Insufficient Power Conditioning?

[Deluk]

It looks as if the voltage standard for supply in the Netherlands is 230v +6%/-10% so in theory any equipment sold there should perform to spec within these limits. Perhaps the BH stuff can be considered a special case but I would have though it would be well within those parameters and therefore work without problems. Perhaps a comment from Doc would enlighten.
We are supposed to get a nominal 230v in the UK +10%/-6%, % the other way round, and I believe it is generally close to 240v.
I think the same power transformer is supplied to UK and the rest of Europe?

If you are suffering due to low volts I don't think a variac will help as the max it can supply is the voltage it's being fed.

 

[Paul Joppa]

Most variacs will go up to a bit over the input, maybe 10% or so(?)

Those asymmetrical voltages disguise the reality, which is that originally the UK was on 240v, the Netherlands was on 220v. In order to have a single EU standard , the Eurocrats split the difference (230v) with a tolerance allowing each country to keep their original power generators. If you live in or near the EU, you are well aware of the bureaucratic difficulties involved!

In the early days of Bottlehead, our European customers were almost entirely from the UK, so we just made 240v transformers. We are gradually switching to transformers with semi-universal windings. By "semi-universal" I mean to include the varieties of "230-v" but not include Japan which is on 100v.

 

[marco08]

good news for the new builders !! any chance we first comers from the continent could get a couple new transformers ? about one day in three, i get closer to 215/220 out of the french network, and some buzzing... what do you think ?

 

[elko]

Goodevening fellow Bees,

Trying DC-AC converter didn't help. It made the hum always present. Obvious because it converted exactly 230V, which is lower than power from my wallsocket most of the time.

I just found a nice deal on a variac (0-260v). Hope to receive the transformer soon so i can transform my own 240V I'll let you know if this is a solution to my humming problem.

 

[elko]

Finally found a solution for my hum problem. A variac which cranks up the voltage a bit is doing the magic. Very glad this solves the insufficient power condition in my case. Since the variac is providing the power there is a small hiss only the left Channel. At reasanoble listing volumes this is neglectable.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

If anyone else is following this, I can recommend the following part:
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Bel-Signal-Transformer/DU-1-2/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMsF1ODjcwEocH9a7K7rGcVvS%252b%252bhynsdO1Q%3d

It would work for both older homes in the US sitting closer to 110 or 115V, as well as sub 230V outlets abroad.