100V/120V Voltage handling survey

[Ed Oscuro]

Well, this feels like dredging up an old topic again but I noticed an auction on eBay for a X68000 ACE, with a caution against using it directly in the domestic US 120V wall sockets. These machines' labels specify 50/60Hz 100V AC current.

Now, it's well-known that a high current device may have some trouble (a resistive device like a hair dryer which may burn out when plugged into higher voltage current - especially in the case of stepping up from 120V to taking power off higher 230V European voltage), but on relatively low-wattage computer devices (the XVI's power rating is something like 53W, for example) I never seem to hear about real problems. In the past I had the strong impression that it was best to use a 100V - 120V step-down transformer, although such devices are rare and somewhat expensive, even though they are probably essentially just a few winds of coil. However, many people attest to using their 100V machines on 120V US current (which of course may be actually 110V at the end of a long cable) for years without trouble (example). If given the choice, it certainly makes sense to use a AC adapter designed for the local current (i.e., European residents are familiar with swapping power bricks on their machines, and it's probably preferable to buying an expensive 230V to 120V converter), but this isn't possible in some cases where power supplies are hard-wired in (like the X68000).

So then, a few questions.

For running "100V" devices on 120V current, do you...
- Plug it straight into the wall with no worries?
- Have a special voltage transformer / power conditioner?

Have you ever had a 100V device malfunction after using it with 120V lines? (If so, how hot did the device run and what was its current draw / wattage?)

[Opethian]

These electronics usually have a voltage regulator in them to handle a +/- 10V variance usually. Never had any issues plugging my japanese consoles into wall outlets. X68030 included.

[Ed Oscuro]

Yeah, I figure that's going to be the answer, although I'm wondering if there isn't one or two oddballs out there that were "smoked" out.

Amazing the things electronics tend to do under your nose without your knowledge, of course!

I don't think step-down transformers are likely to introduce new problems...but they might. If the system is already doing the job, why introduce that extra source of noise, failures, brownouts or spikes and whatever?

Slightly OT: I love Kashimura's product descriptions:
I can use all appliances safe and secure because it is designed with a breaker.
Is a transformer for use with the Japanese consumer electronics products overseas. You can correspond to the voltage of the whole world in this one.