Converting Creek 4040/3140 from UK spec to USA spec

[crazybrit]

Hi.

I have a Creek 4040 amp and 3140 tuner. I've owned them from new when I was in the UK.

I moved to the US in 1991 and ran them for a long time off a 120->240 transformer. It didn't suit my Rega turntable so I had to pay (twice, first botched, second ok) to have that converted to 120v. The Creek 4040 and 3140 worked well enough off the transformer although the frequency on the 3140 would wander.

They've been in boxes for years and I've decided I'd like to bring them back out now that vinyl is cool ;-) I came across a cosmetically damaged USA 4040 and 3040. Both 120v and bought them.

Does anyone know what is involved in converting the UK versions to US? I'm assuming the transformer out of the USA 4040 will work in the UK 4040, but I'm not sure if additional changes are needed? I'm not sure if the USA 3040 transformer will work in the UK 3140?

I asked Creek and they said "we don't support these anymore". I know they long ago ran out of the conversion parts as they did tell me this 10+ years ago and so I've been looking for cheap used parts ever since.

Thanks

 

[leesonic]

It would help if you could post a schematic, or close-up pictures of the transformer. There might be dual primary windings, so you could re-wire them in parallel instead of series.

Lee.

 

[crazybrit]

I don't have the schematics. If I did, I probably wouldn't need to ask the question. A lot of the schematics I'm finding online are for later versions.

My understanding (from the info Creek gave me, back when they would discuss) was that a replacement transformer is needed. i.e it's not a transformer that can be rewired as you describe.

The UK 4040 and UK 3140 have the 5 pin DIN connectors. For the 4040 I think this means it's the original version, I still have my original receipts. 4040 April 1986 serial 21497. 3140 Oct 1987 serial 7902.

The US 4040 and the US 3040 I just bought also both have 5 pin DIN connectors. The 4040 is serial 12658 and the 3040 is 3740. Both have an additional red sticker on the bottom saying 115V AC.

 

[rcs16]

It is possible to put in a new transformer, need to know more about the existing transformer secondary winding specs, what config, voltages. the mechanical aspects have to be evaluated as far as fit,form are concerned.
Pictures of the insides help in determining some of this.

 

[crazybrit]

It is possible to put in a new transformer

I know it is. Creek told me.

The question I asked, was really directed to someone who owned this Amp/Tuner.

Whether anything other than the transformer needed to be replaced.

 

[bobschneider]

The tuner will need to be converted from the 50uS European deemphasis standard to the 75uS US standard. Otherwise your frequency response will be tilted. If you’re lucky there’s a switch inside the case to do this. If you’re not you’ll have to change a couple of capacitors. They’re likely near the multiplex IC - the data sheet for that IC may tell you what to do.

Other than that, changing to US spec power transformers and maybe changing the value of the power fuses should be enough to convert them. But I don’t know if those models have any oddball quirks.