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Topic: Moving to China, question about Hz (SNES)

Posts 1 to 17 of 17

ecofolux

Hey there!
I have a tough question that hopefully someone can answer. I live in the US and own a North American style SNES, however I am moving to Beijing, China next week for at least 1 year. I recently purchased a super everdrive so all I would have to bring to China is my SNES system and the super everdrive cartridge. Then I discovered that the power outlets in China are much different from the US. So then I bought myself a converter.

Chinese outlets: 220-230 Volts 50Hz

US outlets: 120 Volts 60Hz

The coverter I purchased will change the Chinese Volts from 220 to 120, so it will not fry my American SNES. The converter is also 85 Watts, so that my 17 Watt SNES can run continuously without burning out. My concern is the Hz though. The converter does not change the Chinese outlet from 50 Hz to 60 Hz. It says clear as day on my SNES power cable that it requires 60 Hz.

My question(s) are: Does the Hz matter? Will it ruin my system? Is there something that can change the Hz? (reasonably, I'm not bringing a 10lb transformer, or modding my SNES because I'm not THAT capable)

I've jumped through so many hoops already with getting the voltage and Watts correct but this Hz issue looks like it may stop me. Thank you to anyone who has any useful information.

ecofolux

Octane

@ecofolux: I don't see why the difference in hertz would be a problem. I know that the frequency affects the performance of electric motors, but fortunately the SNES doesn't have any of those, and if I'm correct the system transfers AC to DC anyway, so frequency doesn't matter. I think you should wait for a second opinion, but I don't think the difference matters.

Octane

Eat_Pie

@ecofolux
It shouldn't matter. I've been to China before on vacation many times, and on my recent trip there over the summer, I brought my 3DS and an adapter. My 3DS charged fine and I never noticed the Hz being a problem.

Eat_Pie

ecofolux

@Octane: @Eat_Pie: Thank you both for your rapid responses. I've got my fingers crossed that it will all work out. If anyone else has any concrete information about this issue it would be greatly appreciated.

ecofolux

Eat_Pie

@ecofolux
Quick word of warning:
If you have a three pronged charger, be careful. China's three pronged chargers are different(slanted I think) and North American ones won't work. Two-pronged chargers/cords are fine. Good luck and enjoy China!

Eat_Pie

ecofolux

@Octane: Also, not to sound like a complete noob about this stuff (I am) but what does "if I'm correct the system transfers AC to DC anyway, so frequency doesn't matter" mean?

ecofolux

ecofolux

@Eat_Pie: Thank you for the advice but I've already picked up a couple of universal adapters

ecofolux

RadioShadow

It sounds like you are getting very confused. In a nut shell, the output display and power required don't have to match. I'm using a UK N64 Power Supply (230V AC - 50Hz) on my Japanese N64 (outputs NTSC 60Hz).

Now first thing you have to know is if your console requires AC or DC to power on. If it is a AC, it is very important to make sure the correct AC voltage is being supplied, otherwise it will damage the system. Consoles that use AC are PlayStation 1, Sega Saturn and Sega Dreamcast. So if you were to use your American PS1, you would need to use a voltage converter transformer (in this case, one that converts 230 AC - 110 AC).

Now if your console uses DC, that make things a bit easier. The Mega Drive, US SNES, Nintendo 64, PlayStation 2 and GameCube being some. Basically, the power supply you use will convert the required AC Voltage to the necessary DC voltage. So as long as you use the right power supply for your country's AC voltage (and socket type), the console will power up fine. Hence why my Japanese GameCube and N64 work fine using the UK Power supplies.

Now the fun part is finding a suitable power supply to use. Now china use three different socket types: A, C & I http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/ The good news is, a Sega Mega Drive 1 Power supply will work fine on a US SNES. Basically, find out which part of China you are going and find out what socket type they use. Then go to ebay and get a Mega Drive 1 PSU. Where I work, when we ship stuff to China, we give them a EU Power Cord (C Socket Type), so that could be a safe bet.

