[Dan]

Hello,

Generally speaking, how hard is it to modify a domestic (north
american) 440 model for foreign voltage, 50 / 230?

Thanks,

Dan

[Scott Dorsey]

Dan wrote:

Generally speaking, how hard is it to modify a domestic (north
american) 440 model for foreign voltage, 50 / 230?

If it's a regular 440B, it's very difficult because you need to replace the
capstan motor (it's synchronous).

If it's a 440C or one of the 440B machines retrofitted with the servomotor
capstan (which you can identify because the capstan is much larger in
diameter), it's not too bad.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Dan]

On Nov 3, 1:02*pm, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
Dan wrote:

Generally speaking, how hard is it to modify a domestic (north
american) 440 model for foreign voltage, 50 / 230?

If it's a regular 440B, it's very difficult because you need to replace the
capstan motor (it's synchronous).

If it's a 440C or one of the 440B machines retrofitted with the servomotor
capstan (which you can identify because the capstan is much larger in
diameter), it's not too bad.

It's actually a B version with the servo motor. When you say it's not
too bad, voltage wise, what do you mean? As an alternative, would it
be perhaps less of a hassle just to get one of those step up / down
transformers? Thanks Scott.

[Scott Dorsey]

Dan wrote:

It's actually a B version with the servo motor. When you say it's not
too bad, voltage wise, what do you mean? As an alternative, would it
be perhaps less of a hassle just to get one of those step up / down
transformers? Thanks Scott.

Right. If you have the servo motor, you CAN just get a step-down
transformer, and be done with it. Get a proper one that has an isolated
secondary and not one of the crappy construction site autotransformer
types. You will need to go through the tension alignment procedures in
the manual because the reel motor tensions will change with 50 Hz power.

If you have the synchronous motor, you cannot run it off of 50 Hz at
all without changing the motor out. Period.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Wecan do it]

"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message
...
Dan wrote:

It's actually a B version with the servo motor. When you say
it's not
too bad, voltage wise, what do you mean? As an alternative,
would it
be perhaps less of a hassle just to get one of those step up
/ down
transformers? Thanks Scott.

Right. If you have the servo motor, you CAN just get a
step-down
transformer, and be done with it. Get a proper one that has
an isolated
secondary and not one of the crappy construction site
autotransformer
types. You will need to go through the tension alignment
procedures in
the manual because the reel motor tensions will change with
50 Hz power.

If you have the synchronous motor, you cannot run it off of
50 Hz at
all without changing the motor out. Period.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Scott:

If everything he recorded with the 60 hz synchro at 50 hz was
played back on the same synchro motor machine would that work?
So long as he had no plans of exchanging tapes with someone
else of course.

peace
dawg

[Scott Dorsey]

Wecan do it wrote:
Scott:

If everything he recorded with the 60 hz synchro at 50 hz was
played back on the same synchro motor machine would that work?
So long as he had no plans of exchanging tapes with someone
else of course.

Sort of, but the flutter is going to be much higher because that motor is
really designed for 60 Hz. It will run slower 50 Hz but it will also run
much rougher.

Also, of course, not being able to interchange tapes kills most of the
benefit of having a tape machine in the first place.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Dan]

On Nov 3, 7:11*pm, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
Dan wrote:

It's actually a B version with the servo motor. When you say it's not
too bad, voltage wise, what do you mean? As an alternative, would it
be perhaps less of a hassle just to get one of those step up / down
transformers? Thanks Scott.

Right. *If you have the servo motor, you CAN just get a step-down
transformer, and be done with it. *Get a proper one that has an isolated
secondary and not one of the crappy construction site autotransformer
types. *You will need to go through the tension alignment procedures in
the manual because the reel motor tensions will change with 50 Hz power.

If you have the synchronous motor, you cannot run it off of 50 Hz at
all without changing the motor out. *Period.

I have this one:
http://www.voltageconverters.com/ite...asp?ic=VC2000W
Is this OK?
Thank you Scott.

[Scott Dorsey]

In article ,
Dan wrote:
On Nov 3, 7:11=A0pm, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
Dan wrote:

It's actually a B version with the servo motor. When you say it's not
too bad, voltage wise, what do you mean? As an alternative, would it
be perhaps less of a hassle just to get one of those step up / down
transformers? Thanks Scott.

Right. =A0If you have the servo motor, you CAN just get a step-down
transformer, and be done with it. =A0Get a proper one that has an isolate=
d
secondary and not one of the crappy construction site autotransformer
types. =A0You will need to go through the tension alignment procedures in
the manual because the reel motor tensions will change with 50 Hz power.

If you have the synchronous motor, you cannot run it off of 50 Hz at
all without changing the motor out. =A0Period.

I have this one:
http://www.voltageconverters.com/ite...p?ic=3DVC2000W
Is this OK?

No, that's exactly the sort of autotransformer cheapie that is a problem.
Go to an electrical supply house and get a real 240-120 stepdown transformer,
not an autotransformer. You're going to want something with a much larger
iron core than these things have.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Dan]

On Nov 5, 6:25*am, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
In article ,



Dan wrote:
On Nov 3, 7:11=A0pm, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
Dan wrote:

It's actually a B version with the servo motor. When you say it's not
too bad, voltage wise, what do you mean? As an alternative, would it
be perhaps less of a hassle just to get one of those step up / down
transformers? Thanks Scott.

Right. =A0If you have the servo motor, you CAN just get a step-down
transformer, and be done with it. =A0Get a proper one that has an isolate=
d
secondary and not one of the crappy construction site autotransformer
types. =A0You will need to go through the tension alignment procedures in
the manual because the reel motor tensions will change with 50 Hz power.

[Scott Dorsey]

Dan wrote:

I'm not sure what you mean exactly.... or which specific product
you're talking about. Do you mean a transformer that ONLY does step
down, only one way? How do I tell which one is the quality you're
talking about? Can you point me to an example? Most of the stuff
available seems to be those step up / down transformers. The one that
I have is 2000W and 35 lbs. Is it really a problem? Thanks.

The autotransformers have just one winding... they apply 240V across the
winding, then pull 120V from a center tap. This means you have no isolation
from the line.

What you want is a transformer that has a primary and a secondary, and
hopefully an electrostatic shield between them. Ask a real electrical
supply house for a step-down transformer that is an actual isolation
transformer and not an autotransformer.

Here is a typical 1KVA unit:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ite...ormers-_-1H721

You can probably find something cheaper if you look around, but you want
a regular transformer, not an autotransformer.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Dan]

On Nov 5, 1:25*pm, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
Dan wrote:

I'm not sure what you mean exactly.... or which specific product
you're talking about. Do you mean a transformer that ONLY does step
down, only one way? How do I tell which one is the quality you're
talking about? Can you point me to an example? Most of the stuff
available seems to be those step up / down transformers. The one that
I have is 2000W and 35 lbs. Is it really a problem? Thanks.

The autotransformers have just one winding... they apply 240V across the
winding, then pull 120V from a center tap. *This means you have no isolation
from the line.

What you want is a transformer that has a primary and a secondary, and
hopefully an electrostatic shield between them. *Ask a real electrical
supply house for a step-down transformer that is an actual isolation
transformer and not an autotransformer.

Here is a typical 1KVA unit:http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ite...gle%20Base-_-E...

You can probably find something cheaper if you look around, but you want
a regular transformer, not an autotransformer.

Wow, that is certainly not a typical retail store transformer. Yeah, I
see what you mean. Thanks Scott.

[Peter Larsen[_3_]]

Scott Dorsey wrote:

The autotransformers have just one winding... they apply 240V across
the winding, then pull 120V from a center tap. This means you have
no isolation from the line.

Q: why would that be a problem?

--scott

Kind regards

Peter Larsen

[Scott Dorsey]

Peter Larsen wrote:
Scott Dorsey wrote:

The autotransformers have just one winding... they apply 240V across
the winding, then pull 120V from a center tap. This means you have
no isolation from the line.

Q: why would that be a problem?

A: It may not be, but it's MUCH better to be safe than sorry. In a perfect
world, we'd have everything on an isolated circuit anyway. Think of it as
free line filtering.

The major advantage is better regulation, though. The cheapie autotransformer
types aren't so good about that. And if you're going for an industrial
transformer that's actually rated for voltage change with load, you should
go with a full secondary instead of the autotransformer since the benefit
of the isolation is substantial and the price isn't much greater than that
of the industrial-grade autoformer.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Peter Larsen[_3_]]

Scott Dorsey wrote:

Peter Larsen wrote:

Scott Dorsey wrote:

The autotransformers have just one winding... they apply 240V across
the winding, then pull 120V from a center tap. This means you have
no isolation from the line.

Q: why would that be a problem?

A: It may not be, but it's MUCH better to be safe than sorry. In a
perfect world, we'd have everything on an isolated circuit anyway.
Think of it as free line filtering.

Aha, thank you.

--scott

Kind regards

Peter Larsen