PC Engine Duo in USA (100v/120v question)

[acidhammer420k]

I'm not sure how sensitive the PC Engine Duo is to 120V power? I know it was designed for 100V but isn't Japan partially 100V & partially 120V?
I have a 100V power adapter on the way with it. Is this what I need to use it properly?

http://www.amazon.com/TriGear-100W-Volt ... +step+down

It is not much money and I am not going to risk damage to my PC Engine Duo by using it in a 120V outlet.

[kamiboy]

You dont need it.

[acidhammer420k]

Doujindance says I do though?

[mickcris]

missed that it wasnt an r. not sure the duo and duo-r use the same size tip

[kamiboy]

I, the owner of many a Japanese system which I force feed 120V like a french chef does a foie gras goose, say that you don't.

If you want to waste money and clutter your setup, by all means go ahead.

[zaneiken]

You can get away with not using a step-down transformer, but the internal voltage regulator in your console will have to dissipate more heat. Long term - get a step-down transformer or an appropriate 120V AC adapter.

[acidhammer420k]

You can get away with not using a step-down transformer, but the internal voltage regulator in your console will have to dissipate more heat. Long term - get a step-down transformer or an appropriate 120V AC adapter.

So if I were to get a 120V AC adapter with the exact same specs, it wouldn't overheat as if I was using a 100V PSU in a 120V outlet? In other words would the appropriate 120V AC adapter let the console run as cool as it would thru a step-down?

My concern is that there is a design flaw with the TurboDuo's that is not present in the revised DUO-R and DUO-RX: the audio hardware is placed next to the voltage regulator and can start acting strange if the voltage regulator is dissipating too much heat.

Usually I don't care because all my 100V devices run fine. I am particularly worried about the TurboDuo though.

[kamiboy]

The capacitors on the Duo are going to go bad no matter what you do. That model got stuck with a problem batch of faulty capacitors that will leak and eat the traces on the board unless they are replaced.

[acidhammer420k]

The capacitors on the Duo are going to go bad no matter what you do. That model got stuck with a problem batch of faulty capacitors that will leak and eat the traces on the board unless they are replaced.

I thought i might have mentioned earlier but maybe not. The board is 100% recapped. This does not worry me. I was just worrying about other damage from the voltage regulator getting too hot.

It seems 120v will not be an issue though. I think i will save the money I was going to spend on a step down and hope for the best

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I've noticed with using the 100v AC adapter on my PCE Duo-RX console on USA 120v AC line, it tends to get a bit warm to the touch but that's the norm these days. I don't use a step-down voltage convertor anyways and haven't had any issues in going that particular route. Comparing the Turbo Duo's AC adapter to the Duo-RX's, sure it's properly set for 120v (but NEC never made a proper 120v AC adapter for the Duo-R & Duo-RX consoles due to them never being released in the USA).

Not to mention the power tip interfaces with the Turbo Duo and the Duo-RX AC adapters aren't compatible with each other comes to mind if inspecting/comparing them.

Or you could try to source an USA region NEC Turbo Duo AC adapter with it's proper 120v support from the get-go -- it'll work just fine on a PC Engine Duo console setup.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[acidhammer420k]

So after a couple hours of lots of game playing, I noticed my Duo was getting pretty hot around the logo area.
I would have just kept using it, but it seemed hotter than it should be, and the CD drive was starting to act up.
It was taking longer for the console to read CD's, and it would think all CD's were audio CD's.

I left it unused and unplugged from the AC adapter for an hour, when I went back and tried it again it read everything perfectly first try.

I am thinking I need to do something about my PSU situation. Do I use a 120V AC adapter that is compatible, or must I find a proper step down?

[Fudoh]

If you feel like it, just buy a replacement PSU with the same specs. If you get a switching power supply instead, get one rated with 1.5 or 2 amps - always good to have a little reserve.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The USA region Turbo Duo's 120v AC adapter is listed with these specs:

NEC AC Adaptor
Model: HES-ACA-05
Input: AC120v 60Hz 16W
Output: DC10v 1000mAh

Use this particular PSU with a PCE Duo or Turbo Duo console on 120v AC line will work just fine and no overheating issues to contend with. The polarity of this PSU is the same of that of the NEC PAD-124 AC Adapter so no worries in that department either.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[mickcris]

You can get a replacement DUO supply here for $23:
http://retrogamecave.com/#/shop/4577155 ... ES/5885729

Make sure to get the one for the Turbo Duo