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Topic: Will a 110v Goodrich Volume Pedal work in the. U.K (240V) |
Al Vesel
From:
Chisholm, Minnesota, USA
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Posted 23 Oct 2013 4:23 am |
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Hopefully someone can answer this question for me.
I have an older Goodrich 400A vclume, that is of course powered by 110v. It is the older style with the light bulb in it.
Someone from the U.K. just purchased it from me. I told him prior to the purchase that all of the internet searches I did on it to see if it will work over in the U.K. states that it will if he purchases a converter. I believe their voltage is 240V, and of course, ours is 110V.
I am sure some of our overseas comrades can answer this for me.
Will a 110V Goodrich volume pedal (Model 400A) work in the U.K. (240V) with a converter? Do you use the same potentiometer?
Please let me know as we both considered this when he purchased it, but if it will not work he is now in the states and I could have him send it back prior to going home at a lot less freight cost.
So any answers, please???
TXS
Al V. 
_________________
Emmons LeGrande SKH D-10 - WALKER STEREO STEEL AMP w JBL ENCLOSURES & TC ELECTRONICS M-ONE XL PROCESSOR, HILTON VP,FURMAN POWER CONDITIONER, SARNO's Steel Guitar BLACK BOX,BJS,ToneMaster bars,FENDER Strat, FENDER & Ovation acoustic's |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 23 Oct 2013 7:45 am
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| I suspect that 240 volts would fry the pedal. They do make down converters for low-wattage devices (like shavers and radios) that would allow the device to work. There's also a frequency issue (I believe the U.K. is 50 hz instead of our 60 hz) but that wouldn't affect transformer operated devices like the old "wall warts". It may, however, affect the newer (digital) power supplies. Plugs and sockets are different, too, so the converter would have to have the right kind of plug and outlet to adapt the U.S. piece of equipment. |
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 23 Oct 2013 8:29 am
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i use a stepdown transformer 220v to 110 v on american gear i have
no probs whatsover so far
worked on a hilton,& works on a peavey nash 1k & telonics vp
i don't see whay it should'nt work as long as 110 v is going into that GR Al
your english buyer could ask over on the British Steel Forum :
http://www.thebritishsteeliessociety.co.uk/index.php
the 50 /60 hz cycles don't really matter unless there's a motor
plugs are'nt really an issue either since adaptors can easily be found |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 23 Oct 2013 9:05 am
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Nowadays, for things such as cell phone and camera battery rechargers, they make smart appliances which recognise the voltage automatically and compensate for it. Those can be just plugged in anywhere.
But older appliances will either create spectacular flashes, bangs and smoke, or blow the fuses. You need a step-down voltage converter. By the way, most voltage converters are for small appliances such as razors. For big appliances such as tape recorders you need a heavy duty converter, which, of course, is more bulky and expensive. I don't imagine a volume pedal draws many watts, though.
My Nebraska-born wife had an interesting experiences just after we were married with a set of hair curlers which melted when she plugged them in (in Birmingham, England.)
By the way, something to remember is that it's not just the voltage that's different; US electricity supply is at **50 Hertz., compared with **60 Hertz in Britain, so anything with a timing device, such as a clock or a tape recorder, will run at **6/5 times the speed in England. Also, because an appliance draws the same number of watts no matter what the voltage is, US fuses are twice the value of British fuses, to account for the double amperage. I found that out the hard way when I brought English appliances over to the U.S. when I relooated back in 1980. The appliances had switches to switch between voltages, but no-one tells you that you have to change the fuse, too, or you blow the circuits. That also means that you can get worse electric shocks on the American system, since the fuses are double the thickness and allow more amps to flow through your body. 
**Sorry, I got these backwards, as Richard subsequently pointed out, so the appliances would work at 5/6 of the speed, not 6/5. 
Last edited by Alan Brookes on 23 Oct 2013 3:02 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 23 Oct 2013 10:43 am
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| By the way, something to remember is that it's not just the voltage that's different; US electricity supply is at 50 Hertz., compared with 60 Hertz in Britain, |
Actually, in America it is 60hz. I believe Britain is 50hz.
From Wikipedia:
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| The utility frequency, (power) line frequency (American English) or mains frequency (British English) is the frequency of the oscillations of alternating current (AC) in an electric power grid transmitted from a power plant to the end-user. In large parts of the world this is 50 Hz, although in the Americas and parts of Asia it is typically 60 Hz. Current usage by country or region is given in the list of mains power around the world. |
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Al Vesel
From:
Chisholm, Minnesota, USA
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Posted 23 Oct 2013 11:01 am voltage probelm between US and UK
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I realize the 240 would fry it, and that is why I asked if you could use a converter. TXS for the info.
Al
_________________
Emmons LeGrande SKH D-10 - WALKER STEREO STEEL AMP w JBL ENCLOSURES & TC ELECTRONICS M-ONE XL PROCESSOR, HILTON VP,FURMAN POWER CONDITIONER, SARNO's Steel Guitar BLACK BOX,BJS,ToneMaster bars,FENDER Strat, FENDER & Ovation acoustic's |
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Marvin Born
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 23 Oct 2013 11:23 am 240 Volts for a Goodrich 400
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The Goodrich pedal I have used a dropping resistor in series with a bayonet base 12 volt bulb, and is feed directly with 110 volts.
One solution would be to re-calculate the resistance and wattage of the resistor to provide the 12 volts needed for the lamp. I would not recommend this method. Over time the insulated terminals inside the Goodrich failed and allowed 110 volts to ground to the pedal chassis, and via the guitar cord, your steel strings. If you have ungrounded outlets, use an ungrounded adapter, etc. Your guitar could be 110 volts above ground. I can't imagine what 240 volts could to. Second I don't know what the terminals inside the pedal are rated at voltage wise.
A much simpler way is to check the bulb voltage and current requirements and purchase a universal ( 90 to 240 volt) "wall wart" that supplies the correct voltage and current for the bulb. This is much a safer, quick and easy modification. I used a Radio Shack 12 DC at 500 ma DC power supply. This has the added benefit of lighting the bulb with DC, so there is no 60 cycle AC signal modulating the photo cell and introducing hum in the audio from the guitar. With this system there is only 12 volts inside the pedal.
Also, use the same type of bulb, the amount of light produced by the lamp determines the position of the pedal relative to audio output. Too much or too little light and the pedal does not work.
My Goodrich 400 had very poor high end response and did not sound as good as a plain pot pedal. I used it only long enough to find a better one.
Marvin |
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