Pal (50Hz) and NTSC (60Hz) frequencies

[LidLikesIntellivision]

Well, I know PAL works at 50Hz and NTSC at 60Hz but I'm not sure about all the causes and consequences of that.

I'd like to understand a bit more some points, especially to avoid damaging consoles.

 

1) What is this frequency related to?

1.1) The screen refresh rate (or other video property) or the frequency of the AC electricity?

1.2) Are the former a consequence of the second?

 

I know USA and Canada (both NTSC land) have an alternating current of 60Hz while Argentina has (or had) a 50Hz and used PAL (I believe German used 50Hz for its AC too).

 

2) What happens if a CBS (50Hz) is plugged in an American 60Hz outlet?

2.1) Only the power supply works at 60Hz and the console at normal speed (possibly abusing of the power supply)?

2.2) Whole system works at 60Hz with possibly damage? But then the video signal isn't 50Hz? Inside game speed is diffferent?

 

3) And what happens if a CBS console is plugged in the 60Hz outlet but with an American Coleco power supply?

 

I am confused, especially because, after passing the power supply, we should deal with dc only. So, no frequency (a dc pulse )?

[+nanochess]

The AC frequency is completely independent of the video frequency.

 

The power supply should match your socket (110V in 110V, 220V in 220V) or use an adaptator (110V to 220V or viceversa). It generates three DC voltages that are feed to the Colecovision.

 

The Colecovision can be NTSC (TMS9928 chip) or PAL (TMS9929 chip) also with some differences in crystals.

 

So 1) Video frequency depends on video chip and not on AC frequency.

 

2) If you plug a PAL console in an American 60hz outlet there is a big chance it doesn't work, because the power supply requires 220V, you still get PAL output (50hz)

 

3) If you plug a PAL console in an American 60hz outlet with the right power supply, you still get PAL output (50hz)

[LidLikesIntellivision]

The AC frequency is completely independent of the video frequency.

 

The power supply should match your socket (110V in 110V, 220V in 220V) or use an adaptator (110V to 220V or viceversa). It generates three DC voltages that are feed to the Colecovision.

 

The Colecovision can be NTSC (TMS9928 chip) or PAL (TMS9929 chip) also with some differences in crystals.

 

So 1) Video frequency depends on video chip and not on AC frequency.

 

2) If you plug a PAL console in an American 60hz outlet there is a big chance it doesn't work, because the power supply requires 220V, you still get PAL output (50hz)

 

3) If you plug a PAL console in an American 60hz outlet with the right power supply, you still get PAL output (50hz)

Thank you very much.

 

So, it seems I'm safe to buy a CBS from Argentina. It is 110v (shouldn't we call 127?-a minor detail) and 50Hz for the AC. I also have 110v but with 60Hz. In this case, my Coleco power supply 110v and 60Hz input will work fine and I don't have to worry about frequency after the power supply since it's DC for all three that feed the Coleco.

[+FujiSkunk]

Random trivia: video frequencies may at one time have been based on AC frequencies, but if so, that marriage ended a long time ago. NTSC doesn't exactly give a 60Hz video signal anyway, not since color TV was invented.