suggestions on BBC Micro, voltage converter, PAL monitor (in US)?

From: Gary Hildebrand <ghldbrd_at_ccp.com>
Date: Mon Apr 22 13:34:22 2002

"Carlini, Antonio" wrote:
>
> >You could buy a 110-220 step-up transformer, and that usually has
> the
> >european two prong plug built in. I myself would see if the power
> >supply has a split primary for the mains power; then rewire/flip
> the
> >switch for 110 operation and just use a US style power cord.
>
> No doubt you can get a suitable two-prong plug
> with an IEC on the other end of the lead, but
> in the UK (and the beeb is, after all, a UK box)
> the standard plugs are three-pin.
>
> >Monitor: If it is an RGB with seperate outputs, the NTSC/PAL
> question
> >is moot. I know that US RGB monitors for the Amiga will sync to
> PAL
> >rates (625 lines, 50Hz) with no problems. The conflict arises only
> when
> >the video is composite, as the color information is encoded
> >differently. I have seen small converters for sale, that change
> PAL
> >video to NTSC and vice versa. I've never seen how good/bad they
> work,
> >but that is a viable alternative, if your only output is composite
> >video.
>
> A small cub monitor cannot be much
> harder to ship than a beeb can it?
> The real problem is possibly going to
> be the 50Hz/60Hz issue. I know that
> in the lab (in the UK) we used to have
> a 110/120V 60Hz supply specifically
> for the oddball US kit we used to end up
> with, but that was (IIRC) done with
> something a little beefier than
> a stepup transformer. The small
> (but very, very) heavy step down
> transformer we also had, did nothing
> to convert the frequency (not a problem
> if all you want is juice, but if anything
> is trying to generate an approximate
> clock from the line frequencey ....)
>
> Antonio


If the power supply is switching, they ususally rectify the line votage
and go from there. In which case the frequency has no bearing..

Can you get UK to Euro AC adapters there? I've only seen the round
plugs with two pins, and the sorta ground lug.

Gary HIldebrand
St. Joseph, MO
Received on Mon Apr 22 2002 - 13:34:22 BST