ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Non-US Electrical Systems & Trades Japan 100V --> 200V ?

I have found that the convenience receptacles commonly found as part of Japanese-built equipment actually do deliver 100vac- regardless of the voltage supplied to the machine!

Here in Vienna I've even measured 234V.
100V regardless of the input voltage? Really gotta check my old Sony stereo, but it's probably a US version (all labels are English, NEMA 1-15 plug, designed to operate on 100, 120, 220 and 240V, 50/60 Hz).

NEMA 1-15 type receptacles were quite common on the rear of imported Japanese amplifiers and receivers sold in the U.K. during the 1970s.

On units with multiple voltage settings, it would have been possible to also utilize the xfmr primary as an auto-transformer and keep a constant 100 or 110V on them, but I've never seen one wired that way.

They always just supply whayever voltage is fed into the unit. Some designs had one unswitched receptacle and one or two switched outlets.

That's interesting, Paul. I had an old Kenwood stereo with nema outlets on the back, one controlled by a shut-off timer.

I can only imagine the expense the manufacturers would have to go through in order to supply the proper grounded sockets for other countries.

Heh, like quadrasonic sound, it must have seemed like a good idea at the time.

You find quite a lot of lab equipment and even the odd 1970s cooker here with Schuko outlets built in...

We had an old Siemens cooker with a removable cover on the front that consealed a recessed schuko outlet. Kinda weird!

GeneSF said:


Gene, is it possible for you to take some pix of these and post them on ECN?

Certainly Sven

Please bear with me...I ran this on my scanner, created a web page. If this is too much of a forum hog...I'll just leave the URL



Front



and back



[This message has been edited by GeneSF (edited 11-29-2003).]

[This message has been edited by GeneSF (edited 11-29-2003).]

A few notes:

The manufacturer is Matsushita/National. This company was started in 1912 in Osaka. They are a major manufacturer of home appliances. Panasonic is their other name.

The JIS 9369 kitemark is on the front.

On the back is a 10 mm strip gauge. The wire used is 1.6 mm copper.

Thanks Gene!!

By the way, has anyone noticed a major cosmetic difference in the molded plugs on Japanese-market cordsets from those on American-market ones?

The Japanese molded two-pin plugs look very much like the American ones did until 30 years ago - essentially a flat vinyl or rubber biscuit with two pins sticking out of one flat edge.

Some time in the early 80s I remember I started seeing American plugs come with a raised lip or "flange" around the business end in order - I guess - to prevent your fingers from slipping over the edge and touching across the pins as they were entering the socket.

See here:


Japanese style cordset

and here:


American style cordset

Wonder why the Japanese are still using a design that was rendered pretty much obsolete about 30 years ago.

GeneSF, is that Japanese outlet a backstab type, or do you insert the wire and tighten a screw? I thiught the Japanese only made quality stuff. It looks a little like a decora style outlet.

Years ago I stayed at a hotel in Koyoto. In the clothes closet was a breaker panel (more of a module than a panel) with several breakers in it. Romex style wiring. Seems that they submeter every room. The heat pump/air conditioner used some sort of "fuzzy logic" thermostat controller that performed badly (room got hot, then cold, then hot, etc.). A simple bi-metallic strip works better than that.