American to UK electrics help needed urgently please

[Scotteboy]

Hi, ive been looking for a specific music workstation product but they are like rocking horse dodo. I've manage to find one for sale in the US but i live in the UK and was wondering if it will work ok here. The power specifications say "20W (AC 117/230/240 V)." Can i use it ok in the UK or will i need some sort of transformer? I know nothing about electrics. Thanks for your time sand help

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

Yes, that will work in the UK.

American mains voltage is around 117V AC.
UK mains voltage is around 230V AC.

The power specifications say "AC 117/230/240V". That includes both of those voltages.

It must have some automatic or manual way to select the voltage that it works from. This may be a little slide switch that you have to push using a screwdriver.

You will probably need to fit a UK mains plug.

Read the manual to find how to change the voltage to 230V BEFORE you plug it in!

 

[pebe]

A lot ot modern equipment seems to be powered by switch mode supplies that have a universal 100-240V input.

If you haven't bought it yet, ask the supplier to confirm whether it is OK for 230V.

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

pebe, read post #1 again. It clearly IS ok for 230V.

 

[pebe]

The point I was making was that if it uses a switch mode supply there is probably no need (and no provision) for a switch to select the supply voltage.

 

[KrisBlueNZ]

Right. Equipment that has a universal power supply is normally specified with an input voltage range, e.g. 90~260VAC, rather than specific voltages like 117/230/240. But it is possible. In either case it will work in the UK, but as you say, if it's a universal input, there is no swtich setting to change.

 

[Scotteboy]

Thanks for all your help folks. The buyer pulled the machine from the Ebay auction at last minute