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adaptation of line voltage via secondary possible?

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Posted on September 28, 2020 at 19:38:05
eduardoo
Audiophile

Posts: 1172
Joined: August 14, 2002



I have this 5V linear PS that someone built for me ages ago for 240V AC in, 5V DC 1.5A out, which I'm using for some very light duty (an ethernet switch).

I'm moving to Canada soon, and would like to see if this can be converted for use under 120V. Looking inside, it appears that the transformer (with no marking) has only one primary input, and its two secondary outputs are connected in parallel to the board (Red and Yellow in one group, Black and Orange in another). Pls see pic.

Theoretically, if line voltage is halved (from 240 to 120), if I connect the secondary in series (i.e. getting the yellow and black out of the terminal and connecting them together), I should be able to get back to the right voltage at the board, whichever it is. Am I right?

Someone told me that the available power (current) might be halved, but that should be fine for my application.

Please let me know of your thoughts. Thanks.


 

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RE: adaptation of line voltage via secondary possible?, posted on September 29, 2020 at 15:52:00
6bq5
Audiophile

Posts: 4393
Location: SF Bay
Joined: August 16, 2001
 Do you have a meter?
a variac?
See is the secondaries are combined to get the correct voltage-
Happy Listening

 

RE: adaptation of line voltage via secondary possible?, posted on October 1, 2020 at 01:39:35
eduardoo
Audiophile

Posts: 1172
Joined: August 14, 2002
 Thanks.

I would check with a meter when I go about doing it, but would like to know if it's theoretically workable.

Thanks again.

 

RE: adaptation of line voltage via secondary possible?, posted on October 2, 2020 at 11:41:17
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 Tell me more about the application, eduardoo. How much improvement of the presentation was found when you started to use the PSU for the switch? What type of PSU was the stock unit? Switch-mode?

 

RE: adaptation of line voltage via secondary possible?, posted on October 4, 2020 at 06:44:52
eduardoo
Audiophile

Posts: 1172
Joined: August 14, 2002
 The thing originally came with the usual cheap wall rt. I happened to have this linear psu lying around and decided to give it a try, not really expect much of anything. Interestingly, the sound (via music played to renderer from nas) sounded much more natural and at ease, with better density (more analog, for a lack of better description).
Recently, I also gave a spare ifi ipower and ipowerx a try. Both sounded very clean (and better than the original from recollection), but loses out to the linear psu in naturalness.

That's why I'm still keen to keep the psu in use as I move abroad.

 

RE: adaptation of line voltage via secondary possible?, posted on October 4, 2020 at 13:37:15
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
 Understood. Even a $25 active Toslink splitter/repeater needs to be treated like any other audio component by using a high-performance regulated linear power supply instead of a cheap switch-mode wall wart. If converting the PSU from 220V to 110V is not easily do-able, maybe a good 110V/220V voltage step-up/down transformer would suffice. You'll likely have other 220V devices to bring with you to Canada, so it might come in handy for other purposes too.

See link:

 

RE: adaptation of line voltage via secondary possible?, posted on October 4, 2020 at 18:27:09
eduardoo
Audiophile

Posts: 1172
Joined: August 14, 2002
 A step up transformer is definitely an option, just kinda odd to have two multi pound power supplies attached to a light weight little switch. Lol.

 

RE: adaptation of line voltage via secondary possible?, posted on October 4, 2020 at 20:27:44
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002












Indeed, eduardoo.

Cheers, Duster

 

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