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July 17, 2009 - 11:19am
#1
power transformer spins my turntable too fast
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Uh, Canada uses 60Hz, Europe 50Hz, so most likely your turntable has a synchronous motor, and is going 6/5 of the correct speed.
You'd need to get an inverter to fix that.
Are you sure that the belt is on the proper pulley? If so it has to do with the way that the motor is interacting with the AC. Replacing the turntable motor or the wall wart power supply will be the cheapest way to rectify the problem. Find a local Project dealer or the Canadian importer for Project and ask them to BUY a new motor. They most likely will NOT consider this a warranty issue which is why I specified BUY.
Also I wouldn't mention that you brought the stuff over there intentionally to save money instead of buying it on this side of the pond. Both the importer and dealer may look at that as having taken money out of their pocket and they might be less interested in helping you. There are very good reasons for using importers, it's a system that isn't in place simply to make money. They serve many essential functions. This is the kind of small issue that makes buying audio equipment in another country just to save a couple of bucks a pain in the ass. That's why I strongly advised you to buy at leas the electronics when you got to Canada a couple of months ago. I hope you don't feel like I'm enjoying saying "I told you so" this post is really more to help stop others from making the same mistake in the future.
Hi, thanks for the advice, yeah I can totally see the logic of buying it here, but having said that, the enjoyment i had in the since feb, when i bought have been totally worth it
if i had only had to wait one month I would have done so, but it was 4-5 months at least, and on top of that I may be moving back to europe in a year or two anyway, so I would have exactly the same problems but in reverse.
anyway, getting back tot the Issue at hand, Ill see about buying a new motor.
What exactly does the inverter do? do i hook it up after the voltage transformer?
Thanks again for the advice.
Replacing the wall wart power supply that comes with the turntable might also work. Talk to a Project deal or the Canadian importer of Project. When it comes to Project turntables J_J's solution would also work but would most likely be as expensive, probably more expensive and would be much more clunky. With many other turntables J-J's solution would be the only solution other than replacing the motor.
The reason your turntable runs fast is because of the frequency diff between UK and North American power systems.
This is not surprising at all. Any AC motor designed for use in UK will run fast in North America. The frequency of the AC system is what controls the speed of the motors. Also life of the motor may be shortened as heat build up and convection cooling is also designed for the intended power system.
I would think that an inverter that could put out reliable 50hz to drive your turntable would cost way more than your turntable replacement cost. The best bet is to order and install the motor that was designed for 60Hz operation from your turntable manufacturer. There may be some sort of motor speed controller for turntables, you may want to investigate.
Jim G. (journeyman electrician, controls engineer)
The Project speed box may solve your problem. Check with www.needledoctor.com
The Speedbox will not solve the problem it is designed to switch the speed between 33 and 45 without changing the belt. The Speedbox II SE probably would work but it's $629 and he'd need a test record as well.