Voltage 220 - 230 - 240 Question

14 replies

B&O products have different regional voltages, we use 240v though equipment runs on 220v happily. My electrician told me it makes little difference.  Is it as simple as that? Am I or others going to experience problems?

220v, 230v,240v. (50Hz) Some products are even switchable.

Thanks, Beoaus

Location: Australia

This is also what i am desperately trying to figure out. As posted in another thread, we had a mix up withour new BS4 with it failing and having a slightly different power supply and intended country (Chinese writing inside the base - whether or not this is relevant i don't know) as the label said 230-240V and the one we now have says 220-240V...
 

I would like to know about this because i am keen to get a superseded B&O tv but it appears that the only way to get one is from lifestyle AV and ship it here. I wouldn't be willing to do this unless it was made clear that it won't fail on our slightly different power supply.

Australia, Europe and most countries in Asia run on the same frequency (50hZ) so maybe it is possible that the slight voltage difference needs a voltage converter...?

"Many former 220 V countries have converted or are in the process of converting to  the EU standard of 230 V.  Generally, this difference is inconsequential, as most appliances are built to tolerate current a certain percentage above or below the rated voltage.  However, severe variations in current can damage electrical equipment.

The electric power frequency is shown in the number of hertz (cycles per second).  Even if voltages are similar, a 60-hertz clock or tape recorder may not function properly on 50 hertz current... "

http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm 

I agree with godlund, these days most modern products do not use a power supply with a mains transformer with different tappings as they did in the old days, and the ones that do have a transformer are normally where low current is drawn and in most cases with a regulated output.

Most products today will tolerate voltages between 220 to 240 volts without problems and will not come to any hard.

Location: Hampshire, England

There tends to be a fluctuation in voltage mains supply in any case. In the UK between @ 220 & 250 volts.

 

Chris.

220 - 230  - 240 V is not a problem.

50 to 60 Hz can be a problem.

And having been there with a 230 v BS 1,  you should definately consider the merits of a surge protector in protecting your B & O investments.

From Wikipedia -

Since 1960, the supply voltage in Great Britain in domestic premises has been 240 V AC (rms) at 50 Hz while in Northern Ireland it was 220 V. In 1988, a Europe-wide agreement was reached to change the various national voltages, which ranged at the time from 220 V to 240 V, to a common European standard of 230 V (CENELEC Harmonization Document HD 472 S1:1988).

As a result, the standard nominal supply voltage in domestic single-phase 50 Hz installations in the UK has been 230 V AC (rms) since 1 January 1995 (Electricity Supply Regulations, SI 1994, No. 3021). However, as an interim measure, electricity suppliers can work with an asymmetric voltage tolerance of 230 V +10%/−6% (216.2 V to 253 V). This was supposed to be widened to 230 V ±10% (207 V to 253 V), but the time of this change has been put back repeatedly and currently sits in 2008 (BS 7697). The old standard was 240 V ±6% (225.6 V to 254.4 V), which is mostly contained within the new range, and so in practice suppliers have had no reason to actually change voltages. In Europe the range was 220V ±10%.

The continued deviation in the UK from the harmonised European voltage has been criticised in particular by light bulb manufacturers, who require tighter voltage tolerances to optimise the operating temperature and lifetime of their products, and who currently have to continue producing separate 230 V and 240 V versions.

Well, Beoaus, as you can see everyone is in agreement with your electrician and the only people really concerned are light bulb manufacturers, not sure why because if the bulbs go more often there sales will go up for them.

Location: Hampshire, England

Location: Australia

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