Japan. And as aspara said, if it's a laptop or other device with a universal adapter then you don't need to worry about it. The only thing you might need to buy is a new power lead to run from the wall socket to the power brick because the japanese plug format is different from the US. |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:36 am Post subject: |
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| mintxleaf wrote: |
really, even my dell and hp laptops would be fine without a converter?
I thought someone had said in a different post that your computer can fry if you plug it in directly because of the different wattage....I'm from the US by the way, going to Yamanashi.
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I doubt someone said that, because all modern computers come with a built-in converter- it's the black (or in the case of Apples, possibly white) box that is partway down your cord. There is probably also one on your camera and cellphone chargers, and if you look closely at it, somewhere you will see something like "input: 100-240V", which means that it can be used anywhere from Japan (100V) to the UK (240V).
Do you really think they would make laptops that couldn't be taken overseas? Business travellers would be pretty inconvenienced if that were the case.
What would get fried is if you took a random appliance that doesn't have a built-in converter (non-travel hairdryer for example, or a TV) from the US to New Zealand, and plugged it in using only a plug adaptor. Not the case with any laptop made after about 1996. Japanese voltage (100V) is less than the US (110V), so nothing will get fried. |
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mintxleaf
Joined: 11 May 2009
Posts: 47
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| Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 4:55 am Post subject: |
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!!! You're right Apsara, it says 100-240 V.
Now that you tell me about it... yea, my laptop was used overseas many times, both in europe and in asia without problems.... haha.
Thanks. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:38 am Post subject: |
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If you are bringing things from a country with a high voltage to Japan, the worst that should happen is that they run slower than back home. All the same, don't bring things that don't say they can run on 100-240V and 50-60Hz and you shouldn't have to worry.
Hairstraighteners and hairdryers... potential troublemakers these... buy them over here, instead of risking ones from your home country.
You are really only going to have problems if you buy things over here that don't have built in transformers and try to use them back home. |
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