In two weeks I'm flying overseas for the first time. I'll want something to do for my 9 hour flight, so I figured I'd take my 3DS. Took a look at the charger, and it's not a smart one, only 110V/60Hz, not a nice 100-240V 50/60Hz like most of my laptop power supplies. So I can't just find a plug adapter, or even a travel transformer for that matter, I need a whole new charger. I blame Nintendo.
Unfortunately it doesn't look like Nintendo sells a travel charger themselves, and I only see a few third party units. Now I have to play Russian roulette with cheap third party brands...
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3DS "Travel" Charger.Follow
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Assuming you're going to a civilized country, have you tried checking a gaming site from that country? 2 weeks would probably be pushing it for international shipping though.
Voltage Converters, a traveler's best friend.
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
lolgaxe wrote:
Voltage Converters, a traveler's best friend.
Transformers don't covert frequency, only voltage. If a device isn't rated to operate at 50Hz, stepping down to 110V/50Hz likely won't be good for it.
Edit:
Admittedly my experience comes from applying 60Hz US frequencies to 50Hz rated equipment and watching as they burn to a crisp.
Edit2:
Just double checked. Running 60Hz transformers at 50Hz is the same as running them over voltage, and can/will cause them damage.
Oddly enough, running 50Hz transformers at 60Hz doesn't physically hurt the transformer. But my experience with the small electronics that came in an assembly line from the Netherlands, about one week after switching them over to 60Hz, everything not specifically rated for 50/60Hz operation died.
Edited, Jul 22nd 2013 8:05pm by TirithRR
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
Raolan wrote:
Assuming you're going to a civilized country, have you tried checking a gaming site from that country? 2 weeks would probably be pushing it for international shipping though.
I checked out foreign retailers. The costs were very high, times were relatively long (unless I paid even more).
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but having different hz will only be an issue if the 3DS itself can't accept 50hz. The only thing the adapter should be doing is monitoring the output, not its frequency. That should remain true regardless of whether or not you've plugged an american charger into a transformer, or are using a foreign charger.
I'd be really, really shocked if the 3DS wasn't set up to accept either frequency. And if it isn't, I don't see how you could bypass that.
I'd be really, really shocked if the 3DS wasn't set up to accept either frequency. And if it isn't, I don't see how you could bypass that.
IDrownFish wrote:
Anyways, you all are horrible, @#%^ed up people
lolgaxe wrote:
Never underestimate the healing power of a massive dong.
idiggory, King of Bards wrote:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but having different hz will only be an issue if the 3DS itself can't accept 50hz. The only thing the adapter should be doing is monitoring the output, not its frequency. That should remain true regardless of whether or not you've plugged an american charger into a transformer, or are using a foreign charger.
I'd be really, really shocked if the 3DS wasn't set up to accept either frequency. And if it isn't, I don't see how you could bypass that.
I'd be really, really shocked if the 3DS wasn't set up to accept either frequency. And if it isn't, I don't see how you could bypass that.
The charger converts the 110V/60Hz to 4.6VDC for the 3DS to use. The 3DS itself does not care what your line voltage is. The charger does.
The charger is an AC to DC converter (combination of transformer, rectifier, etc), and in this case is designed for specific line voltages.
Edited, Jul 22nd 2013 8:15pm by TirithRR
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
Yeah, but the point is that the 3DS doesn't care about what the Hz is. And I seriously doubt that the charger does. Dropping the voltage should be sufficient not to overload it, and the output is going to be the same as if you used a foreign charger without a transformer.
Unless you're worried about the frequency damaging the charger? I'm seeing plenty of people online who used theirs with transformers with no problems.
Unless you're worried about the frequency damaging the charger? I'm seeing plenty of people online who used theirs with transformers with no problems.
IDrownFish wrote:
Anyways, you all are horrible, @#%^ed up people
lolgaxe wrote:
Never underestimate the healing power of a massive dong.
I'm not worried about the 3DS, because the 3DS never sees anything but 4.6VDC.
I'm worried about Nintendo's cheap (built, not price...) charger not being rated for 50Hz and burning up when I plug it into a 110V/50Hz source.
Edit:
Beginning to think the whole thing's going to cost more than just a bottle of sleeping pills will...
Edited, Jul 22nd 2013 8:24pm by TirithRR
I'm worried about Nintendo's cheap (built, not price...) charger not being rated for 50Hz and burning up when I plug it into a 110V/50Hz source.
Edit:
Beginning to think the whole thing's going to cost more than just a bottle of sleeping pills will...
Edited, Jul 22nd 2013 8:24pm by TirithRR
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
Okay, now I feel like we're on the same page. 
Are you taking your computer? You could use a USB charger and connect it with your PC. Or if you have a universal base for your phone that's rated for 50 hz you could use that with a USB charger. Just need a transformer, either way.
Are you taking your computer? You could use a USB charger and connect it with your PC. Or if you have a universal base for your phone that's rated for 50 hz you could use that with a USB charger. Just need a transformer, either way.
IDrownFish wrote:
Anyways, you all are horrible, @#%^ed up people
lolgaxe wrote:
Never underestimate the healing power of a massive dong.
Whole thing would be a non issue if Nintendo moved into the modern age. Who makes power adapters rated for only one frequency these days? And of course their ancient eShop, credits and purchases tied to consoles rather than accounts...
Edited, Jul 22nd 2013 8:36pm by TirithRR
Edited, Jul 22nd 2013 8:36pm by TirithRR
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
They region locked the 3DS. That's really all the info you need.
IDrownFish wrote:
Anyways, you all are horrible, @#%^ed up people
lolgaxe wrote:
Never underestimate the healing power of a massive dong.
Do you have a regular 3DS or the XL? If a regular 3DS, I recommend grabbing a Nyko Power Grip. I bought one just because it bulks up the 3DS, and helps with hand-cramping issues I was having, but it really extends the battery life of the 3DS as well. Of course, this doesn't help you at all with charging issues, but it should get you through the bulk of your flight on one charge.
What about getting a travel cell phone charger, that lets you plug a USB cable into the adapter? You could then charge the 3DS via that. There should be some better-known brands out there for that kind of thing.
What about getting a travel cell phone charger, that lets you plug a USB cable into the adapter? You could then charge the 3DS via that. There should be some better-known brands out there for that kind of thing.
Looks like my best bet is going to be something like this:
3DS XL USB Cable.
USB Charger.
NEMA 5-15R to CEI 23-16 Adapter.
3DS XL USB Cable.
USB Charger.
NEMA 5-15R to CEI 23-16 Adapter.
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
Yeah, that should work just fine. And, on the plus side, you can bring a cable for anything else you need (like phone, if you're paying for some international service).
IDrownFish wrote:
Anyways, you all are horrible, @#%^ed up people
lolgaxe wrote:
Never underestimate the healing power of a massive dong.
dumb question to an old thread, but is there no way to charge it off a usb cable?
Necro Warning: This post occurred more than thirty days after the prior, and may be a necropost.
axhed wrote:
dumb question to an old thread, but is there no way to charge it off a usb cable?
3DS doesn't have a USB charging port. But you can buy a USB charge adapter for it, which is what I ended up doing (posted previously). But your standard USB port cannot provide enough power to charge it properly, and if you just plug it into your standard 0.5A USB port, the screen will apparently flicker if you play while charging. I bought a USB charger that was capable of 2.0A, and it worked just fine.
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
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