JP/US game consoles with "secret" universal/100-240V PSUs?

[fernan1234]

Japanese consoles as well as many other electronics almost always state "100V" in their PSUs since that's the Japan standard, but it's not very rare for them to actually include a universal PSU. Same with US ones only listing 120V most of the time.

So far I've been in the US and able to simply plug them into 120V mains as they're pretty much always tolerant of the extra voltage even if they are true 100V PSUs. But I'll be joining the 200V block later this year and I'm trying to document stuff that will need a transformer.

I just learned from an old topic here that the Wii U's WUP002 power adapter turns out to be universal in spite of only listing the voltage of the console's corresponding region, while the Wii's power adapter does not. This made me wonder if there's knowledge of any other PSUs with "secret" universal voltage support from those who have imported/moved with their consoles or have opened them up. I'm guessing consoles with internal PSUs like PS2, Saturn, Dreamcast etc. are more likely to not have universal voltage support, but it would be good to find any special cases to minimize transformer use.

edit:
(Most) PS3s also have universal PSUs under the hood.
All PS4s have secrete universal PSUs as well.
Bless Sony.

Open question again about what's going on with the Wii power bricks.

[bobrocks95]

My JPN model 2 white Sega Saturn is marked as 100V on the outside, and then 100-120V on the internal PSU, which I was told at the time I was looking for one was fairly common. Nowhere close to wacky PAL voltages though

https://imgur.com/a/bKI74zR

[Nugs]

I just learned from an old topic here that the Wii U's WUP002 power adapter turns out to be universal in spite of only listing the voltage of the console's corresponding region, while the Wii's power adapter does not. .

Do you mean the Wii's is not universal or it does not list the voltages?
I'm using a US Wii power supply in Australia (240v).

[Sumez]

I've blown a JP Saturn's fuse by accident in the past because I tried plugging it in, not knowing it was a Japanese model. So yeah at least that one is out of the question.

[Steven]

Pretty sure the PS4 is like this. Might be wrong, though, so don't blame me if your Japanese PS4 EXPLODES when you plug it in outside of Japan~

lol disregard; I just checked my Japanese PS4 and it says 100V on the back, so maybe it will explode after all.

Almost every game system I own is Japanese, and I know I've seen it somewhere, but it will take a while to check them all. I know the PSP, Vita, and Vita TV are 100~240V, though.

[Buffi]

Fairly sure PS4 should work fine on whatever voltage.
PS3 definitely did. Used my US ps3 on EU power for a long time.

[parodius]

PS3 definitely did. Used my US ps3 on EU power for a long time.

This. I used my original 60GB JP PS3 on a step down converter for the longest time before I learned it took 230V just fine.

[fernan1234]

Do you mean the Wii's is not universal or it does not list the voltages?
I'm using a US Wii power supply in Australia (240v).

You mean a Wii and not Wii U? (Nintendo and their bad naming choices back then...)

The Wii external PSU (AC to DC) does list the voltage (120V for the US power brick). Interesting that you're using a US brick in Australia! I haven't tested it myself, was just going by what I read on that old topic.

I guess I might as well try it when I get a chance, worst case I'll end up with a fried power brick that I wasn't going to be using without a transformer anyway.

lol disregard; I just checked my Japanese PS4 and it says 100V on the back, so maybe it will explode after all.

According to info online all PS4s have universal PSUs so it should be fine too. Another big relief because the PS4 is power hungry, would need a super beefy and likely noisy transformer.

At this point the most problematic case for me will be the Xbox 360 with its very specific power supply and 135W consumption. Will probably just have to buy an EU/Asia PSU or even a whole console set just for that. Then I can just use a smaller transformer with less wattage for older consoles like Dreamcast, Saturn, etc.

Man I hate proprietary plug power adapters.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

With my NEC PC Engine Duo-RX variant console, plugging in the original PSU (power supply unit) adapter rated at 100v JPN AC that it came with does tend to get quite warm to the touch if plugged into an 120v USA region AC outlet. Now if I use a 3rd-party produced multi-switching 100v-240v AC adapter with the PCE Duo-Rx console, that particular AC adapter remains cool to the touch if plugged into an 120v AC outlet.

One time, I had my NEC PC-FX plugged into the 120v AC outlet and a smokey smell arose from within the console itself and later on, went away. It hasn't done that since then (even though on the backside, there's a sticker denoting that it's made for JPN region 100v AC as usual). Alas, NEC never did release it's 32-bit powered PC-FX console stateside and if they did so (within the 1995 timeline frame assuming if TTI {Turbo Technologies Incorporated} had decided to sell it in the USA but made the ultimate decision back in January of 1994 of not wanting to sell/distribute any new NEC gaming hardware/software in the nearby future as sales with the current TurboGrafx-16 & Turbo Duo hardware/software were lackluster/not up to their expectations), it would've been endowed with a proper USA region 120v PSU from the get-go indeed.

On the NCSX website, they mentioned that the 1st-gen PS3 consoles that SCEI sold came with a proper multi-switching PSU built in so it'd work just fine within the 100v-220v specs internationally (JPN, USA & Europe) regardless of what region console was sold at that particular point in time (November-December of 2003 timeframe to be exact).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[fernan1234]

Oh yes with a PC Engine it's much better to use a modern power supply, thankfully it uses a standard DC barrel plug like many other retro consoles. There's really no point in using the old original wall warts for any of them.

The PC-FX is an unfortunate case since the PSU is internal and indeed rated for 100V, though it can handle US 120V. I never had issues with it, but certainly will be using a transformer when I'm in a 240V area.

[AaronSR]

The PS2 90K has a universal PSU despite only saying 100v on the sticker (this is the final revision where they put the power supply back in the PS2 as opposed to the brick that the 70K-79K uses). I have used it for many hours using the same plug that I use in my PAL 50K (fat). The fats are definitely NOT universal however.

[kazuo]

The OG Xbox has an internal 100-120V, 50/60Hz PSU (so it'll work "fine" in the US at least). I suspect that the 360 probably comes with a 100-240V PSU, but even if it doesn't, the supply is extremely common and easy to swap out for a few bucks.

[fernan1234]

The PS2 90K has a universal PSU despite only saying 100v on the sticker (this is the final revision where they put the power supply back in the PS2 as opposed to the brick that the 70K-79K uses). I have used it for many hours using the same plug that I use in my PAL 50K (fat). The fats are definitely NOT universal however.

Yeah it's sad because the fats are the simplest way to use an HDD/SSD/SD card for playing games via OPL. Network and USB has made some improvements there but it's still not as good.

The OG Xbox has an internal 100-120V, 50/60Hz PSU (so it'll work "fine" in the US at least). I suspect that the 360 probably comes with a 100-240V PSU, but even if it doesn't, the supply is extremely common and easy to swap out for a few bucks.

No 360 PSU is universal unfortunately, and each model can use a different type too. But yeah at least it's only a matter of buying another power brick.

[neorichieb1971]

PS2 Phat - Not universal, will blow up
PS2 slims - Universal, just put any lead into the PSU and it works

Fat PS3's - Universal, plug any power cable in.

Gamecubes - PSU's are regional, but you can plug a USA console in with a UK PSU if you have one. You would obviously need a UK socket to plug it into.
N64 - Same as Gamecube


Hong Kong Saturns - 220v - Plays JP games
JP Saturns - 110v - Plays JP games