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Hi all,

I just returned from my first visit to Japan, and I found a rather expensive (but really tempting) Japanese Master System (not Mark III) that I was unable to let go and I had to bring home.

I also got a bunch of Mark III carts and cards and, since I already got a few for collecting purposes (those covers are so nice), I'm ready to go!
But I have a few questions for you experts out there:

1 - I guess I can't just use the AC adaptor from one of my European Master Systems or use the Japanese AC adaptor that came with the console with a simple plug adaptor so that it will fit, due to voltage issues, right? Would I need a voltage converter or something like that so I won't fry my console? I'm located in Spain, by the way (220V, 50 Hz if I'm not mistaken). As you can see from this question, I'm at a total loss with electric stuff and voltages.

2 - The console came with 2 control pads but, are the Western controllers compatible?

3 - Are Western 3-D glasses compatible too?

4 - Has anyone tried this Western carts to Mark III/Jap SMS converter? Does it really work well?
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1mXyqKFXXXXaZXpXXq6xXFXXXt/Env-o-gratis-SMS2SG1000-Sega-Master-versi-n-de-ee-uu-a-Sega-MARK-III-versi.jpg_640x640.jpg

Thanks in advance for your answers, looking forward to firing up my new toy without setting it on fire! ;)

(1) You can use it, and you _should_.

(2) Yes the western pads are compatible.

(3) Yes the western glasses are compatible (and you won't need the 3-d glasses adapter).

(4) They work well. You may also use the gender adapter (http://www.smspower.org/forums/8714). There are a few titles which probably work with top-slot games which don't with rear-slot gender adapter.

Thanks a lot Bock!

Bock wrote

(1) You can use it, and you _should_.

Sorry for being reiterative, but I'm just so afraid of seeing smoke coming out of my SMS. You mean I can and should use a European AC adaptor with the Japanese SMS? No voltage converter needed or anything like that? That's awesome, but I thought all Japanese consoles would fry when plugged into Western 220V.

Oh, and...

About RGB output, there's nothing to worry about that, right? I can use my standard RGB scart cable that I use with my Western SMS and Mega Drive, am I correct?

Thanks again!

DC and RGB are the same globally, it's only consoles with internal AC adaptors which let out the magic smoke when you plug the wrong thing in.

thoja wrote

but I thought all Japanese consoles would fry when plugged into Western 220V.

The purpose of the adapter is to turn your 220V into something suitable for the console. That "something suitable" is the same for all SMS. The adapters are not the same. I don't know if it would work with a Japanese AC Adapter on your 220V socket however.

Bock wrote

thoja wrote

but I thought all Japanese consoles would fry when plugged into Western 220V.

The purpose of the adapter is to turn your 220V into something suitable for the console. That "something suitable" is the same for all SMS. The adapters are not the same. I don't know if it would work with a Japanese AC Adapter on your 220V socket however.

Ah, yes, understood. I finally was able to give it a go yesterday and, as expected, it worked perfectly. First time hearing FM audio out of my TV without using emulators, quite the event!

So thanks for all your answers. One last thing would be: would it be safe to use a Mega Drive (version 1) adaptor with the Jap SMS? I'm assuming it would be, since that's the one I normally use with my Euro SMS and you said that "something suitable" is the same for all SMS (I had to dig out an original SMS adaptor from a deep cupboard for my tests yesterday). But I see it's 10V instead of 9V, hence my doubts.

Author	Message
thoja Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 174 Location: Spain	Japanese Master System questions Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 9:13 am
thoja Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 174 Location: Spain	Hi all, I just returned from my first visit to Japan, and I found a rather expensive (but really tempting) Japanese Master System (not Mark III) that I was unable to let go and I had to bring home. I also got a bunch of Mark III carts and cards and, since I already got a few for collecting purposes (those covers are so nice), I'm ready to go! But I have a few questions for you experts out there: 1 - I guess I can't just use the AC adaptor from one of my European Master Systems or use the Japanese AC adaptor that came with the console with a simple plug adaptor so that it will fit, due to voltage issues, right? Would I need a voltage converter or something like that so I won't fry my console? I'm located in Spain, by the way (220V, 50 Hz if I'm not mistaken). As you can see from this question, I'm at a total loss with electric stuff and voltages. 2 - The console came with 2 control pads but, are the Western controllers compatible? 3 - Are Western 3-D glasses compatible too? 4 - Has anyone tried this Western carts to Mark III/Jap SMS converter? Does it really work well? https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1mXyqKFXXXXaZXpXXq6xXFXXXt/Env-o-gratis-SMS2SG1000-Sega-Master-versi-n-de-ee-uu-a-Sega-MARK-III-versi.jpg_640x640.jpg Thanks in advance for your answers, looking forward to firing up my new toy without setting it on fire! ;)

Bock Site Admin Joined: 08 Jul 2001 Posts: 8648 Location: Paris, France	Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 9:48 am
	(1) You can use it, and you _should_. (2) Yes the western pads are compatible. (3) Yes the western glasses are compatible (and you won't need the 3-d glasses adapter). (4) They work well. You may also use the gender adapter (http://www.smspower.org/forums/8714). There are a few titles which probably work with top-slot games which don't with rear-slot gender adapter.

thoja Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 174 Location: Spain	Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 9:56 am
thoja Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 174 Location: Spain	Thanks a lot Bock! Bock wrote (1) You can use it, and you _should_. Sorry for being reiterative, but I'm just so afraid of seeing smoke coming out of my SMS. You mean I can and should use a European AC adaptor with the Japanese SMS? No voltage converter needed or anything like that? That's awesome, but I thought all Japanese consoles would fry when plugged into Western 220V.

thoja Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 174 Location: Spain	Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 10:13 am
thoja Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 174 Location: Spain	Oh, and... About RGB output, there's nothing to worry about that, right? I can use my standard RGB scart cable that I use with my Western SMS and Mega Drive, am I correct? Thanks again!

Maxim Site Admin Joined: 19 Oct 1999 Posts: 14728 Location: London	Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 11:57 am
	DC and RGB are the same globally, it's only consoles with internal AC adaptors which let out the magic smoke when you plug the wrong thing in.

Bock Site Admin Joined: 08 Jul 2001 Posts: 8648 Location: Paris, France	Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:00 am
	thoja wrote but I thought all Japanese consoles would fry when plugged into Western 220V. The purpose of the adapter is to turn your 220V into something suitable for the console. That "something suitable" is the same for all SMS. The adapters are not the same. I don't know if it would work with a Japanese AC Adapter on your 220V socket however.

thoja Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 174 Location: Spain	Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 4:36 pm
thoja Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 174 Location: Spain	Bock wrote thoja wrote but I thought all Japanese consoles would fry when plugged into Western 220V. The purpose of the adapter is to turn your 220V into something suitable for the console. That "something suitable" is the same for all SMS. The adapters are not the same. I don't know if it would work with a Japanese AC Adapter on your 220V socket however. Ah, yes, understood. I finally was able to give it a go yesterday and, as expected, it worked perfectly. First time hearing FM audio out of my TV without using emulators, quite the event! So thanks for all your answers. One last thing would be: would it be safe to use a Mega Drive (version 1) adaptor with the Jap SMS? I'm assuming it would be, since that's the one I normally use with my Euro SMS and you said that "something suitable" is the same for all SMS (I had to dig out an original SMS adaptor from a deep cupboard for my tests yesterday). But I see it's 10V instead of 9V, hence my doubts.

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