Japanese Toshiba
- Thread starter Cypher
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Some Toshibas have a slide switch as part of the plug.. you may have to slide up or down...Cypher said:
That's a 100v only boombox -- no voltage adjustments possible. When used on our USA mains, the resulting voltage output to the boombox increases by 25% That means if the normal voltage seen by the boombox when powered on mains is 18volts (about normal) using 100v mains, it is possible to see close to 23 volts at the boombox when plugged into 125v mains. There is an element of risk in using it like that but the only way to retrofit it properly is to install a new transformer or use a step down external transformer. Most people I know will use the boombox like that, as is.
Many parts of an electronic design that is extremely voltage sensitive might be regulated to a particular voltage by some form of voltage regulating component or circuitry. The higher the non-regulated voltage vs regulated voltage, the higher the amount of power sinked by that regulator. Sustained operation increases the risk that the regulator can fail. Therefore, it would not suprise me if failure rates for boomboxes used on USA voltage (when said boombox was initially designed for japan voltage) is higher than normal.
Many parts of an electronic design that is extremely voltage sensitive might be regulated to a particular voltage by some form of voltage regulating component or circuitry. The higher the non-regulated voltage vs regulated voltage, the higher the amount of power sinked by that regulator. Sustained operation increases the risk that the regulator can fail. Therefore, it would not suprise me if failure rates for boomboxes used on USA voltage (when said boombox was initially designed for japan voltage) is higher than normal.
I would not use it for anything else but what it states...Norm is right about changing out transformer or step down transformer 
NO. That transformer steps 220v down to 110v. You need something that will step 120v down to 100v. It's not a common version since the only country that uses 100 volts is japan (that I know of). The more prevalent voltages are 110/120/220/240.
is there anything smaller and not as bulky?baddboybill said:
Yes, a 12 to 15 volt wall wart, like I said before.
Come'on... let's not be too picky now, shall we? This one is only 100 watts. Any smaller won't be much use. Considering that you're using a boombox intended for the japanese market, this is a good compromise. Either that or replace the internal transformer for one better suited to our USA voltages.
Come'on... let's not be too picky now, shall we? This one is only 100 watts. Any smaller won't be much use. Considering that you're using a boombox intended for the japanese market, this is a good compromise. Either that or replace the internal transformer for one better suited to our USA voltages.
It not that we don't want to answer with such specifics, but swapping an internal transformer for a properly spec'd new one is something that anyone familiar with electronics should be able to do, by simply calculating the power consumption (it states right on the back of the boombox on data spec markings), and the desired voltage output of new transformer. So many new transformer choices from so many manufacturers from so many distributors.......Cypher said:
Then you'll need to physically measure the space available, the mounting screw spacing, etc. etc. YOU must do that since the S90 isn't really a common boombox as it was never introduced in the USA. You can't really expect someone else to go through all that trouble of taking apart their boombox to do all the legwork for you. Comparing the aforementioned data collected with the datasheet of the new products is the way to choose an appropriate one.
Finally, unlike low voltage applications (12v, 15v, etc.) transformers are high voltage devices with lethal potential. NO ONE unfamiliar with electronic basics should attempt to work on that portion of an electronic device unless they are familiar with such projects for reasons of safety.
Since it really sounds like you need a lot of guidance here and not that familiar with electronics, it's best that you simply use the appropriate adapter options already recommended and mentioned elsewhere in this thread rather than pursue replacing the transformer unless you intend to farm the work out to a professional. From the factory, almost all boombox power supplies insulate the primaries so all exposed metal within the boombox is low secondary voltage only. This is for safety reasons. Otherwise, a grounding plug would be required. If you don't know what you are doing, it is possible to circumvent those safeguards that were built into the boombox and the device might appear to work fine but can introduce potentially dangerous conditions for you or future owners of the boombox.
There is one more option which will work for you but since you already sound lost with a transformer replacement, which is about as simple of an electronics upgrade as can be -- it wouldn't interest you. But rather than replace the transformer (which would output more voltage than intended due to higher than intended voltage IN), it is possible to build and insert additional circuitry between the transformer and the mainboard. I'm talking about a voltage regulator circuit which will "regulate" the higher voltage to the desired 15 volts that the boombox wants. However, like I said, this would be even more complicated than replacing the transformer.
Norm, this reasonable answer must be archived for the future generationsSuperduper said:
And Cypher, please, leave the Toshiba in its original state.
Just by that external step down transformer and enjoy on that beautiful Toshiba .
unless like norm said you know electronics very well then your best bet is too use a adapter http://www.voltageconverters.com/index.html
please check this out it only cost 17.99
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