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  • PGraham3
  • Explorer

    • 7

    • October 12, 2010, 01:15:16 pm
    • Gimpo, South Korea
Super Famicom Mini - Any voltage issues using one in South Korea?
« on: September 29, 2020, 10:14:57 am »
I recently purchased a Super Famicom Mini (from Japan) and I have some concerns of being able to use it in South Korea due to different voltages. I understand these run using a micro-USB cord that as far as I know can be connected to a plug connector and then plugged into any outlet without worrying about frying the console. Is this true?

Looking forward to read your responses. Thanks!
-Paul


  • Kyndo
  • Moderator LVL 1

    • I am a geek!!

    • March 02, 2027, 11:00:00 pm
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Re: Super Famicom Mini - Any voltage issues using one in South Korea?
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2020, 10:26:15 am »
If in doubt, use a 220 --> 100/110 voltage converter.
Also, parts of Japan (Northern Honshu and Hokkaido) have a slightly different standard Hz (50 in eastern Japan vs the 60 in Korea), although most appliances shouldn't be affected by this.


Be careful about what kind of connector you use: most usb cables wont blow up a device... except for C-type connectors. There is the possibility to damage your phone/appliance with a c-type connector, so if that's what you're using, be sure to plug it into a voltage transformer first.
« Last Edit: September 29, 2020, 10:29:43 am by Kyndo »


  • Mister Tim
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1805

    • September 08, 2013, 10:33:54 am
    • SK
Re: Super Famicom Mini - Any voltage issues using one in South Korea?
« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2020, 10:40:39 am »
A voltage issue: no.

An amperage issue: Maybe.

A cable issue: Be careful.

The voltage will be determined entirely by the wall-wart/charger you're plugging in to, so if you're using a korean charger, you don't have to worry about voltage.

The thing to keep in mind is that different chargers will provide different amperage levels. Some older chargers might only provide around 500mA (milliamps), whereas more modern ones can provide up to 3000mA. Using a higher amperage charger won't blow your device up or anything, but it miiiiiight affect the overall lifetime of the device. Since the Famicom Mini is relatively(?) new, I don't think you really have to worry about it. I'm sure there are specs listed somewhere that say what the ideal mA would be, if you're paranoid and want to make sure it matches the mA provided by the charger as closely as possible.

One warning, though: Even if voltage isn't an issue and amperage is only a slight consideration, the cable itself is definitely something you have to be wary of. I assume the Famicom comes with its own cable, but if it doesn't or if you ever need to replace it, try to make sure you're getting something you know for sure will work with that device. I don't know how much it applies to USB mini, but using the wrong USB-C cable absolutely can bork a device.

If you want to read some tech-y stuff about USB cables, power, and charging, this might be of interest:

https://www.extremetech.com/computing/115251-how-usb-charging-works-or-how-to-avoid-blowing-up-your-smartphone