Moving back to the U.S. help needed with equipment power supplies
Question:
Is there an easy way to change the power supply?
Answer:
Don't bother converting any equipment that doesn't have a line voltage
switch. Just get a 120 to 220 volt transformer. They solve the voltage problem quite
nicely.
The way they get 220 volt residential AC power in Europe is by choosing
distribution transformers with different turns ratios than we use in the US.
Adding another properly-rated transformer to the distribution system to
adjust this is proven technology.
You probably don't have any equipment that is dependent on 50 Hz power, but
in the old days turntables and tape players could be problematical. Have
you thought about that?
Rule of thumb is that any piece of electronics (i.e., no rotating powered
parts) with a 50 Hz power transformer will be just a tad overbuilt when
operated at 60 Hz. IOW, no harm done.
Depending on the design of the power-supply, you would need to be sure
that feeding it US-type 220V power would not give you a 'hot chassis'.
This would be an unusual result for a transformer-type power-supply
and it would depend on how the ground system is managed. But check
anyway.
There are a variety of step-up transformers available, you will want
one that is rated well above the anticipated load such that it will
not heat up or hum in any objectionable way. Ideally, you will find an
isolation-type step-up transformer which will be considerably more
costly (and larger) than the much more typical auto-tranformer type.
It is entirely possible and even likely that the transformer already
installed can be rewired for 120V power. It would be unusual that any
custom builder that sells internationally would bother to stock
several types of transformers for several line voltages when for no
more than a few pennies per unit, he could have a universal type
transformer fit for Japan (100V), Europe (240V) the Middle East
(varies all over the place from 100V to 240V, from 50hz to 60hz and
even from block to block in the older towns) and the US (120V). So,
try to investigate that possibility before jumping to the conclusion
that you need an outboard transformer.
One hopes there are no line-frequency clock functions in your
equipment as they will run fast on US power in any case. The side
benefit, however, is that a transformer designed against 50hz will run
very slightly cooler on 60hz.
Submit Your Comments and Answers
