Voltage And Cycles For Uk Thorens 160 In Japan...help Pls

[jgreat96]

Hi all,

I'm new here and recently started my own little project to put together a nice system for vinyl for around a 1500 bucks.

I'm now in possession of a Thorens TD160 B MKII in Aluminium in fine condition minus tonearm. Now the instructions seem to indicate that the user can swap around the wires to achieve the desired Voltage and Hz. That would be 220v to 240v at 50Hz Europe or 110v to 120v at 60Hz for US/Canada, right? Well, Tokyo runs 100v at 50Hz....What would I have to do to achieve this?

I've been going around google in circles for hours and simply getting more confused. I thought I'd post my exact situation to see if anyone here can point me in the right direction. I'm really set on getting this thing going...

Thanks in advance

Jon

[davidsrsb]

You can always buy a 2:1 step up transformer to 220V 50Hz

[jgreat96]

>You can always buy a 2:1 step up transformer to 220V 50Hz

Thanks for the reply,
Would this work for 100v in Japan at 50Hz? Would it produce an acceptable speed for the AC motor?

A slight correction from my first post, the manual says:

"For mains voltages between 210 and 240V, both plugs of the mains cables must be connected to the tags A and E. For mains voltages between 110 and 130V, the cables must be connected to the tags B and E.

Adjustment to another mains frequency:

As supplied for USA and Canada, the turntable is set for 60 cycles, 100 to 120V operation. For other countries, unless differently specified when ordering, the motor is set for 50 cycles, 200 to 240V operation."

The manual then goes on to briefly say that the pulley of the starting clutch must be exchanged.

[Coffee Phil]

If your machine is set up for Europe, you are good on the pulley. You might just set the jumpers as instructed for the US and give it a try. If it starts and runs OK, let it run for 10 minutes then unplug it and feel the motor. If it is not abnormally hot you are done.

If the machine does not like 100 Volts, I am pretty sure you can get an autotransformer to step up to US voltage. Make sure the transformer is OK for 50 Hz. 60 Hz is also used in Japan. You can use a 50 Hz transformer on 60 Hz but a 60 Hz transformer may not have enough iron for 50 Hz.

Phil

>You can always buy a 2:1 step up transformer to 220V 50Hz

Thanks for the reply,
Would this work for 100v in Japan at 50Hz? Would it produce an acceptable speed for the AC motor?

A slight correction from my first post, the manual says:

"For mains voltages between 210 and 240V, both plugs of the mains cables must be connected to the tags A and E. For mains voltages between 110 and 130V, the cables must be connected to the tags B and E.

Adjustment to another mains frequency:

As supplied for USA and Canada, the turntable is set for 60 cycles, 100 to 120V operation. For other countries, unless differently specified when ordering, the motor is set for 50 cycles, 200 to 240V operation."

The manual then goes on to briefly say that the pulley of the starting clutch must be exchanged.

[davidsrsb]

So the deck can be set for either 220V or 110V by transformer tap

50Hz or 60Hz is a factory option by pulley size. What model do you have?

[jgreat96]

It's a TD160 B MKII

Saw plenty of transformers today in Akihabara, the sales guy seemed to think a low wattage would be a problem, though I could only understand 20% of what he was saying.

Should I try to get hold of the right pulley for the motor?

Thanks

[davidsrsb]

You probably can use the 110-130V setting (Japanese mains is the lowest in the World, as low as 90V)

I don't know if from the model number which market this turntable was built for

[jgreat96]

I'll give it a try, it says on the chassis under the platter

220V - 2.5W - 50Hz

It doesn't even have a plug on it yet! British plugs used to be DIY jobs everytime you bought an electrical appliance. Then after the figure 8 cord came out, they were all fitted. I've never seen a plug fitting for sale in Japan.

Plan is to get the power issue sorted, then fit a new tonearm, feet, and mat...

[davidsrsb]

Lucky!
It looks like you just need to change the transformer tap connection from "A" to "B"

[analogaudio]

Saw plenty of transformers today in Akihabara, the sales guy seemed to think a low wattage would be a problem, though I could only understand 20% of what he was saying.

The motor only needs 2.5W, which is very little. Transformers are made common in sizes like 10W, 20W, 50W, 100W, you can use all these with your TT you don't need to hunt down a 2.5W unit.

Ted

[jgreat96]

Thanks for that, I have now fitted a plug to the mains cable at least, a Japanese type A plug.

Opening the back of the 160 and and taking the plastic cover off the wire box I noticed it looked a bit different from the picture in the manual. I'm not quite sure how I'd change it from Tag A to B as described for 110V. Are the wires simply placed over the tags? Or are they soldered? I tried to slide one off but met a lot of resistance.

[Coffee Phil]

Can you post a picture? Also if you can draw a schematic of your machine, that will help.

Phil

Thanks for that, I have now fitted a plug to the mains cable at least, a Japanese type A plug.

Opening the back of the 160 and and taking the plastic cover off the wire box I noticed it looked a bit different from the picture in the manual. I'm not quite sure how I'd change it from Tag A to B as described for 110V. Are the wires simply placed over the tags? Or are they soldered? I tried to slide one off but met a lot of resistance.

[jgreat96]

On closer inspection in the daylight, it seems they're soldered. I guess I need to change the black wire onto the next tag to its left?







[/img]http://i4.photoblog.com/photos/10361-1306286833-0.jpg[/img]

[jgreat96]