Overseas projector power (ae100)

[tummybunny]

Has anyone bought an ae100 overseas and used it on their local power supply? Did they just use a standard power cable and everything worked fine?

I trust it's ok to ask questions like this here. Please feel free to delete the thread if it's not, I'm new.

Thanks!

[Shockabuku]

That's what the forum's for mate, don't worry.

Obviously, it depends whether the voltage is different. I'm pretty sure the Panasonic doesn't have a switchable psu, in which case you'd need a step-up/down converter as appropriate. These are easy to source from whichever chain of electrical parts shops you have in Aus. Forgive my ignorance, but I don't know which voltage you use in Australia.

we use 220v in Australia, so I think we need a voltage converter

[Shockabuku]

Depends where you're buying from! UK will obviously be ok as we're 220v. I believe Hong Kong is also 220v. USA is 110v though of course.

[Timh]

The instuction book states it is compatible with the following power supply.

100 v-240 v ~, 50 HZ/60HZ

It probably auto switch's.

I believe the UK is closer to 230 Volt's.

[Shockabuku]

I think most psu's will have a tolerance within 10-20v even if they're fixed. Auto-switching sounds a bit scary though....I'm not an expert on this stuff, but I wouldn't want to test the theory with my PJ

[Grubert]

I think tummybunny is referring to the THAE100, the Japan equivalent of the Panasonic PTAE100, which can be bought at ridiculously low prices from a Japan retailer.

AC in Japan is 100V/60Hz.

According to specifications and manual, the PSU of the THAE100 only accepts 100V. Apparently, if Japanese customers read that a device is multivoltage, they feel ripped off.

But the THAE100 has multilanguage menus and supports PAL and NTSC, so it makes no sense that they make exactly the same model except it has a single-voltage PSU.

But (and that's a big but): who's going to dare plug the projector directly into a UK socket and risk frying his PSU?

Regards.

[tummybunny]

Yes, that's right. I've ordered one from Japan.

I was planning to just switch cables and switch it on, I've actually never heard of a projector that wouldn't work this way. Just thought it'd be nice to double check that someone else has done it too.

[Joe Fernand]

tummybunny

This must be a joke - correct!

You are knowingly going to plug a 100v projector into the UK 240v mains to 'prove a point' that you believe it will in fact have a multi tap transformer.

Keep hugging the trees.

Regards

Joe

[Timh]

tommubunny

it's in the trees, it's coming.

[tummybunny]

'Tree people out there? God bless you! I'm singing for you too.'
If you recognise the quote then like me you're getting on a little.


To Joe: Boom?

Thanks for the opinion, even if it's a tad negative, but thanks also for clearly identifying your perspective on the issue. I'm sure that UK dealers provide plenty of services to justify the price premium charged for the AE100 there compared to other parts of the world but in an increasingly global marketplace they are not the only store in town, so to speak, for anybody. There are certainly pros and cons to any purchasing option and so long as people make informed and legal choices then good luck to them. Knowledge is power.

I'm hoping to replicate the uniformly happy experiences of some of my friends and relatives in importing projectors but yep, the 'save 45%' experience does come with some added complications and responsibilities. And heart palpitations every time you switch it on and nothing happens too, just before you realise the power point isn't switched on.

It would be nice to hear of someone using this exact same model with non - Japanese / non - USA currents, but if that doesn't happen then a good long look at the circuitry would seem to be in order. If this model seems different to all the other imports I've seen and possibly demands 100v then a transformer might be in order.

I don't happen to live in the UK but I wish you guys over there all the best whatever you decide to spend your cash on. And any reports from fellow Japanese importers would of course be of great interest.

Knowledge is power.

[Grubert]

For what it's worth, I'm with you, tummybunny. I hope everything goes all right. Anyway, look before you leap.

If you find a definitive answer and post it here, you'll have my deepest gratitude.

Regards

[Joe Fernand]

Tummybunny/Grubert

I'm not trying to say 'you must purchase from a UK dealer' - that was not the issue; the issue is will you blow up your new projector.

Regards

Joe

[tummybunny]

Good news! Indications here are that the Japanese model does have a universal power supply.

Good thing too, as I'm finding that 100v converters can be pretty scarce on the ground.

[Grubert]

Wow, some people do have a pair of yarbles.

Thanks for the information. Now the harder part: persuading the home management...

Regards.