Voltage question


 Would a component from Japan that is rated 100 volts be safe to use here on 110-120 volts, without some type of transformer or the like?  TIA  Mike


winoguy17

Showing 1 response by heaudio123

If it has a switch mode power supply, odds are it will be okay at 120/60Hz, though if truly designed for 100V only (rare) it could have issues with component tolerances and fail early.  If it has a linear supply, you could overheat things.
w.r.t. this post below, odds are it was built with universal 100-240VAC switch mode power suppl(ies). It is sensitive, but would likely use off the shelf supplies.

millercarbon3,254 posts03-02-2020 3:02amJust to give you all some idea how absurd it is to think a few volts matters, I once ran a lithotripsy machine designed for 240 on 120. For you mathlexic types that's like half the voltage. That's a complex and highly computerized machine that generates shock waves that break kidney stones. Its a lot of power, precision, and an incredible amount of sensitive electronics. More pumps, motors, servos, microprocessors, transformers and high voltage power supplies (in excess of 60kV) than you can shake a stick at. You would think the thing wouldn't even run, or at least would throw error codes, or work but weakly, anything but what happened, which was nothing. Worked absolutely fine. Didn't even know about the voltage until after the fact.

The disconnect from reality, misinformation, and nervous nonsense surrounding all things electrical is simply off the charts.