Moving to the States. Question about power supplies..

[doodoo]

I'm currently living in China and would like to know if a new power supply is the only thing I'd need to move my PC there and get it working. Do I need to change anything whatsoever? Anyway, please help.

[wildbuffalo]

Check your current power supply, look at the back side. It should have a small sliding switch for selecting 110/220 volts. You need 110 volts here in states

Wild

[bdunn]

If you use DVDs they are region coded so you will not be able to play chinese ones in a drive purchased here in the states and vice versa.

[doodoo]

Just wondering. Is Canada also 110V?

[Richard_Cranium72]

Voltage is NOT the only issue here.

In some of Europe the Frequency on the power lines is 50hz, in the States it is 60hz

I don't have a clue about China, call the Power company, OR look at all the appliances in the house, TV etc .

See if the nameplate rating is 110/60hz or 110/50hz

DrVette

[Goldwingnut]

The 50 Hz / 60 Hz thing is usually not an issue. AC electric motors need the right frequency to run at the right speed, and TV sets need it for synchronization purposes.

Computers run off DC, created by the power supply from AC. A new power supply is $30. Most have a 110/220 switch, so all they need is a new plug.

I recently converted dozens of items of video surveillance gear from 220 V 50 Hz to 110 V 60 Hz. In most cases it required moving a couple of jumpers. In some cases I had to rewire transformers. And in a couple of cases, I just flipped a switch.

[DanU]

Goldwingnut is correct. Computer power supplies (and switching power supplies in general) don't care if they receive 50Hz or 60Hz AC. It all gets rectified to ~300VDC at the front end anyway. Just make sure you set the voltage correctly.

Transformers are somewhat affected, but the difference between 50 and 60Hz is minimal. Again, the most important thing is to correctly set the voltage switches (if possible). 400Hz AC power is a different beast altogether because it's at a much higher frequency. However, I don't think you'll ever see it outside of a military environment.

AC induction motors, because they try to synchronize themselves with the frequency of the line current, will be affected.

[smokin1]

Yes..we use 110 volts in Canada as well..actually the input on my power supply on the one I can see right now says 115/230V-5A/3A, 50-60HZ
hope that helps
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[alondra]

the reference to 400 was only to explain the relationship of the transformer core to frequency. the rectifiers and filters will change the AC to clean DC, not to be picky but I hope you dont have 300VDC in your computer, common in old tube (valve) equipment my ham Xmitter was 3000V DC. I believe the transformer would actualy run cooler on 60.

[alondra]

may be wrong about this in computers, but from back in my aircraft experience, we had 400 cycle stuff, guys would swipe them thinking they would work but at 60cycles they would burn up, was told that a transformer at lower than rated cycles would burn up but at higher cycles than rated would be OK. some thing about the amount of iron in them. think 50 cycle would work OK on 60cycles but maybe timing would be off, the cycles is what makes an electric clock or timer acurate (not battery) the power co. maintain 60cycles as close as posible for this reason. (PS I have never seen a "hertz" on a scope) duh.

[DanU]

Actually there IS ~300 VDC inside your computer power supply. It comes from the initial rectifiers at the front end. The switching converter then reduces this high-voltage DC to the lower voltages that we're used to.

[Julio]

What I used to do was buy an inexpensive transformer that plugs into the U.S. 110v/60hz, and converts it to your nnnv/nnhz.

I know they had them going from the U.S. to other countries specs, not too sure they have them coming this way, but I would check.

That way, if you ever go back to China, you won't have to rewite the beast.

[DanU]

Here's a great link describing what goes on in an ATX power supply. Give Bovon credit for finding it:
http://pavouk.comp.cz/hw/en_atxps.html

I've always been tempted to play with tube radio equipment. A buddy at work has his general license and he builds his own tube transmitters and receivers. TOO COOL http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[alondra]

Tnx for the circuit diagram, cant believe so many components for a simple PS, thought solid state was simple,im trying to save it. would love to see scope traces thru this circuit. building any tube equipment today would be quite a challenge, geting the components and the price of old stock tubes out of sight. building an old technology PS for a comp. would be an interesting project. would probably have to hand wind the transformer. Hmmmmm would love to see your friends equipment,

[This message has been edited by alondra (edited 07-20-2001).]

[alondra]

DanU
I stand corrected, my background in electronics is from the old before solid state,( which I realy dont know much about) back when we built every thing. why do they take 110Ac convert to 300V then down to the very low voltages used in the comp. Ive never opened up a comp PS. would seem simpler to run the 110AC into a transformer reduce to the lower voltage AC, then rectify and filter it. I have a WWll aircraft receiver in which I replaced the dynamotor with a 110AC to 24VDC power supply.
PS am K6AHW