SOUND ON SOUND

[recordplay]

Hi All,

Any advice on rewiring the US to UK adaptor if poss please?

Realistic Stereo Reverb - Arrived with the standard US 2 prong plug
Not to sure which is hot and neutral or whether its even safe to whip of the plug and wire a UK plug to it. Sure I rememebr this is ok but just wanted to check as I'm not sure which is hot as both prongs and wires look the same??

[Kwackman]

WHOA!
First check if the unit can take 240V and what (if anything) needs done to safely switch to 240V.

[recordplay]

Ahhh ok - Will check this now.

[recordplay]

Manual says power requirements for the unit are 120V AC 60Hz

Presuming I need it to be compatible with UK 240V 50Hz - Any advice on whether this will be ok with UK plug or do I need to do anything or mod the unit

[Kwackman]

Not sure, it might need a transformer, but hopefully cleverer people will be along shortly....
Excuse the "granny-suck eggs" nature of this, but in the meantime, DO NOT PLUG IT IN!

[The Elf]

DO NOT PLUG IT IN! AND DO NOT CUT OFF THE PLUG!!!!!!!!!!

You need a step-down converter - 240V to 110V.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Step-Down-Converter-230-110v-100W/dp/B000L99ZJ2/ref=sr_1_18?dchild=1&keywords=240v+110v+adapter&qid=1608748061&sr=8-18

Better to leave to the US plug on, since it will prevent you, or anyone else accidentally plugging it into a 240V outlet.

[Hugh Robjohns]

As the Elf says,

DO NOT REPLACE THE PLUG!
But do buy a decent step-down transformer to provide 110VAC.

[James Perrett]

Also be prepared for the transformer inside the reverb to hum. If it is running close to its maximum rating then running it at 50Hz instead of 60Hz will stress it further. It will probably be fine but it is worth listening out for hum when you first plug it into the adaptor like the one that Elf linked to.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Just for clarity, I think James means acoustic hum (or buzzing), not hum on the audio itself!

[Martin Walker]

Just for clarity, I think James means acoustic hum (or buzzing), not hum on the audio itself!

I agree, although it did occur to me that if the PSU smoothing capacitors were designed to be 'topped up' at 60Hz, ripple might be slightly higher when fed by 50Hz ;)

So audible hum 'might' also be an issue, although it's unlikely.


Martin

[CS70]

Hi All,

Any advice on rewiring the US to UK adaptor if poss please?

Realistic Stereo Reverb - Arrived with the standard US 2 prong plug
Not to sure which is hot and neutral or whether its even safe to whip of the plug and wire a UK plug to it. Sure I rememebr this is ok but just wanted to check as I'm not sure which is hot as both prongs and wires look the same??

If it's not switchable power supply, you need a step-down transformer. They're not expensive and quite common to use with US kit.

EDIT: didnt read the other replies, see I'm late to the party :)

[James Perrett]

Just for clarity, I think James means acoustic hum (or buzzing), not hum on the audio itself!

Yes - I meant acoustic hum. This acoustic hum is a very common problem with US designed gear - even if it claims to work on European mains supplies it seems that US designers often don't take the different frequency into account. And expensive gear isn't immune to this problem either.

[Hugh Robjohns]

True dat.

[ManFromGlass]

A friend lent me his Foster recorder he brought back from the UK many years ago. It also had some kind of external transformer. Somehow I hooked it up wrong and turned it on when the musicians arrived.
Session cancelled, apologies on my red-faced part and it took a month to get it repaired.

[recordplay]

Thanks Elf, Martin, Hugh and James + everyone

I bought the step down transformer which works a treat! Its bloody heavy and does have a loud acoustic hum. It’s a bit annoying but the reverb is an absolute joy so I’m really pleased with it. Thank you all!! Ps highly recommend the reverb unit