Power converters

[Iwantgames:)]

I've been using this power converter to play my G7200 but it's started to make a loud buzzing noise and I don't trust using it anymore. Does anyone know a good quality converter?

 

[Flojomojo]

You can waste time with your games when your chores are done.

 

[carlsson]

From the French manual for the 7200, it says it draws 15W @ 220V. I don't have a 7200 handy so I can see if it has a label on its own, but I suppose that figure is a good measurement in looking for step-up converters. The English/German manual for the 7200 doesn't mention power draw at all.

 

https://archive.org/details/Videopac_7200_198x_Philips_FR

 

I don't know if it is possible to convert to accepting 115V, probably a difficult or dangerous task although there are some badly scanned schematics for people skilled in high voltage electronics.

Edited August 28, 2017 by carlsson

[Iwantgames:)]

I found this one that looks like it might do the trick

 

[carlsson]

Who would be insane enough to import a microwave oven designed for a different wall outlet voltage than the one where you live? Same about the vacuum and the iron, those seem like appliances that don't have any unique features to be worth bringing overseas. Besides there is a decent chance a modern microwave already accepts 100-240V AC which would make the step-up or step-down superfluous.

 

(Am I seeing a washing machine in one of the thumbnails? That almost seems impossible to have a 1 kW washing machine, not to mention how insane it would be to connect it through a step-up converter. Or well, some small eco oriented machines may run on 400-600W)

 

But yes, for the Videopac G7200 it probably will be great, and also for other more power hungry systems you might want to acquire.

Edited August 29, 2017 by carlsson

[ozyr]

You don't need a convertor for the 7200 if you are in the U.S., just a plug adaptor. The unit will adjust the power by itself, unless some components have aged too much (I have one unit that won't work with this plug).

 

 

VCT VP7 Adapter Plug for USA - You can find this on Amazon (I use this for m 7200 and 7400).

[Iwantgames:)]

You don't need a convertor for the 7200 if you are in the U.S., just a plug adaptor. The unit will adjust the power by itself, unless some components have aged too much (I have one unit that won't work with this plug).

 

 

 

VCT VP7 Adapter Plug for USA - You can find this on Amazon (I use this for m 7200 and 7400).

Everything I seen about the French model of the 7200 like mine says 220v which is why I wanted the converter

[ozyr]

Go to the videopac forum and ask there 'Videopac.nl', you'll get a much more informed reply there, from the top O2/VP gurus (not that AA is bad, but the O2/VP forum is the place for such a thing).

 

I have two 7200 units (and two 7400) that work with the adaptor, but I could be wrong. A voltage converter, IMHO, is a pain — I've had two, low and high price. Low price melted after some use, the high price one can still cause voltage surges and such. Not fun at all.

[carlsson]

I tried to find some schematics or pictures of the power supply, but I only found schematics of the main system.

 

I am not an electrics engineer, so the following babble is my very layman's understanding of how things work. Feel free to correct me in any misunderstandings. I'll assume the power supply has a transformer that is wired based on input voltage, meaning a lower than intended input voltage yields a lower output voltage? As the G7000 takes 9V DC that is converted to 5V DC inside, it wouldn't surprise me if the G7200 power supply has a transformer that outputs ~9V AC (peak 12.7V) that is rectified and further reduced to 5V. Now if my theory is correct that the transformer at 110V AC would output 4.5V AC (peak 6.3V), it might be enough for the voltage regulator to get 5V, perhaps with a higher amperage yield. The question is the TV though, which voltage makes it run?

 

This page didn't give me any answers, but a few nice anecdotes including one who keeps using their 110V clothes iron in a 230V zone, fully aware that bad things may happen:

http://www.gohz.com/what-happens-if-plug-an-110v-appliance-in-220v-socket

 

This thread has a few more engineer based answers, though of course none specific to Videopac:

https://www.quora.com/What-happens-when-a-220V-appliance-is-plugged-into-a-110V-socket-and-the-other-way-around

 

But if you already have a nice step-up converter, by all means continue to use it until the day you need to plug in two different 220V systems at the same time and can sacrifice running the G7200 on 115V for a little while, if it is supposedly OK.

[Odysseus]

I wanted to revive this topic. I have a g7200 coming. Has anyone been able to use one in the USA without the step up to 220 and just a wall adaptor?