Electrical converter for American applicances in Japan

[MysticParadise]

Can anybody post links of where I can get the converter to be able to use US stuff in Japan?

[Dr_Slump]

No need for any :)

[MysticParadise]

I had a feeling that was the case. Must be because of the US occupation of Japan after WWII. They made the electrical outlets conform to the US outlets.

[extrarice]

What about the voltage differences?

[Calpis]

US is 110-120V at 60Hz
Japan is 90-100V at 50-60Hz

Switching power supplies generally have great tolerance (all modern electronics) and will work without any issues.

Linear supplies (wall warts and other stuff 15+ years) will have problems if the voltage is under spec for regulation after it's scaled by a transformer. All 60Hz transformers will not operate fine at 50Hz (but usually will, it will run hotter) and anything that uses the mains frequency for timing (old alarm clocks) will be 17% off in a 50Hz area.

AC tools and appliances will be safe, but may not provide the same power as they would in the US.

[ConsoleFun]

Can anybody post links of where I can get the converter to be able to use US stuff in Japan?
http://www.voltageconverters.com/japan_voltage.html

[GaijinPunch]

Don't bother. I've taken products too and from w/ for 10 years w/ no hassles at all. Everything from toaster ovens to 32" plasma TVs.

[Jamtex]

The only thing you may need is a adapter to use earth pin plugs in a non earth pin plug (as a lot of Japanese sockets do not have earth pin connections). These can be bought from radio shack, you just need to connect an earth wire from the tab point to the ground screw on the wall.

[MysticParadise]

So their wall outlets don't have the earth pin plug which means I will need an adaptor if I have plugs with that 3rd prong. I'd like to know since I have those multiple plug outlets that you can plug up to 5 plugs into that require the earth pin plug when you initially plug it into the wall.

[GaijinPunch]

MP:

Yes, that's correct, although you can go to Bic Camera or any other shop and buy either the 2-pin to 3-pin adaptor for less than 100 yen each, or buy a strip which plugs into a standard Japanese socket, but has earth-pin-friendly sockets on it. You can even buy one that has both.

[Jamtex]

I have yet to find a japanese wall socket that didn't accept two pin US plugs, the difference is that the US ones have one pin slightly wider so you can't plug it upside down but the Japanese ones have the pins the same size.

I use this thing and it works very well. I would get a US to Japanese two pin convertor too, just in case but I not had to use it in the 5 places I've stayed in when I was in Japan.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104010&cp=2032056.2032142&pg=1&searchSort=TRUE&y=16&retainProdsInSession=1&x=13&s=A-StorePrice-RSK&parentPage=family