110-115V to 220-230V or visa versa

Blue Hell · Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:00 am Post subject:

One thing is luck, the exact moment of switch on relative to the current phase angle of the mains voltage determines what will happen.

The other thing may be that the mains voltage happened to be a bit on the low side in one occasion and a bit on the high side in another, there can easily be a deviation of like plus 5% or minus 10% relative to the nominal voltage.

varice · Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 12:06 pm Post subject:

Also, the step-down voltage convertor may not be well regulated (especially if is just a passive step-down transformer), which could result in the output being more than 115V.

But, with a proper 250ma Slow-Blow type fuse, you should be good to go.

re · Joined: Jan 07, 2012 Posts: 2 Location: australia

Hi guys - newbie here, not to Nords, but to swapping voltages and the like. I recently moved from Canada to Australia and brought along my Electro 2 and a Nord Piano. Each have switches for voltage, no problem there. However, I'm trying to source new fuses.. the back of each Nord states "115V 300mA". Wondering if I should be looking for 150mA fuses for each? Any help appreciated, thx!

Blue Hell · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 7:47 pm Post subject:

Yeah that should work, make sure they are slow blow (T Type).

and welcome

varice · Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 10:11 pm Post subject:

Hello re

to the electro-music forum Exclamation

Yes, for a 230VAC mains, 150mA slow blow fuses are what you need to replace 300mA fuses used for 115VAC.

Now that’s one hell of a relocation – Canada to Australia Exclamation

Good luck in your new home in the land down under.

re · Joined: Jan 07, 2012 Posts: 2 Location: australia

Thanks everyone, 150mA seems to have done the trick.
As for the relocation, not gonna lie, it's pretty nice down here right now and it's a welcome change from snow and ice and cold.
Cheers!

ndiiorio · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 8:07 pm Post subject:

Hello my friends! I currently bought a Nord Piano 2 in the US! And i am waiting for it to get to my country which is Buenos Aires Argentina! The piano will be 110 and here we have 220 voltage. So I understand I can open the piano and change the voltage but I am somehow confused with the fuse. I should get a 230/250v 125mA slow bow fuses (T Type)? or 150mA? I saw in the second post that after 2000 nord products for 220 is 125 right? And whats all that about the types? I will be greatful with the answer! I want to be prepared when my piano gets here! I don't want to break something :S jajaja thanks!

Blue Hell · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 8:04 am Post subject:

Re. the fuse .. slow blow means that it will stay alive when you switch the synth on ... and the worst thing that can happen is that the fuse blows (when you correctly switched the device to the right voltage of course ;-) )

Removed your duplicate post BTW.

ndiiorio · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:36 am Post subject:

So am I correct with the fuse? I think they delete my post because I don't find it! Sorry for the double post!

Blue Hell · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 9:45 am Post subject:

Yes I removed it Wink

And yes you are correct about the fuse.

If still not certain look what fuse is in it now, and divide the mA or A rating by 2 ... so if it now says 300 mA you'll want 150 mA ... and when it now says 250 mA you'll want 125 mA ...

When the value is on the low side the fuse may blow occasionally, but it is not too critical and it will not damage anything, just up it a bit when it blows occasionally.

rjp2 · Joined: Oct 01, 2010 Posts: 6 Location: West Coast

i'm in montreal canada what is the proper fuse for me to use on my nord rack? the back sticker says 115V 250mA slow blow but the one currently inside says 1/4A 250V and looks like a regular fuse.

Blue Hell · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:23 am Post subject:

Yes .. 1/4 A == 250 mA Shocked

ark · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:28 pm Post subject:

In case the preceding explanation was not clear: The voltage rating on a fuse doesn't matter as long as it's higher than the voltage you're using. So if you need a 250 mA 110V fuse, you can use one marked 250 mA or 1/4 A, which are equivalent, so long as the rating is 110V or more (i.e. you shouldn't use a 6V fuse, because it's not guaranteed that if that fuse blows, it will really interrupt a high-voltage circuit). So a fuse marked 250 mA at either 125V or 250V will work fine.

As for fast-blow vs. slow-blow: If you substitute a fast-blow fuse for a slow-blow one, it may blow when it shouldn't. If you substitute the other way around, a fault might fry your circuitry where the fast-blow fuse might have protected it. So if a slow-blow fuse is acceptable, you shouldn't worry about what kind of fuse you have unless it blows; then replace it with a slow-blow Smile

Blue Hell · Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 7:06 am Post subject:

That last issue got resolved in the chatroom BTW ... turned out to not be a fuse problem but a MIDI related problem Rolling Eyes