NTSC Dreamcast - Initial Setup Question

[randomhero24]

Just got an NTSC Dreamcast from the states, and am currently trying to get the right things together in order to play it.

I understand that most modern TV's are capable of handling NTSC, but i was wondering about the voltage?

I heard that NTSC Dreamcasts are set up to handle 110v.

The little universal adapter i got says "5A 250V~" which to me looks like i should be searching for another one.

Since i know nothing about voltage, or basically anything electrical, was hoping for some advice?

[Da Madness]

Don't just plug in any aussie power supply into the Dream cast. I used to work for a game hotline where a guy took a debug dreamcast home, plugged it in and blew up the console.

[randomhero24]

Okay so it would seem i need something that reduces (or increases?) the voltage going from the outlet into the system?

Any ideas?

Anyone, anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

[th3_hawk]

From the little bit of reading I have done it looks like the internal power supply in the Dreamcast is 110V for the US ones vs the 240V ones in the Aussie units.

The "best" solution seems to be pulling it apart and swapping out the US supply with a local one so it then accepts our 240V without a problem. From what I understand this is pretty easy to do assuming you can find a cheap PSU.

The alternative is to grab a step down converter which converts out 240V to the US standard 110V like this:
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MF1091

$50 and you then just plug your US power adaptor in. Handy to have if you have a few US items that need power or you don't want to screw around inside your Dreamcast.

NOTE: A step down converter actually CONVERTS power from 240V to 110V... the much cheaper power adaptors like the one below simply pass through the pins to a different shape, they DO NOT convert power at all:
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=PP4019

Pass through connectors are only good if your device says it accepts 100-240V which your Dreamcast does not.

[randomhero24]

Originally Posted by th3_hawk

From the little bit of reading I have done it looks like the internal power supply in the Dreamcast is 110V for the US ones vs the 240V ones in the Aussie units.

The "best" solution seems to be pulling it apart and swapping out the US supply with a local one so it then accepts our 240V without a problem. From what I understand this is pretty easy to do assuming you can find a cheap PSU.

The alternative is to grab a step down converter which converts out 240V to the US standard 110V like this:
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MF1091

$50 and you then just plug your US power adaptor in. Handy to have if you have a few US items that need power or you don't want to screw around inside your Dreamcast.

NOTE: A step down converter actually CONVERTS power from 240V to 110V... the much cheaper power adaptors like the one below simply pass through the pins to a different shape, they DO NOT convert power at all:
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=PP4019

Pass through connectors are only good if your device says it accepts 100-240V which your Dreamcast does not.

Great, thanks heaps for the help. I'll just bite the bullet and get the Stepdown converter.

P.S - Originally got one of those pin converters from ebay for $2.50, without even thinking about voltage differences. Phew.

Thanks again.

[Nightwish]

Originally Posted by Da Madness

Don't just plug in any aussie power supply into the Dream cast. I used to work for a game hotline where a guy took a debug dreamcast home, plugged it in and blew up the console.

Yeah I had an ex do the exact same thing. Complete crime I swear! He took it over to a relatives house and forgot the power cable for it so he figured what the hell i'll just plug a normal power cable into it. BOOM!

[randomhero24]

Originally Posted by Nightwish

Yeah I had an ex do the exact same thing. Complete crime I swear! He took it over to a relatives house and forgot the power cable for it so he figured what the hell i'll just plug a normal power cable into it. BOOM!

There's something devastating about a console dying.

I would be as upset if a console blew up than if my car did.

[Daft_Munt]

That would explain why a few DC owners have 2, especially with the GDRom dieing.

[randomhero24]

The NTSC one is going to be my backup. I don't want to be halfway through Shenmue and poof!

Plus...it's black so that's cool. I don't think ill ever find that Code Veronica Red console for a non-insane price anytime soon.

[Oppressa]

Memories. I'm going to have to get my DC and Marvel Vs Capcom/X-Men Vs Streetfigher out!

[PahMan]

Originally Posted by randomhero24

The NTSC one is going to be my backup

If you also have an aussie DC and it dies, you can simply swap the internal Power boards, and BOOM you have an NTSC console with aussie power

assuming of course that something other than the power board dies.

[randomhero24]

Originally Posted by PahMan

If you also have an aussie DC and it dies, you can simply swap the internal Power boards, and BOOM you have an NTSC console with aussie power

assuming of course that something other than the power board dies.

Ah, nice. I will keep that in mind Cheers.

[Chundermuffin]

When I worked at Gametraders and we did a massive buy-out from another game shop that went bust, they had 10 non-working Dreamcasts that I was able to test and part-swap to eventually get 4 working ones. One thing I discovered was that the controller board can go sour over time as well, particularly controller port 1. May be worth keeping that in mind too.

FWIW I also have a US Dreamcast

[Baker]

Another US Dreamcast owner checking in .

Running mine on a step down, and with a gorgeous VGA box and a SD Adapter

[AthlonMan]

Which VGA box do you use?