UK 3DSXL charger in US?

[Escape-To-88]

Off to the states later this week and thought I'd enquire. Can I just plug my existing 3DS charger into a 110V just using a bog standard converter plug? Obviously not going to lug a step-down/step-up transformer with me
Cheers

[speedlolita]

A quick search would say no, alternatively you could check on the charging unit sticker.

Just buy one there.

[briareos_kerensky]

Nope, all the EU chargers I have are 230/240V. You can try to order an USB cable from Amazon, maybe it will be delivered in time.

[Escape-To-88]

Cheers lads - Oh yeah course I could buy one there! Oops, assume it would work? Assuming 3DS' are variable voltage?

[speedlolita]

Nope.

They all run off of 5V. Your 230V block is converting that to 5V, a 110V block is converting that to 5V. This is also why you could use a USB cable to charge one, as long as it was the right plug of course. I'd suggest just buying an official block out there tbh.

[randombs]

I was in a similar boat here so I just bought a USB charging cable for my UK 3DS. I use it with my iPhone USB charger which is multi-voltage and that's one less charger to keep track of.

[speedlolita]

I wasn't sure to suggest that in case the amperage was too much for the device, but a device would draw just what it needs so that's fine yeah.

I should get a USB plug and whatever size plug my PSP uses and take advantage of that myself. A 1000 can't charge via the USB port unfortunately.

[randombs]

Good idea. I still have one I got for my 1000 way back when. I even used it with my 2000 because the USB port charging only occurred in the XMB unless it had custom fw(which I had to wait for, iirc).

You're right about current. Current should be thought of as pull and voltage as push. A device will just pull the current it needs; if the charger's max current is lower than what the device wants then it will charge more slowly and if the charger's max current is higher than the device, it simply gives the device exactly what it asks for. However, if the device develops a fault then it may pull more than it should and if the charger is rated higher then it will comply whereas the properly-rated one would cause no damage regardless.

Voltage, on the other hand, has to be exactly the same because it's pushed without asking. Any higher and you'll likely damage the device.

Also, by using a different but good-quality charger, you lessen the risk of the charger damaging the device. Apple won't make chargers that damage its products but the lure of a cheap knock-off US 3DS charger instead of a more expensive official one is greater when you consider it's just for the odd holiday.

[JU!]

I can confirm for my Japanese PSP I use the plug it came with and a U.K adaptor and European PS Vita I use a charger I bought in Japan and put whatever adaptor on the end of the Japanese plug, but think it has a 5V pack with the PSP/ Vita. I'm sure the 3DS will charge though whatever plug you use. My Japanese game boy advance charges here with a Japanese plug and U.K adaptor don't see why 3DS would be different. I think most machines now are multi voltage anyway. So technically will take any plug.

[randombs]

As we're learning, you have to check the plug. The official 3DS chargers I see here in Japan are 100-110V only. Maybe you got lucky with your GBA or maybe that was the time Nintendo was doing multi-voltage chargers.

[briareos_kerensky]

Nah, the GBA SP charger is rather 230V, I don't think Nintendo ever used an universal power brick where you only swap the end plug like most recent Sony consoles (unsure about PS1 and 2).

[speedlolita]

The slim PlayStation 2 has a universal brick.