I have checked the manual - USA To UK Oberheim OB-8 - Do I need a transformer?

[PeteJames]

Hi, my Oberheim OB-8 arrives tomorrow and the last thing I want to do is to blow it up!

I read in the online manual that there is a voltage switch on the back but it states that:

First, make sure the 115/130 Voltage switch on the rear panel is set up for local voltage. Is this a printing error - should it say to 240?

At the end of the manual it does state:

Power 90 - 130 or 180 - 240 Volts AC, 50-60Hz, 46 Watts

So I'm quite unsure of what I need to buy.
Cheers,
Pete

[djmukilteo]

The manual says 115/230
which would be 115VAC 60Hz (US)
or 230VAC 50Hz (UK)

[PeteJames]

Hi, Thanks for your reply mate. I'm not sure what VAC means really. Isn't UK 240v?

Does that mean I can just use the switch on the back of the OB-8 and then something like a shaving plug on the end of the USA plug?

This wikipedia article adds to my confusion - it suggests that the UK voltage should have ben 230 since 1995 but in reality is often still 240v?

"Since 1960, the supply voltage in UK domestic premises has been 240 V AC (RMS) at 50 Hz. In 1988, a Europe-wide agreement was reached to change the various national voltages, which ranged at the time from 220 V to 240 V, to a common European standard of 230 V (CENELEC Harmonization Document HD 472 S1:1988).

As a result, the standard nominal supply voltage in domestic single-phase 50 Hz installations in the UK has been 230 V AC (RMS) since 1 January 1995 (Electricity Supply Regulations, SI 1994, No. 3021). However, as an interim measure, electricity suppliers can work with an asymmetric voltage tolerance of 230 V+10%-6% (216.2–253 V). This was supposed to be widened to 230 V ±10% (207-253 V), but the time of this change has been put back repeatedly and currently sits in 2008 (BS 7697). The old standard was 240 V ±6% (225.6–254.4 V), which is mostly contained within the new range, and so in practice suppliers have had no reason to actually change voltages.

The continued deviation in the UK from the harmonised European voltage has been criticised in particular by light bulb manufacturers, who require tighter voltage tolerances to optimise the operating temperature and lifetime of their products, and who currently have to continue producing separate 230 V and 240 V versions."

[djmukilteo]

Your fine...move the switch to the 230 setting..
VAC stands for (Volts Alternating Current) as opposed to VDC (Volts Direct Current)
Nothing mysterious..
Standard electronic power supplies have an AC line transformer with multiple windings on the primary side so when you move that switch your just switching a wire from 115V to the 230V tap on the transformer.
AC voltage always varies 110-120 or 220-240 so that is just the range the power supply is capable of working with.
If you don't have the right plug for your outlets then yes you would need one of those plug change adapters.
Sometimes the unit itself has a modular power cord where you can remove the cord...you could get a UK style cord then. If its not then the adapter is your only option unless you want to open it up and permanently rewire the cord with a UK end on it..

[tvsky]

it will be fine

[PeteJames]

Originally Posted by djmukilteo

Your fine...move the switch to the 230 setting..
VAC stands for (Volts Alternating Current) as opposed to VDC (Volts Direct Current)
Nothing mysterious..
Standard electronic power supplies have an AC line transformer with multiple windings on the primary side so when you move that switch your just switching a wire from 115V to the 230V tap on the transformer.
AC voltage always varies 110-120 or 220-240 so that is just the range the power supply is capable of working with.
If you don't have the right plug for your outlets then yes you would need one of those plug change adapters.
Sometimes the unit itself has a modular power cord where you can remove the cord...you could get a UK style cord then. If its not then the adapter is your only option unless you want to open it up and permanently rewire the cord with a UK end on it..

Cool, just wanted to check if the OB-8 on the 230v setting would be fine without a transformer in the uk if i just changed the plug or used a shaving adapter. So it would seem I'm all good to go :0)
Thanks for your help guys

[SWAN808]

yeah there is a switch on the back - make sure you move it to the 240V setting otherwise you will hear a 'POP' and see a bright spark just as I did when I had my OB8 imported in......
I knew about this but I was just so excited I forgot to flick the switch and just plugged it in...cue 2 days of heart-ache and feeling sick...and then finally realising I could just clip out the blown capacitor next to the transformer (and use a good overload protector before the OB8)...hey presto...

I advise NOT to go thru that hell I did after saving for best part of 2 years.

PS you can use any 3 prong power lead...

[PeteJames]

Originally Posted by SWAN808

yeah there is a switch on the back - make sure you move it to the 240V setting otherwise you will hear a 'POP' and see a bright spark just as I did when I had my OB8 imported in......
I knew about this but I was just so excited I forgot to flick the switch and just plugged it in...cue 2 days of heart-ache and feeling sick...and then finally realising I could just clip out the blown capacitor next to the transformer (and use a good overload protector before the OB8)...hey presto...

I advise NOT to go thru that hell I did after saving for best part of 2 years.

PS you can use any 3 prong power lead...

Oh yikes, sorry to hear that man. Glad you got it sorted - I'm not sure I'd know what to do. It's a good job I remembered last night or I too probably would have done the same thing That's the last thing I need when $300 dollars has been spent making it perfect.

So the switch says 240v not 230v?
Good overload protectors - what kind of thing would you recommend?
Cheers,
Pete