Voltage issue

Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
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Voltage issue

By eirikheggelund Fri Nov 15, 2013 4:03 pm
Hey.


The very same issue may have been posted earlier, but to avoid checking hundreds of pages I decided to ask.

I just picked up an MPC 500 that I purchased from eBay. It was shipped from USA, and came with a 12v adapter. Where I live, around 230v is being used. May I just purchase a 230v adapter to make the MPC 500 usable by power cable, or will I need to get an inverter to have inbetween the receptacle and the adapter?


Thanks in advance,
Eirik Heggelund
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Re: Voltage issue

By Lampdog Fri Nov 15, 2013 4:18 pm
Look on the wall adapter itself.

Do you see ...

INPUT 100-240v 50/60hz

If so then it can handle the 230v just fine.

Re: Voltage issue

By eirikheggelund Fri Nov 15, 2013 5:20 pm
Lampdog wrote:Look on the wall adapter itself.

Do you see ...

INPUT 100-240v 50/60hz

If so then it can handle the 230v just fine.

If only that was the only issue. We also use different plugs. Norwegian version on the left, US on the right:
Image
Last edited by eirikheggelund on Sat Nov 16, 2013 12:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Voltage issue

By Lampdog Fri Nov 15, 2013 5:32 pm
Answer the question.
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Re: Voltage issue

By Lampdog Fri Nov 15, 2013 5:33 pm
An add-on adapter can be had later on.
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Re: Voltage issue

By SimonInAustralia Fri Nov 15, 2013 5:59 pm
Yes, connector adapters are easy to sort out, and a lot of them come with the various interchangeable connectors now days for worldwide compatibility.

The existing power supply/adapter is probably auto-switching for different input voltages, most are now days, and as Lamp says, it will have the voltage specifications printed on it.

If it doesn't auto-switch, you just need to buy a new AC-DC power supply/adapter that matches the power specifications (DC volts/amps/polarity/connector size) of the MPC, and that matches your mains voltage.

I would buy a new power supply/adapter, rather than use the existing adapter on a step up transformer, if the existing one does not work at your voltage.

Re: Voltage issue

By eirikheggelund Sat Nov 16, 2013 12:20 pm
Lampdog wrote:Answer the question.

Yes, I should have. Sorry.

Here's what I found out about the adapter:
120v~60Hz 9W

Here's the specifications of the receptacle:
16A~250v

Re: Voltage issue

By eirikheggelund Sat Nov 16, 2013 12:28 pm
SimonInAustralia wrote:Yes, connector adapters are easy to sort out, and a lot of them come with the various interchangeable connectors now days for worldwide compatibility.

The existing power supply/adapter is probably auto-switching for different input voltages, most are now days, and as Lamp says, it will have the voltage specifications printed on it.

If it doesn't auto-switch, you just need to buy a new AC-DC power supply/adapter that matches the power specifications (DC volts/amps/polarity/connector size) of the MPC, and that matches your mains voltage.

I would buy a new power supply/adapter, rather than use the existing adapter on a step up transformer, if the existing one does not work at your voltage.

Another option would be rocking AA batteries 24/7. But that would make it become a pretty expensive hobby, haha.
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Re: Voltage issue

By Lampdog Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:20 pm
SimonInAustralia wrote:I would buy a new power supply/adapter, rather than use the existing adapter on a step up transformer, if the existing one does not work at your voltage.


Go this route and/or rechargable AA's.

Find another adapter for purchase that matches
INPUT 100-240v 50/60hz
OUTPUT ?? Whatever yours says on it.

Re: Voltage issue

By eirikheggelund Sat Nov 16, 2013 3:48 pm
Lampdog wrote:Go this route and/or rechargable AA's.

Find another adapter for purchase that matches
INPUT 100-240v 50/60hz
OUTPUT ?? Whatever yours says on it.

An adapter would be nice. They doesn't have to cost that much, do they?
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Re: Voltage issue

By SimonInAustralia Sat Nov 16, 2013 9:41 pm
MPC500 Operator's Manual, page 107 wrote:Specifications

General

Display: 2 x 16 character LCD w/back light
Memory card slot: Compact Flash (The size of the compact flash card that MPC500 can handle is from 32MB to 2GB)
Dimensions: 266mm x 175mm x 44mm
Weight: 1.34 kg
Power requirement: 12v DC 600mA (negative tip)
Battery life: Approximately 4.5 hours of continuous use with LCD backlight ON.

You can buy an AC-DC power supply from an electronics store, with the AC specifications that meet your mains/AC power, 230VAC-50Hz for example, that that outputs 12VDC 600mA.

If the power supply is unregulated, it should be rated at 600mA, if it is regulated, then it should be at least 600mA, but can be higher.

That will replace the 120VAC power supply that you have, same thing, but works on your 230VAC (possibly 50Hz?) instead of 120VAC/60Hz.

Here they might cost somewhere around $15-25.

Most come with a range of different size removable tips, you need the tip that fits your MPC500, and you need to make sure it is plugged in so that the tip is negative, there should be +/- symbols on the plug tip and where the plug tip connects to the cable.

Might be worth taking your MPC along to make sure you get one with a DC plug tip that fits the MPC.

Re: Voltage issue

By eirikheggelund Tue Nov 19, 2013 4:08 pm
Hi again.


I just picked up this supply unit at some local electronics store (the one to the left):
Image

It only has 500mA, and not 600mA as it requires according to the Operator's Manual SimonInAustralia referred to, but seeing as the supply unit that came with the MPC 500 had 500mA, it should be enough, should it not?


EDIT:
The MPC 500 is working. It wouldn't start at first, but then I realized I had set the tip to +. I switched it to -, and it worked like a charm. I hope no harm was made to the unit when I sent + to it instead of - for a couple of seconds.

I guess I better start reading right away. I have a couple of pages. I'll never get through this, haha:
Image


Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it. You are a great community.
Last edited by eirikheggelund on Tue Nov 19, 2013 4:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Voltage issue

By SimonInAustralia Tue Nov 19, 2013 4:21 pm
I think 500mA would be fine, after all, it works on batteries.

If it still works, then reversing the tip has not damaged it. Some equipment, if not designed to handle it, will be damaged as soon as you put it in, and then stop working until repaired.

Re: Voltage issue

By eirikheggelund Tue Nov 19, 2013 4:23 pm
SimonInAustralia wrote:I think 500mA would be fine, after all, it works on batteries.

If it still works, then reversing the tip has not damaged it. Some equipment, if not designed to handle it, will be damaged as soon as you put it in, and then stop working until repaired.


Alright, thanks for letting me know. I'll be more careful next time. I'm glad the MPC 500 handled it.
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