So, I wandered into yodobashi camera to buy a universal adapter to use in japan, and each one that I saw with a type A plug had “not to be used in Japan” on its label. Is there a functional reason for this? Or a “standards/law” reason?
It’s because people don’t have knowledge of how electrical appliance works.
Japan works on 100V and 50/60hz depending on the region.
Most of europe is about 230V 50Hz.
If you plug an appliance who is not made for that voltage, it can be dangerous. I may just not work at all, it may break, it may explode, it may catch fire.
They don’t want the liability of selling you an item than could cause you harm because you don’t know how to use it.
99% of laptops/phone charger will work both 100/230V so those adapters are fine. other items you need to look at the input voltage first to know if it’s okay to use or not.
> Is there a functional reason for this? Or a “standards/law” reason?
Probably because you were looking at the adapters that would allow people with Japanese market devices to use those devices in _other countries that use type A_ (or similar, like the US), not the other way around.
That said, the power supplies for most devices are already universal power (100-240V, 50-60Hz), so you wouldn’t need any type of electrical converter, just something to literally adapt the plug itself (if your device is not type A).
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It’s because people don’t have knowledge of how electrical appliance works.
Japan works on 100V and 50/60hz depending on the region.
Most of europe is about 230V 50Hz.
If you plug an appliance who is not made for that voltage, it can be dangerous. I may just not work at all, it may break, it may explode, it may catch fire.
They don’t want the liability of selling you an item than could cause you harm because you don’t know how to use it.
99% of laptops/phone charger will work both 100/230V so those adapters are fine. other items you need to look at the input voltage first to know if it’s okay to use or not.
> Is there a functional reason for this? Or a “standards/law” reason?
Probably because you were looking at the adapters that would allow people with Japanese market devices to use those devices in _other countries that use type A_ (or similar, like the US), not the other way around.
That said, the power supplies for most devices are already universal power (100-240V, 50-60Hz), so you wouldn’t need any type of electrical converter, just something to literally adapt the plug itself (if your device is not type A).