Phase Linear 400 supply voltage?

Bradrock

Bradrock

Active Member
I'm sorry if this has been covered. I tried searching for some time before posting a redundant question.
Anyhow; I see some amps for sale labeled for 240v supply.
Can these be converted to 115v while doing the other update/ safety mods I've been reading about here?( without new transformers)
Not like I don't have 220 available. But I like to learn something every day & today I'm wondering about this.

Thanks for any info, Brad
 
Register to hide this ad
Firstly, the amp voltage rating must match the mains power supply. Do not connect a 220V(100V, 115,,,) to a 240V mains or other combinations...
I understand that some differences can be tolerated but lets try and do it right. You should know what the mains voltage supply is. Some amps
(for international markets) simply have a switch to select the appropriate mains voltage. Correctly set this switch before power on. Other amps
also intended for international market don't have a switch but have an "international" transformer with the various windings available. It is a
relatively simple task to "rewire" the transformer to the wanted mains voltage. A Step down transformer is needed if the transformer is hard wired/only
supports one voltage. A proper isolation step down transformer (seperate primary and secondary windings) should be used. Auto-transformers are
not suitable for quality audio.

I'm not familiar with the Phase Linear 400 (3 in the shed to be worked on when I muster the courage). The schematic suggests the transformer is
"hard wired" so a step down is probably needed.

Suggest you check for a voltage selector. Failing that, open the unit and check for capped/unused wires on the transformer.
 
Thank you; I have not bought an amp yet. I'm wanting to know if as you say, some PL400's have a Euro only transformer ? Or one with a choice of taps.
 
Working from the service manuals on hifiengine.
- Phase Linear 400(400) hard wired, step down required
- Phase Linear 400(series two) appears to have two options.
- a 240V or 115V
- a 110V or 115V (difficult to read)

Nothing suggests multiple taps.

Suggest you wait for someone with first hand knowledge
 
Check the wiring on the transformer. It may be a dual voltage transformer where you either wire the primary taps in series for 240v or in parallel for 120. The guys over at Pheonix Audio Tape would probably have more info on this. They're the PL experts.
 
Well; I snagged one for $120.00. I'll see what's what when it gets here. No great expectations. But the White Oak mods look like great fun, if I decide this POS is worth it.
I used to annoy the crap out of the stereo shop staff's around Ann Arbor Mi. in the early seventies. Phase Linear looked pretty good to me at that time.But way out of my range as a teen.
And I'm still running the same poor boy set up I bought back then!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom