Almost totally OT - please help

Christopher Witmer · « **on:** 2 Jun 2005, 01:58 pm »

I want to use an American breadmaker in Tokyo, where the power is 100VAC/50Hz. Boosting the voltage is no problem, but it occurs to me that the 10Hz frequency difference between 50Hz and 60Hz could be a problem if the timing of the baking process is in some way dependent on the freuquency of the electricity. I tried to get advice from some manufacturers and they were no help at all. Can anyone tell me 1) whether my worry may in fact have something to it, and if so, 2) what to do about it? (How hard is it to alter the frequency from 50Hz to 60Hz?) Thanks!

Christopher Witmer
Tokyo

woodsyi · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Jun 2005, 02:06 pm »

I have no idea if timer in those things are keyed to any clock at all. Wouldn't it be some sort of a thermal switch since different grain or amount may vary baking time?

Occam · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Jun 2005, 02:16 pm »

Chris - I'd think altering your line frequency would be a royal pain. When all is said and done what you're suggesting is a power regenerator, rectify your ac to dc and then invert it back to ac at a different frequency (and voltage).
Looking at my own breadmaker, its appears to be totally digital in control, and wouldn't think its timing functions depend on synchronus motors (like analog electic clocks), so your line frequency MIGHT NOT influence the control timing or functionality. Dunno. Given current economies of manufacturing, I'd think the timing would be oscillator controlled rather than based on an expensive line frequency synched synchonous electromechanical device.

Christopher Witmer · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Jun 2005, 09:35 pm »

Thanks very much, guys. Unlike the breadmaker manufacturer "support" desks, you guys actually have useful things to say, even on an off topic question like this. I'm very grateful.

Chris Witmer
Tokyo

bubba966 · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Jun 2005, 09:41 pm »

Are you sure you've got 50Hz?

All of the Japanese A/V gear I've imported was 110v 50/60Hz. Granted I've not been to Japan so I don't know what's actually coming out of the outlet there. But all that's needed to be done here to run Japanese gear is stepdown the voltage.

Do you have a multimeter handy to measure the Hz of your power?

scottnixon · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Jun 2005, 10:22 pm »

It's 50 or 60hz depending on section of country. Here's a useful reference page: http://kropla.com/electric2.htm

Christopher Witmer · « **Reply #6 on:** 3 Jun 2005, 11:50 am »

Here in Tokyo it is 50Hz. I am now inclined to think that I don't need to worry about the frequency so much as the voltage. (I want the bread to bake properly!) Surely in this day and age the timing is based on digital and won't be dependent on the frequency . . .

JoshK · « **Reply #7 on:** 3 Jun 2005, 07:49 pm »

If it has a switching PSU then I'd imagine it is voltage independent.

Brad · « **Reply #8 on:** 3 Jun 2005, 08:09 pm »

You could have Vinnie convert it to battery power to lower the noise floor

(couldn't resist - sorry)

bixby · « **Reply #9 on:** 3 Jun 2005, 09:48 pm »

bake the bread in an oven....

no pesky 50 cycles to worry about.

better yet find a french bakery in tokyo like this one

http://metropolis.japantoday.com/tokyo/514/dining.asp

cheers

Christopher Witmer · « **Reply #10 on:** 3 Jun 2005, 10:26 pm »

Gee, thanx guyz

Actually, I need to go to this much trouble for bread because 1) My house in Tokyo doesn't have an oven worthy of the name, and 2) I have a hankering for heavy, 100% whole grain "brick door stop" bread that the French bakeries don't carry . . . but many breadmakers for the USA market will make such heavy bread.

Okay, now I'm hungry. I'm off to scrounge up something to eat.

Chris Witmer

Christopher Witmer · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 Jun 2005, 09:00 pm »

Hmm . . . now I have someone telling me that the main issue with a using an American breadmaker in Japan is the AC motor: that the motor's operation is frequency-dependent and it would turn more slowly at Tokyo's 50Hz than at 60Hz. I guess this makes sense as the concept is the reverse of an AC generator. I wonder if this has any significant implications as far as actual usage is concerned . . .