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Thread: Using a Japanese Saturn in the US

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    Cherry (Level 1) PSony's Avatar
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    Default Using a Japanese Saturn in the US

    I'm getting a Japanese Saturn and was told I should get a stepdown converter or the system will fry. Is this true?

    Also, the system doesn't come with the power cord. Would any US Saturn power cord work, or do I have to get a Japanese cord?

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    Pear (Level 6) OldSchoolGamer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by PSony View Post
    I'm getting a Japanese Saturn and was told I should get a stepdown converter or the system will fry. Is this true?

    Also, the system doesn't come with the power cord. Would any US Saturn power cord work, or do I have to get a Japanese cord?
    No I believe Japanese electronics are close enough in spec to use in USA or CANADA but product from UK require the step down converter as well as means of displaying PAL signal.
    My DP Refs MaximumRD Classic Gaming and Computing Me in a Nutshell (NOT LITERALLY!) http://about.me/maximumrd
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    Cherry (Level 1) PSony's Avatar
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    Ok, so would any US power cord work on Japanese systems?

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    Strawberry (Level 2)
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    Quote Originally Posted by PSony View Post
    Ok, so would any US power cord work on Japanese systems?

    sort of, the US Dreamcast and Saturn used a connector that had a round edge and a square edge.

    the JPN models had a connector that had 2 round edges; but these are pretty common *here* as well, I think the original xbox had the same connector.

    /I used a JPN dreamcast and Saturn for years with out issue.

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    Insert Coin (Level 0) Mysterio3000's Avatar
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    it depends. I live in a very old house and had a japanese psone fry, so I always run everything through a step down convertor just to be safe. The choice is yours....a lot of people have no problems, some do...

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    Strawberry (Level 2)
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mysterio3000 View Post
    it depends. I live in a very old house and had a japanese psone fry, so I always run everything through a step down convertor just to be safe. The choice is yours....a lot of people have no problems, some do...

    buyer be ware I guess.


    /my house was 120 years old :P

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    Insert Coin (Level 0) gumbyandpals's Avatar
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    Step-down converters are not too expensive. Unless you're really strapped for cash, buy one and rest assured that you aren't going to do any damage to the system. Chances are it will cost you more to buy another JP saturn than to buy a step-down converter.
    My Feedback: http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117973

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    Insert Coin (Level 0) b1aCkDeA7h's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Logicdustbin View Post
    sort of, the US Dreamcast and Saturn used a connector that had a round edge and a square edge.

    the JPN models had a connector that had 2 round edges; but these are pretty common *here* as well, I think the original xbox had the same connector.

    /I used a JPN dreamcast and Saturn for years with out issue.
    XBOX and a lot of laptops use a double rounded connector. Once, to test a system, I took one of my many spare round/rectangular cables, whittled down the square end until it fit and it worked fine.

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    My white Saturn has a square/round cord and works fine without a stepdown. Pick a cord up for $10 at RadioShack (but look it over first - they have a couple different square/round styles) and you should be fine.

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