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Home > Archive > Electrical code Compliance > June 2005 > HELP PLEASE - American to UK power supply
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HELP PLEASE - American to UK power supply
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| benzil 2005-06-27, 6:25 pm |
| Ok, i know this will sound pathetically stupid, but i'm only 16, and i
have no idea where to find out a solution to my problem.
Basically i brought a Roland KC 300 amp off ebay, and just realised it
was from america and i live in England
I know i can get a plug adaptor to change the 2 pin to the english 3
pin plug, but is there going to be a problem with the voltage?
please please reply because i've spent a lot of money (well a lot to a
16 yr old) and i need to do some gigs soon to earn some money
thankyou very much
Ben
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| phil-news-nospam@ipal.net 2005-06-27, 6:25 pm |
| On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 16:15:21 -0000 benzil <handle_me_with_care@hotmail.co-dot-uk.no-spam.invalid> wrote:
| Ok, i know this will sound pathetically stupid, but i'm only 16, and i
| have no idea where to find out a solution to my problem.
|
| Basically i brought a Roland KC 300 amp off ebay, and just realised it
| was from america and i live in England
|
| I know i can get a plug adaptor to change the 2 pin to the english 3
| pin plug, but is there going to be a problem with the voltage?
There very well could be a voltage issue. A transformer to convert
230 volts to 115 volts should solve the voltage issue.
There may be a frequency issue, too. If it has a transformer of its
own inside, it may not handle 50 Hz power very well. A transformer
designed for 50 Hz generally will handle 60 Hz just fine (so we here
in the US can usually use UK electronics just fine). But the other
way around is not the case. A 50 Hz transformer needs more iron core
than a 60 Hz transformer.
| please please reply because i've spent a lot of money (well a lot to a
| 16 yr old) and i need to do some gigs soon to earn some money
You will need to find the power specifications. If it says "50/60 Hz"
then you should be OK with just a voltage stepdown transformer. It may
even be adaptable directly to 230 volts if it has a transformer of its
own inside.
In the UK they have a special power system for outdoor working sites in
building and housing construction work. This system uses a voltage of
110 volts with the center tap of the transformer grounded, so it will
have 55 volts between each wire and ground. These transformers may work
as well, provided the amp does not connect either of the power wires to
its internal ground.
More info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_power_plug
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domest...ugs_%26_sockets
--
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| (first name) at ipal.net | http://phil.ipal.org/ http://ka9wgn.ham.org/ |
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| mroberds@worldnet.att.net 2005-06-27, 11:25 pm |
| benzil <handle_me_with_care@hotmail.co-dot-uk.no-spam.invalid> wrote:
quote:
>Basically i brought a Roland KC 300 amp off ebay, and just realised it
>was from america and i live in England
quote:
>I know i can get a plug adaptor to change the 2 pin to the english 3
>pin plug, but is there going to be a problem with the voltage?
Yes, you will need to arrange for the approximately 230 V in the UK
to be changed to around 110 V to 120 V for the amp. There is a lot
of detail at http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/pwrfaq.htm on this.
Basically, if the amp cannot accept 230 V on its own, and is not
switchable for 230 V (either by a switch on the outside or some
internal rewiring), you will most likely have to buy an additional
transformer to run the amp.
Looking at Roland's Web site, they don't have the user manual for
the KC-300, but they do have one for the newer KC-350 model. The
specifications say "Power Supply AC 117 V, AC 230 V, AC 240 V" which
somewhat implies that the KC-350 amp can work in the US, UK, or Europe.
However, there is nothing in the user manual about changing the
voltage. This may mean that the amp can handle any of these voltages
without additional equipment, but it could also mean that some internal
rewiring is needed, or that Roland puts different power transformers in
amps that are going to different countries.
Your best bet is probably to contact Roland directly and ask them what
is required to use a US-model amp in the UK. If they are unhelpful, a
local shop that repairs stage/music amplifiers is probably your next
choice, then after that maybe a general TV repair shop.
You may be able to get more info in the rec.audio.pro or uk.rec.audio
newsgroups. Someone there may know the details on what it takes to
use one of these amps on 230 V.
Matt Roberds
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| Paul E. Bennett 2005-06-27, 11:25 pm |
| mroberds@worldnet.att.net wrote:
quote:
> benzil <handle_me_with_care@hotmail.co-dot-uk.no-spam.invalid> wrote:
>
>
> Yes, you will need to arrange for the approximately 230 V in the UK
> to be changed to around 110 V to 120 V for the amp.
It would have helped if the OP had stated where he was in the UK. If he is
in the South and within reasonable distance of the centre of the cross that
is Oxford/Newbury/Swindon/Reading then I have a contact that would probably
be able to resolve that for him.
--
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Paul E. Bennett ....................<email://peb@amleth.demon.co.uk>
Forth based HIDECS Consultancy .....<http://www.amleth.demon.co.uk/>
Mob: +44 (0)7811-639972
Tel: +44 (0)1235-811095
Going Forth Safely ....EBA. http://www.electric-boat-association.org.uk/
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