Is there any sonic or functional detriment to using a step up or step down transformer to run a Japanese or European amplifier at North American voltages? If not, doing this would open up a lot of opportunities...
One area of Japan uses US 60Hz frequency while the other part uses UK 50Hz frequency .
No problem running a 50Hz transformer at 60Hz it will run cooler BUT the other way around 60Hz transformer at 50Hz increases the heat for a start --impedance will drop by 20% increasing primary current and saturation could occur especially if you run it at or near its limits .
OTOH-- I know plenty of people ignore this but you wanted a scientific explanation.
No problem running a 50Hz transformer at 60Hz it will run cooler BUT the other way around 60Hz transformer at 50Hz increases the heat for a start --impedance will drop by 20% increasing primary current and saturation could occur especially if you run it at or near its limits .
OTOH-- I know plenty of people ignore this but you wanted a scientific explanation.
Dear greg7,
The flux is proportional to V/f and therefore a change from 60Hz to 50Hz could be compensated for by appropriately reducing the voltage to prevent saturation of the transformer. e.g. a 110V/60Hz transformer could be safely run at 91V/50Hz. Hope that helps.
All the best.
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greg7 seems to be in the USA. Ohio. He's surely running on 60Hz.
A properly sized 100V:120V transformer should be no detriment at all. Unless the color offends your eye.
That's amplifiers, as asked. Turntables and tapes *may* run at line frequency, so a 50Hz product will run way too fast in Ohio.
A properly sized 100V:120V transformer should be no detriment at all. Unless the color offends your eye.
That's amplifiers, as asked. Turntables and tapes *may* run at line frequency, so a 50Hz product will run way too fast in Ohio.
Well, then no adjustment (besides the step up/down) is needed, as correctly mentioned by duncan2.