UK LCD in USA? power supply? step-up? SCART?

[trilobyte]

Hi everybody,

I have found a UK LCD with SCART connector available in the USA.  I suppose it has a UK power supply, and I am wondering if I can use a "step-up transformer" to use this monitor here.  I have read that the step-up transformers do not convert the Hz of the signal, so I am wondering if these transformers are better suited for small devices like clock radios than they would be a monitor, which might be sensitive to the Hz of the power supply.  Any ideas?

Also, how risky are these step-up converters?  Would I want to unplug it when I go on trips, or else risk fire?? :-o

[edit:  also, will any device with a SCART connector show native Amiga modes with a simple Amiga-to-SCART cable?]

Thanks!!
trilobyte/tim

[Draby]

Hi trilobyte, If you can, take a look at the "ratings" label on the LCD. A lot of equipment these days works anywhere, if it says 100-240volts, 50-60Hz. then you are all set, just plug it in, though you will probably need a different mains lead.

Good luck, Richard.

[trilobyte]

Hi Richard,

I can't seem to find that information for the UK version of the monitor.  I know what you're talking about though.  All I can find on the UK spec sheets are:

- Power consumption: 55 W
- Standby power consumption: 1.5 W
- Power supply: AC 90-240

On the Brazilian spec sheets, it *does* list 50/60:

Alimentação
• Consumo de energia no modo de espera: < 1 W
(127 V)
• Temperatura ambiente: 5°C a 40°C
• Alimentação: 100-250 V, 50-60 Hz
• Consumo de energia: 55 W

I would guess that different editions for different countries have different power supplies, so it could be that the power supply with the UK edition does not have this switching capability... :-?

thanks,
trilobyte/tim

[ZeBeeDee]

Hi trilobyte

Draby is absolutely correct - Just plug it in and go (using a US power cord of course) ... The LCD will auto adjust to your local voltage (110v).

The label says it accepts all voltages between 90v and 240v plus it will work just fine at either 50hz or 60hz (US uses 60hz).

I'm using a 19" LCD monitor I purchased from Wal-Mart back in 2005 on my pc ... just changed the power cord to a UK one and all was well.

The worst thing that will happen is it won't switch on due to insufficient voltage ... BUT I bet it works just fine  :-)

*Addendum* My Balance CM2019 Monitor specifications here - Note the voltages and frequencies PLUS the rebranding to IC Power  :-)

[Speelgoedmannetje]

I wouldn't bet on it that the monitor will switch by itself. (it might be as well as a jumper inside of the monitor which makes it work on 220)
The adapter needs to be able to deliver (55/110) *1000 = 500mA.

-edit- ops, I meant (55/230)*1000 = 239,13mA

[Speelgoedmannetje]

ZeBeeDee wrote:
The worst thing that will happen is it won't switch on due to insufficient voltage ... BUT I bet it works just fine  :-)

You're right, I was thinking the wrong way.

[ZeBeeDee]

It's usually the power supply brick that does all the converting/switching for the user  :-)

You're right, I was thinking the wrong way.

[bloodline]

Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
I wouldn't bet on it that the monitor will switch by itself. (it might be as well as a jumper inside of the monitor which makes it work on 220)
The adapter needs to be able to deliver (55/110) *1000 = 500mA.

-edit- ops, I meant (55/230)*1000 = 239,13 amperes

Switching power supplies are not simple transformers, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switched-mode_power_supply

[Speelgoedmannetje]

ZeBeeDee wrote:
It's usually the power supply brick that does all the converting/switching for the user  :-)

Nope, there have been a long time 110V/230V switches for PC PSU's (maybe still). One can destroy a PSU with switching it wrongly.

[ZeBeeDee]

PC PSU's? I thought we were talking about LCD monitors here  :lol:

[rkauer]

 As a brazilian user, I have to live with those little problems myself.

 If the unit don`t have an "auto-switching" power supply, buy a step transformer. 100 VA (=W) is enough. For the different mains frequency: just don't care for it! Switching power supplies works OK in the 48~66Hz range.

 BTW: here we have two voltage ranges: 127V and 220V, both in 60Hz (sounds crazy to anyone?). :crazy:

[ZeBeeDee]

Read the label on a typical power supply  brick and you usually see something like this on it:

Input: 100-240V[color=ff0000]AC[/color] 1.5A 50-60hz
Output: 15V[color=0000ff]DC[/color] 4A

Now ... lets break it down into a more simple and easier to understand format ...

It takes the input voltage somewhere between 100 and 240 volts [color=ff0000]Alternating Current[/color] and steps it down/converts it/switches it/however you wish to put it to the correct output of 15 volts [color=0000ff]Direct Current[/color] needed to power the monitor.

What it all boils down to is that the manufacturer only has to make a single power supply that can utilise a wide rage of voltages to produce the desired output. They only have to change the power cord depending on the country it's being used in.

It's that easy  :-)

Next week, how chaos theory can help build a better mousetrap and how Amiga Inc. could one day be taken seriously :lol:

[KThunder]

rkauer wrote:
 As a brazilian user, I have to live with those little problems myself.

 If the unit don`t have an "auto-switching" power supply, buy a step transformer. 100 VA (=W) is enough. For the different mains frequency: just don't care for it! Switching power supplies works OK in the 48~66Hz range.

 BTW: here we have two voltage ranges: 127V and 220V, both in 60Hz (sounds crazy to anyone?). :crazy:

most of us here in the states have 110 and 220 ac at 60hz my stove, clothes dryer, water heater and arc welder all run at 220 everything else is at 110.

accordig to
this site 60hz is more efficient to transmit and for motors... i did not know that, i knew that ac is better than dc for transmition. looks like eu is changing over tp 230v.