Tv power source

[Ryan_V]

I found a nice looking sony trinitron. Looks to be in good shape, except the plug is different. It has 2 small round poles instead of the flat ones.... Is this foreign? Can I take it and cut that end off and splice in a standard one? Seems like too nice of a tv to just throw out! Would make a great extra tv. Thanks!

[Macgyver55]

You could purchase a travel adaptor to convert from Europe to USA for just a few bucks.

[delcecchi]

You got cable? Remember that analog tv over the air is no longer operating. Need cable, satellite, or a converter box.

[Whoaru99]

I found a nice looking sony trinitron. Looks to be in good shape, except the plug is different. It has 2 small round poles instead of the flat ones.... Is this foreign? Can I take it and cut that end off and splice in a standard one? Seems like too nice of a tv to just throw out! Would make a great extra tv. Thanks!

If it's foreign it could well be a 220V/240V set. Much (dare I say most?) of the rest of the world outside North America uses 220/240V power. Plugging it into 120 may not hurt it, but it may not work properly. As mentioned, a power converter might do the trick.

However, of bigger consequence is that in North America (and in a small number of other places) TVs work on the NTSC video system. However, most other places in the world use something else based on the PAL or SECAM video systems. They are not cross-compatible and if it's a PAL or SECAM TV it may power up if you get the voltage right, but it may not be truly usable due to the (potentially) different video system.

[Jim Almquist]

Sounds like you may have my old set that I brought back from Germany

It came with a adapter plug that would let it fit into a 110 socket and the TV its-self will automatically adjust to what ever the input power is.

If you look on the back it will say something like 220-240 50hz/110-120 60hz to let you know it will work with either voltage. If it is then you can cut the end and put on a US version.

[Jim Almquist]

I still have a few things from Europe. Here is what the adapter would look like. This is from a different Sony product. Not a TV but a Tape player.