Now consoles are designed to output NTSC or PAL50 (later consoles supported PAL60), although some consoles can be modded to switch between them, but that's going off topic. All you really need to know is that your US SNES will always output NTSC. However, you need to make sure the TV supports NTSC. Just beware that TVs in China will have been designed to support PAL, and that if they don't support NTSC, they won't display correctly. There are TVs out there that do support both however. So it's all down to the TV.

Hope that helps.

Edited on by RadioShadow

RadioShadow

Twitter:

Octane

@ecofolux: Frequency is measured in hertz. In alternating current (AC) the flow of charge continually changes according to a specific frequency; in the case of mains electricity it's either 50 or 60 Hz. Direct current (DC) can be seen as a continuous flow of electric charge, there's no frequency in play, because there's no change in flow. The SNES uses DC (if I'm correct), the system tranfers AC into DC and therefore the frequency doesn't matter.

Untitled

Octane

ecofolux

@RadioShadow: Hey RadioShadow, I'm in China now and looking for a TV. You were right, the TV I have here doesn't even have an AV slot of the back of the TV. So I'm looking around frantically for a TV that can support NTSC. I'm assuming all of the old TV's here are PAL. You said something about a TV maybe accepting of both NTSC and PAL. Do you know what it is so I can specifically look for it/order it? Thank you for your time.

ecofolux

RadioShadow

Hopefully China are the same, but in Europe, there is a really popular TV Output called Scart RGB. Pretty much every TV in Europe has a Scart Output(s) and most Scart Outputs support RGB (on in some cases, 1 Scart does and the other doesn't).

Interestingly, the USA SNES does support RGB (despite RGB not being common in the USA). This will also give you the best output display possible. You can get one of these cables here: https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/games-consoles/nintendo/s...

Basically, you need to find a TV that has a Scart on the back, and that it supports RGB (some might say this on the back, otherwise you have to ask).

RadioShadow

Twitter:

ecofolux

IMG_0523.jpg

ecofolux

ecofolux

file:///Users/joeyvigneault/Desktop/IMG_0523.jpg

ecofolux

ecofolux

@RadioShadow: Sorry for the bad links but the last one should show you what I'm working with. The tv DOES accept RGB but it doesn't have the SCART slot, just some other BS slots. So I need to find a TV with that SCART slot?

IF I find a TV that has a SCART slot do you think if I order that cable they will send it to Beijing, China? Also when I order it, I should select the "Output": EuroSCART and "Sync": Composite video + sync or CSYNC? Seriously thank you for your time. I'm pretty clueless about this and all I want to do is play my SNES haha

ecofolux

KingMike

ecofolux wrote:

file:///Users/joeyvigneault/Desktop/IMG_0523.jpg

We can't see your PC desktop, guy.

KingMike

RadioShadow

@AlternateButtons: Have you been living under a rock? http://www.theverge.com/2015/7/25/9039995/china-ends-ban-on-v...

ecofolux wrote:

@RadioShadow: Sorry for the bad links but the last one should show you what I'm working with. The tv DOES accept RGB but it doesn't have the SCART slot, just some other BS slots. So I need to find a TV with that SCART slot?

IF I find a TV that has a SCART slot do you think if I order that cable they will send it to Beijing, China? Also when I order it, I should select the "Output": EuroSCART and "Sync": Composite video + sync or CSYNC? Seriously thank you for your time. I'm pretty clueless about this and all I want to do is play my SNES haha

Short answer, use CSYNC. Check the following websites if you want to read about it:

  • http://retrorgb.com/sync.html
  • https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/composite-video-vs-composite-sync

It does look like the website will ship to China, but you will have to pay £4 for standard airmail (cheapest option).

Just make sure the SCART on the TV you get supports RGB.

Edited on by RadioShadow

RadioShadow

Twitter:

ecofolux

@RadioShadow: I looked all over the JD.com (Chinese ordering website) along with visiting my local TV store, no such luck finding a TV with the vertical pin SCART. Is there a way to get a converter for plugging in the SCART and having it come out HDMI to the TV?

For instance: http://www.cypeurope.com/store/store/app/product/SY-1080SC/SC...

Or is this just going to be too many converters for the system to work properly (my power converter 220V down to 120V along with the SCART to HDMI converter)?

ecofolux

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