Question about voltage step-up converters...

[dave4shmups]

So I'd really love to get some video game hardware from Europe.  But before I do, I know that I'll need a voltage step-up converter to get the necessary 220 volts.  I live in the United States; what is a high quality, low priced brand of voltage step-up converter?  Or, are they all pretty much the same, in terms of quality?  I'd rather not pay $50-$100USD if I don't need to, on one of these.

[AndreasF]

I would think that most modern video game hardware* can handle the whole range of mains input voltages, so a step-up converter may not be necessary.

I have two such converters, though for the other way ("step-down", 220/240 --> 110/120). One is very small, plug-pack sized one for low wattage devices (50W), which I bought at an airport IIRC. It's branded "Lewis N Clark Travel Accessories", model "1650 Dual Converter". Surprisingly this one states that it "should not be used with electronic circuitry, i.e. computers, TV's, VCR's etc". The other is slightly bigger  and can handle up to 200W from Minwa, model MW-200. Both worked fine for my purposes, even "electronic circuitry".
 

*The original X-Box doesn't. I ended up getting a replacement power supply board for the proper input voltage and just swapped it out.

[dave4shmups]

Well, I'm not sure how far back you have to go before you need a voltage converter.  I know that PAL Atari ST's and Amiga's need them, so I'm assuming that any console or computer from the 1980s would need one.  Mark, from Classic Game Room on Youtube, was sent a PAL slim model PS2, and all he had to do was switch out power cords.  Both of them are 8.5 volts.

What do you think of this voltage step up converter?:  http://www.220-electronics.com/100-watt-diamond-series-deluxe-voltage-converter.html

[mariush]

The problem with some of those voltage converters is that they don't change the mains frequency.  You'd get 220-240v AC but still at 60 Hz. 
In some cases, this could mess up an old console or some old device that uses the mains frequency to measure time, synchronize the internal clock or something like that.

I wouldn't trust a 20$ device in a metal box to do the conversion, when proper isolation transformers are at least $40-60 (for most devices, you'd want one rated for at least 100VA) : http://www.digikey.com/short/3t7tq5

[AndreasF]

What do you think of this voltage step up converter?:  http://www.220-electronics.com/100-watt-diamond-series-deluxe-voltage-converter.html

Probably fine. I would open it up before first use to have a quick look for any obvious production problems. You wont be able to easily test the internals of the transformer of course (apart from obvious shorts between primary and secondary), but it may give you a general idea of the quality.  Also, I wouldn't put nearly a 100 Watt load on it, i.e. only power one item at a time.

The problem with some of those voltage converters is that they don't change the mains frequency.  You'd get 220-240v AC but still at 60 Hz. 
In some cases, this could mess up an old console or some old device that uses the mains frequency to measure time, synchronize the internal clock or something like that.

That is indeed a possibility, but not one that can easily be fixed with a simple step-up transformer.

[dave4shmups]

I would only have one device at a time hooked up to that voltage step up converter.  Something like PAL Amiga computer, a PAL CD32, an Amstrad GX4000, or a ZX Spectrum+2.  (That's some of the PAL hardware that I'd like to import.)