Use Japanese electronics/appliances in Singapore

[Worldtravel]

Hey guys

I'm potentially relocating to Sing from Tokyo. I have a fair bit of electronics that I would take with since I've spent a fair bit of money on it.

Could anyone please let me know how to make sure they work in Sing please?

I have a 42 inch Sony LCD TV, a Denon AVR 1912 amplifier, and a blu ray player.

I've got a large subwoofer which I bought from the US...

Thank you!

[JR8]

As I recall JP systems work on 110v, whereas it's 240v here. Other things like 'PAL/SECAM system' compatibility are the same IIRC.

So looking at your list, your primary question is running all that 110v gear, off 240v mains. And the possibility/practicality of running it through a couple of big transformers.

You can find this info online. Google for things like 'voltage compatbility worldwide, step-up step-down transformers' ... and such like

[Tanuki]

The first place to check on any device is the specs that are listed on it. You may need an electron microscope to read the stuff, as they tend to use font sizes that humans can't see any more. Well, ok, that's maybe just me...

Anyhow the device itself will have a note of what voltage range it can handle and whether it needs 50 or 60 Hz juice. Except for clocks, the 50 or 60 Hz power doesn't appear to create any issues, from what we've used (TV and audio equipment, rice cooker, microwave).

We bought some good voltage transformers from Amazon prior to moving here (we have Japanese and US electrical stuff). They're pretty easy to find in Japan also. If you wait til you're here, you can probably find some from expats who are leaving the country too.

[Strong Eagle]

Japan is 100 volt, 50 hertz in east Japan, 60 hertz in the west.

As others have noted, your equipment must be variable voltage from 100 to 240 to work in Singapore. Typical examples would include laptop computers and new amplifiers and other electronics.

It is doubtful that your TV will work (at least to get standard cable signals). First, I don't think your Japanese TV receives anything but digital, and second, Japan uses a different digital system than Singapore.

However, there are some TV's (I own a Panasonic model) that, in addition to multiple voltages, also handle multiple signal input types. You should check your model.

[Tanuki]

It is doubtful that your TV will work (at least to get standard cable signals). First, I don't think your Japanese TV receives anything but digital, and second, Japan uses a different digital system than Singapore.

True, but the only connection worth anything on TV's today is HDMI. Use that and you'll never have to be concerned with PAL/NTSC or any of that. It just turns the TV into a HD screen. however, the blue ray is a different story as that may not play the discs in SEA, which are not the same regional format as US or Japan. But you can usually play them on a computer and stream to an Apple TV or use HDMI to get around that. Woo Hoo!

[BoroBoy]

I moved from sg to tokyo and things like tv, computer, playstation etc worked fine. Some adjusted automatically and others I had to flio a switch on the back from 240 to 110.
Things like hair dryers food processors, vacuum cleaner, iron did not work and I had to buy new.

[x9200]

It is doubtful that your TV will work (at least to get standard cable signals). First, I don't think your Japanese TV receives anything but digital, and second, Japan uses a different digital system than Singapore.

True, but the only connection worth anything on TV's today is HDMI.

Ever heard about component + spdif, coax / toslink?

[Tanuki]

Ever heard about component + spdif, coax / toslink?

That's an option I would only look at if the hardware didn't use HDMI. My Sony audio cabinet, for example, doesn't have it so I have spdif for the sound...

[Worldtravel]

Thanks for your input guys.

I've read somewhere that the wattage of the step down transformer also matters. How does it work? For example I intend to use a transformer for my subwoofer and my amplifier which I imagine have fairly high wattage.

[zzm9980]

Thanks for your input guys.

I've read somewhere that the wattage of the step down transformer also matters. How does it work? For example I intend to use a transformer for my subwoofer and my amplifier which I imagine have fairly high wattage.

Most of those don't work too well. You need to buy something fairly expensive to be reliable and not introduce electrical noise. At those costs, you might as well just replace your equipment.

I had a fairly cheap converter (~$40 USD) with only a cordless phone plugged into it; hardly high power. It still burnt out the phone after ~4 months.

[JR8]

Thanks for your input guys.
I've read somewhere that the wattage of the step down transformer also matters. How does it work? For example I intend to use a transformer for my subwoofer and my amplifier which I imagine have fairly high wattage.

Check what wattage they are.

My hi-fi stack drew something like a max potential 3-400W (?/input), but you need to leave *lots* of buffer from the quoted figures... you'd need something like a 2-3kW trannie to run that, especially it's is high-end/performance gear. But no big deal, that was a standard spec even 15 years ago.

But don't think you're going to get a $10 travel plug/'trannie' and run a couple of hair-dryers through it, or a big hi-fi rig. A proper trannie is big, ugly, and very very heavy, but these days shouldn't be more than say S$75.