is it safe to use an old power converter?

[blueagent004]

i have an old power converter which is around 20 years old. it allows 110v electronics from japan to be used here with 220v voltage. it has no moving parts and is about the size of a fist, it was meant for use with my japanese playstation console.

since this power converter is so old, i'm wondering if its safe for use at home?
i'm concerned that the power converter will catch fire in my living room and burn my home down.
so generally do people need to buy a new power converter if its over 20 years old?

thanks for letting me know!

[Nusa]

I expect it's still as safe for its original purpose as it was 20 years ago, so long as there's no visible damage to the device. I assume your playstation is the same vintage, and you don't seem to be worried about that.

[IanB]

all i remembered was the salesman telling me about the power converter wearing out my ps2.

You have to be careful. Cheap "power converters" often have a label that says "not recommended for use with electronics". The compact lightweight ones designed for traveling are suitable only for hair dryers or other heating devices.

However, if you have used it with the PS2 before, then it will probably be OK now.

[jfiresto]

I have a ca. 30 year old, 220->100V power converter, which I still use, that a friend left with me when he returned to Japan. If yours is Japanese made, I would expect it is still o.k. I would, however, inspect the housing, often and on, if it is made of plastic, as some plastics decay faster than others. Mine is starting to crack a little around the outlet. I should fix that.

[james_s]

Why wouldn't it be safe? I have 30-40 year old electronics all over my house in daily use, one radio that is around 80 years old. Stuff doesn't generally become unsafe just by age provided it has not been abused. 20 years is not that long ago.

[Richard Crowley]

Very much depends on exactly what we are talking about here?
"power converter" could mean several very different things.
Are we talking about a 50Hz transformer here?
Photos would go very far to confirming that we are all on the same page.

It is also confusing to me that you say "110v electronics from japan".
The mains voltage in Japan is 100V (except 120V on US military bases)
So, do you really mean 100V electronics?
Or do you mean that your Playstation console is a North American, 110V version?

Certainly an undamaged "heavy-iron" power-mains frequency transformer should have a very long life expectancy. There are likely such transformers working for essentially 100 years.

[jackthomson41]

Never take the chance, especially not at your home where you have family. My suggestion is to buy a new Power Converter & throw the old one out. Its better if you design a simulation first in Proteus.

[dzseki]

Never take the chance, especially not at your home where you have family. My suggestion is to buy a new Power Converter & throw the old one out.

Because the fancy new Made in China converter from ebay, alibaba (you name it) will be so much better... 

[madires]

Those small converters are based on a TRIAC circuit and will work with simple loads only. For electronics it's better to get a real transformer.

[Richard Crowley]

Never take the chance, especially not at your home where you have family. My suggestion is to buy a new Power Converter & throw the old one out.

OTOH, I have far more confidence in a gadget that has lasted 20 years vs. anything you buy today.

But until we identify what @blueagent is talking about, we are literally shooting in the dark.

[james_s]

Never take the chance, especially not at your home where you have family. My suggestion is to buy a new Power Converter & throw the old one out.

Perhaps you could explain why precisely and what you base this on? Because it's a rather idiotic sounding comment. 20 years old is not exactly vintage, and older stuff is almost always far superior in build quality to newer stuff.

[Cubdriver]

Never take the chance, especially not at your home where you have family. My suggestion is to buy a new Power Converter & throw the old one out.

Why?  What do you base this on, since we've really not learned exactly what sort of converter it is?  (And to the OP, some photos or info from the device's data plate would help us to judge its type.)

-Pat

[nick_d]

I bought some cheap converters on ebay for this purpose. Inspecting the inside they seem to consist of only a triac of some sort. Definitely not trusting this with my U.S. NTSC Apple IIe!

If you can, open the case and post photo. This will enable us to tell you roughly how it works and if it's safe.

cheers, Nick

[Nusa]

OP's description of "size of a fist" sounds more likely to be a transformer solution than anything else.

We may never know for sure. OP hasn't been back since the day he posted.