[JDK1]

Hi all:
Has anyone tried to buy UK-based tables, via eBay, for use in the US? For a quick look, I see many vintage tables listed on the UK version of eBay (vs. the US one), but has anyone tried to import and convert these tables for US 110 voltage (or used with a step-up voltage converter) from the 220v?
Thanks,
jdk

[SET Man]

Hey!

    It is no wonder why there are more TTs listed on eBay UK. Well, that is because vinyl is still alive and well there.... probably more so compared to the US here.

    Buying one from UK do have a few problems that I could clearly see. First the voltage.... but converting 120V to 220V is not a big deal.

    But! Here is the biggest problem I see.... I believe that in the UK the AC over there is 220V with 50Hz and here in the US of A we use 120V with 60Hz. So, if that table use synchonized AC motor than your UK TT will not spin at the correct speed with 60Hz

    Of cause if you could find a 60Hz pulley version for that TT than you should be okay.... but I don't think it will be easy.

Take care,
Buddy

   

[viggen]

Sorry to necro this old thread. 

So, let's say you bought a turntable from a country that runs on 50hz and say 230v like say Germany, I would assume it is safe to use the table with a step-up converter but it just won't spin at the right RPM? 

What if you use one of those strobes designed for 50hz? 

And, what dictates what hz the motor is set at?  Is it the actual motor?  Or, is it the PSU?  If it is the PSU, then you just need to get the correct wall wart?

Thanks.

[viggen]

Also, I want to make sure I understand this well enough, but what exactly is affected if the motor is running at a faster frequency than it is designed for?  Can't the speed be fine tuned, so it's slowed down to the correct speed?  If that is the case, then there shouldn't be much of an issue.  But, according to some stuff I found online, there seems to be an issue.

[Wayner]

The 50 cycle will also affect heat build up in the motor and a host of other problems. I personally wouldn't bother with them.

Wayner

[orthobiz]

My Linn has a 21mm pulley with a 50Hz motor, and the Lingo I and II voltage/Hz control boxes have multiple options for input from various countries, so it wouldn't matter if you bought a Euro table equipped with any model of Lingo.

Early US Linns had a 17mm pulley with a 60Hz motor and would not be compatible even if you tried to add the Lingo secondarily. You would need to buy a 50Hz motor first. So I guess the easy answer would be "it depends."

Paul

[viggen]

Would it matter if the motor is DC powered?  So, I found out the motor on my new table is DC, so I just need to find an US variant wallwart/psu for this motor, correct? 

I don't know if I am correct in this fact and logic, but frequency is only important to devices that are AC powered and not DC powered?