PAL to NTSC (VCRs) .. voltage converters?

[lordsmurf]

I'm officially in over my head. I am the proud new owner of a JVC HR-S7965EK S-VHS VCR...

... now if I could only plug it in to turn it on!!

The thing I bought at Radio Shack does not look like it will work: http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=273-1411
This has a two-prong input and the standard grounded 3-prong USA output.

But the VCR has some UK 3-prong power cable. The two side-by-side prongs are thick, and like the USA ones turned on their sides. The third prong on here is plastic, not metal. I guess it's more of a guide than anything else. It has a 5A fuse inside if that means anything, and the cable says "fused" (something I can actually understand!).

Is this a good item?
http://www.voltageconverters.com/Itemdesc.asp?Cartid={EVEREST281F6DCB-9C67-49D1-AA70-88F5CCA05D33}&ic=VC100W&eq=&Tp=

From some reading, I'm getting the impression that I need to watch out what watt (W) the converter is. Can too high a W converter cause damage to low W items?

The VCR is rated at 18W and is 220/240 VAC, typical PAL. I want something that is safe to use, and provides what is needed without cutting corners. Price is not a concern, as I expect it'll cost less than $75, whatever I get (and hopefully even far less).

Help!

[BrainStorm69]

LS, you might try reading this link about not only voltage differences, but differences in Hertz.

http://kropla.com/frequency.htm

Does your plug look like the one on the top in this pic?

[lordsmurf]

This is the plug:


The back of the unit says this (exactly):
AC 220V - 240V ~ 50 / 60 Hz 18W

I would assume (means I could be wrong) that it'll take 60Hz power. I'm really not too sure. That's what I'm hoping to learn from this thread. So far, this has gotten a lot more complex than I originally bargained for.

Or maybe it means the 220V is 50Hz, while the 240V is 60Hz. Therefore, maybe I should set this unit...

Is this a good item?
http://www.voltageconverters.com/Itemdesc.asp?Cartid={EVEREST281F6DCB-9C67-49D1-AA70-88F5CCA05D33}&ic=VC100W&eq=&Tp=

... to the 240V setting (shown in this image from the above quoted link):


As far as the actual video signal conversion, I'll be using my Samsung 5000W unit for a digital converter.

Can 60Hz/240V still be a true 50Hz PAL video signal?

Help!

[BrainStorm69]

The back of the unit says this (exactly):
AC 220V - 240V ~ 50 / 60 Hz 18W

I would assume (means I could be wrong) that it'll take 60Hz power. I'm really not too sure.

I think you are right about that statement, but I'm only guessing myself based on reading some stuff. In the link I provided, the author states:

"A lot of equipment is made for universal use all over the world like a laptop and in that case the nameplate mentions: 110-230 Volt; 50/60 Hertz."

But the other stuff on that page about things running slightly faster or slower than normal could be a BIG problem for a VCR.

[johns0]

You will be ok with ac 50/60 hz,only ac motors will run faster that use 50hz then step up to 60hz.

[ZippyP.]

The back of the unit says this (exactly):
AC 220V - 240V ~ 50 / 60 Hz 18W

It means that the unit is rated for a voltage range from 220 to 240 volts and will work with both a 50 or a 60 Hz supply. As for watts, your converter must be rated at 18W minimum and higher is better for a safety margin, although too high is wasteful.

Either one of the devices that you linked to should work as long as the prongs can be plugged in.

[redwudz]

The RS converter should work fine. As long as the unit doesn't care whether it's 60Hz or 50Hz. The unit draws only 18 Watts, probably 240 VAC rating. That would be 36W 120VAC, still pretty low. As long as the plugs work, I see no problem.

Most devices now days will work on 90-250VAC 50-60Hz with no problems. You just need the plug adapter.

EDIT: tdan is correct, the wattage stays the same. The current would double. Sorry.

[tdan]

The unit draws only 18 Watts, probably 240 VAC rating. That would be 36W 120VAC,

Umm. No. 18W power is 18W. It will just draw twice as much current at 120 V than at 240V.

ZippyP's post is correct.

[lordsmurf]

Thank you all.

I've gone and bought the voltageconverters.com device in the link in the first post. I'll have it this coming Wednesday (2day Fedex).

[FOO]

I find it slightly disturbing that the ShitShack autotransformer does
not specify 50 Hz ( or 60 for that matter )
You might be in trouble if you go to Japan