Using a Japanese Console on US power (in Finland...)

I live in Finland, so my domestic power is 230v @ 50Hz. I own a couple of American games consoles, and I run those off a transformer that steps the mains down to 120v, powering a US gang-socket like this one:



I have a Japanese Gamecube coming in the post soon, and as far as I can tell the mains electricity there is 100v, so am I OK to just plug it into my USA gang socket? I also read something about the Jap plugs being un-polarised (so both blades are the same width), will this matter in my case?

Thanks for any help

 

there's some odd stigma with it running 100 on 120v but I've never had a problem, and lots of the time the internal parts are rated for 135 max even though the console says 100v max. if you really fear it, they sell some odd 120 to 100 v step downs you could always check those out if it makes you nervous.

 

You could also use a european Gamecube PSU.

 

Just use a european PSU, and all of your problems is solved.
I did this with a Japanese N64, and It runs perfect with a european power supply.

 

Never thought of doing this! I think this is the best option

 

A lot of people use 100V consoles in 120V american outlets without problem. My japanese Saturn works well on 120V.
You got to consider that the voltage of your outlet isn't as steady as you might expect (104.4 - 127.2 V is in the specs according to this document) and it's most probably the same for Japan. So devices are designed to be flexible on their input voltage, often more so than the specifications.

Bottomline: it'd be fine. Althoug using a european PSU is certainly a more energy efficient solution.

 

Input Tolerance