Wii question

[Deslok]

This is a bit of an odd question, but I was considering buying a Wii for my brother for Christmas(actually, my other brother and I owe him both a birthday and Christmas gifts, so it seems like a reasonable gift). But he has just recently moved to London. Now the question is, is the Wii powered like a computer, where you can just buy a different plug, flick a switch on the back, and using it in the UK or US is no big deal. Or is it something where buying it here in the US would just be pointless, as without a full out transformer he couldn't use it over there.

Oh, and I am aware of region coding etc, but he will be back in the states often enough that this really wouldn't be an issue for getting new games(and the fact that they are cheaper over here wouldn't be minded either). So does the power supply make this a nonstarter(or, actually, he might just get a delayed gift til his next birthday around which time I'll be visiting him in London and can get one there).

[bjornolf]

Not sure, but don't they sell those travel kits for razors and stuff that just plug into the wall and then you plug the equipment in and it converts it for you? Why wouldn't something like that work?

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Not sure, but don't they sell those travel kits for razors and stuff that just plug into the wall and then you plug the equipment in and it converts it for you? Why wouldn't something like that work?

Deslok is asking the right questions. I looked on line at the Nintendo Wii site, both for the US and the UK. The US version supplies a 120 VAC unit, the UK has a 230 VAC supply (and the appropriate plug). They don't specify frequency - 60 Hz or 50 Hz. Don't know if the power supply is universal for frequency (is the UK 50 Hz? I'm not sure.)

I would guess that the equipment doesn't come with a "universal" power supply that could accept either 120 or 230 VAC, 50 or 60 Hz. Many electric razors do. Des, I think your brother better wait for his gift.

[bluebutton]

Looks like you could buy a whole powersupply adaptor (not just the plug): http://www.1powershop.com/en/games/ac-mains-power-supply-adapter-for-wii-game-console-uk-plug.html

Here's an early discussion about the issue (not endlessly helpful): http://www.wiichat.com/nintendo-wii-hardware/1546-wii-international-issues.html

More helpful discussion: http://www.avforums.com/forums/wii/885175-using-us-wii-uk.html

And one more for good luck: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=436360