Posts: 2211
From: New York City, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted May 20, 2016 08:00 AM
Hello Everyone- Does anyone who has either of these machine know if the transformer has taps for multi voltage the way that the Elmo's do? With the Elmo's some of their machines look to be only one voltage but taking off the back cover shows up to 2 or more different taps. I'm curious to see if the Japanese model has settings for 110 and 120 in addition to 100V.
Posts: 2211
From: New York City, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted May 20, 2016 10:09 AM
I just asked a seller in Japan if the machine he had was multi Voltage and he replied: "SANKYO is not multi voltage. it is 100V." Im hoping someone can take a look "under the hood" so to speak to check the transformer to see if it has different taps to alter the voltage. I have seen a multi voltage S800 but it was stated as such. But does an unstated Sankyo have the ability to be multi voltage?
Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted May 20, 2016 10:29 AM
Hey Alan,
The obstacle you run into is the Japanese spec machine may (or may not) only have the 100V tapped transformer and a US machine the multi-voltage one.
The most certain difference between all of these machines is the safety agency (UL, CSA, VDE...etc.) on the sticker and the plug on the far end of the line cord.
You can't be completely sure until the seller pops off the back of the machine you're interested in.
-------------------- All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...
Posts: 2211
From: New York City, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted May 20, 2016 10:33 AM
I can't see a manufacturer going through the trouble of making a 100v Japan only model if they also make a US model. But who knows? Anything is/was possible regarding this crazy hobby of ours. (Sounds like a Mafia term!)
Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted May 20, 2016 10:37 AM
Very often the difference only exists because the safety agency certs only apply at the local voltage and the manufacturer didn't want to pay to have all the certs on every unit they sell. The capability may be there, they just aren't allowed to say so.
You see much less of this these days, more of the hardware we use is rated worldwide.
-how valuable would a laptop that you could only plug in in the US, Canada or Mexico be in today's world?
-------------------- All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...
Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012
posted May 20, 2016 10:48 AM
I'm betting Steve has it spot on here Alan. The Sankyo 800 models I've looked at here have all got globally rated transformers fitted to them, but often when I see machines being sold from Japan, they seem to all be 100v only versions.
-------------------- "C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"
Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted May 20, 2016 10:48 AM
You run into bizarre stuff with this.
An old employer of mine actually removed UL approval from a product line.
Was the thing suddenly dangerous?
-No, but the sales volume didn't cover the cost of the cert anymore and the customers who were buying them were certifying at their system level and didn't care that much.
It would still pass UL testing inside their box, what did they care?
If I had to bet my house, I'd guess all the machines had the same transformer. It all depends on how the costs worked out to buy more of a complex transformer or buy two simple ones in lower quantities.
-proof is still in the pudding...
-------------------- All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...
Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011
posted May 20, 2016 03:35 PM
I have a non-working Sankyo 800...I plan on replacing the transformer one of these days. As you can see from the pics...the voltage is variable.
-------------------- Janice
"I'm having a very good day!" Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).
Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted May 20, 2016 03:47 PM
If you have a "100V" position on that selector, then it's a pretty safe bet this is a worldwide design and Alan will do just fine.
It's always been kind of a surprise to me that manufacturers left themselves open to that kind of mayhem by putting in a switch like this, but I guess that's what "No user serviceable parts inside" is there for!
"Let's see what happens when I turn it to THIS one!"
-------------------- All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...