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- From: mcovingt@athena.cs.uga.edu (Michael A. Covington)
- Newsgroups: sci.electronics
- Subject: Re: Can 220V 50 Hz Stuff be run on US 220V 60 HZ power ?
- Summary: A possible problem
- Message-ID: <1992Aug30.183748.1399@athena.cs.uga.edu>
- Date: 30 Aug 92 18:37:48 GMT
- References: <JCHAPMAN.92Aug30025555@polaris.cv.nrao.edu>
- Distribution: sci
- Organization: University of Georgia, Athens
- Lines: 24
-
- There's one BIG possible problem: The grounding is done differently.
-
- As I understand it, European 220V service is like American 120V service,
- in that one side of the line is at ground potential. Right?
-
- American 220V service is different. Neither side of the line is grounded.
- What you have is a 240-volt center-tapped transformer with the center
- tap grounded. 120-volt service uses half of the transformer, with the
- center tap as "neutral." 240-volt service uses both sides of the transformer.
-
- It's overwhelmingly probable that the power supplies in your equipment
- will expect "neutral" to be grounded, and will fry something if it isn't.
-
- The best way to deal with the Amstrad PC is to replace its power supply with
- an American one, or look inside for a 120v-vs-220v jumper or switch (many
- computers have them). Ditto the low-powered audio equipment. The huge
- audio power amplifier will be more difficult; can you replace its
- power transformer with one that has a 120v primary?
-
-
- --
- + Michael Covington - Artificial Intelligence Programs - U of Georgia - USA
- + Unless otherwise noted, these are private opinions, not official statements.
- + VOTE NO GEORGIA LOTTERY - we need not imitate mistakes of other states.
-