Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: jix on March 03, 2010, 04:12:57 PM

Title: SF-2 Power Supply - UK
Post by: jix on March 03, 2010, 04:12:57 PM

Hi All,
 
I've recently bought a second hand SF-2 (Serial no 901141), shipped over from the US to UK that came with it's original US power supply.
 
As I'll be using this in the UK I was wondering:
 
Is there anything that needs to be done inside the SF-2 to allow it to run on UK mains power?
 
The US power-supply with it is a 15vdc, 200ma supply - this is really hard to find in the UK it seems; is there any flexibility in this supply or does it have to be exactly that voltage and ampage? (sorry if that's a bit of a dumb question!)
 
Really appreciate any help anyone could give me.
 
Many thanks
James

Title: SF-2 Power Supply - UK
Post by: jazzyvee on March 03, 2010, 05:46:54 PM

Hi, James,  you can always try one of these. 100w UK to USA Voltage Converters.
I got one years ago to power my Samson wireless transmitter as it too was a USA Purchase and needed 110v.
 
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=31899 (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=31899)
 
Jazzyvee

Title: SF-2 Power Supply - UK
Post by: JimmyJ on March 03, 2010, 08:54:07 PM

Hey James,
 
If I understand correctly, the power supply for the SF-2 is external?  If that's the case, there's nothing you can change inside the unit to alter its power requirement.  It wants to see 15vdc at the connector...
 
I am not familiar with the included power supply but before you buy anything read the fine print on it - if it says input: 100-240vac then it is a universal unit and all you need is an adaptor plug (or cable if it has a detachable AC cable).  If it says input: 117vac then you need another supply, or as Jazzyvee says, a step-down power transformer.  The end result needs to be 15vdc with a minimum of 200ma.  Something like this:
http://uk.farnell.com/multicomp/ad-1550r/adaptor-reg-15vdc-500ma/dp/1176259 (http://uk.farnell.com/multicomp/ad-1550r/adaptor-reg-15vdc-500ma/dp/1176259)
 
Congratulations on the new acquisition, I'm sure you'll get it fired up soon.
Jimmy J

Title: SF-2 Power Supply - UK
Post by: keith_h on March 04, 2010, 05:10:45 AM

Jimmy pointed you to an adapter that should work.  
 
An important thing to keep in mind when you get a new adapter is which contact on the connector is positive and which is negative. If you mismatch these with the SF-2 you will damage the SF-2. If this is not displayed on the unit some one else here should be able to tell you what polarity the SF-2 requires.  
 
Keith

Title: SF-2 Power Supply - UK
Post by: elwoodblue on March 04, 2010, 11:48:43 AM

Here are the specifics from the FAQ (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=264).

Title: SF-2 Power Supply - UK
Post by: jix on March 07, 2010, 01:43:00 PM

Hi everyone.
 
Thanks very much for all the help on this - I haven't had a chance to go and buy the adaptor but I'll let you know how I get on when I have.
 
Really appreciate all the help.
Thanks
James