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Anybody bold enough to try a voltage conversion on your own?

I am planning to move to Europe, and I have to convert the voltage on an audio research power amplifier, an audio research preamplifier, PS audio DAC, and a Whest Phono Stage.  While the actual price to have the factories do this is not very high, round-trip shipping and for large heavy boxes with insurance adds up very quickly! Particularly the phono stage which needs to go to England!  Not wanting to spend nearly $1000 on round trip shipping, I’d like to attempt this conversion myself, unless I am persuaded not to.

 I’ve read some of the similar posts on this forum as well as poked around on the web and I found that in many cases the conversion is simply a matter of changing the connection or sequence of a couple of wires inside the unit,  and most often does not require any serious swapping out of components.

The equipment that I would like to switch the voltage on is:

Audio Research VT100 mk II
Audio Research LS25 mk I
PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC mk II
Whest PS .30r

and lastly, the power conditioner:
Shunyata Research Talos

 Regarding this last item, the power conditioner, I spoke to Shunyata, and they told me that they can do this for me. The cost was higher than the other brands.  They would leave the standard US outlets on the back. They also told me that my collection of American Shunyata power cables will work on any voltage, so that as long as the Talos is converted to run on European voltage, the cables that I have will connect to my components, or any components that I upgrade to in the future.

So, if anyone out there has done this, or knows how to do this, I would really appreciate the guidance!  Also, if you have the skills and you are in South Florida, perhaps I will ask to hire you!

cheers,
Mark


marktomaras
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georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
marktomaras
an audio research preamplifier, PS audio DAC, and a Whest Phono Stage. While the actual price to have the factories do this is not very high,

Because you’ve said "not very" to the cost, by all 3 units. It sounds like they don’t need new transformers installed.
All have must have multiple primary taps on the transformers (4 wires), which can be reconfigured either series or parallel by internal switching or plugs, or physically re-configuring the primary taps.to suit the new voltage.
You can read up on doing this using Google if your up to it.
Here is a pic, the top one of the same transformer wired for 115v or 240v
http://electro-dan.co.uk/electronics/wiring.gif

Cheers George
marktomaras OP
544 posts
 
Thank you georgehifi, I was hoping this is not rocket science!  Perhaps I’ll open the hood and investigate soon...

By the way, what is your feeling on using a large capacity step down isolation transformer instead of changing all of the wiring on several components?
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
I don't mind using step down trany's, so long as they're quite and way over rated for the job. As they also do isolation as well, which will reduce mains noise. I use a 230v to 230v isolation trany on all my source gear in Australia for just that purpose.
As for amps though as they're not regulated, nothing beats straight into the wall mains outlet, as they sound best with the lowest line resistance, and any kind of after market conditioning to me introduces higher line resistance compared to nothing.

Cheers George   
marktomaras OP
544 posts
 
georgehifi - 

i think you are right about the very likely lack of a new internal transformer. Seems like that would be far more expensive of a change.

so, where do I begin?  Pop off the top and take some photos, and show the community for advice?

does the 50hz 60hz change have an effect here?  Portugal is on 50hz, we’re on 60hz.  Does the Rewiring of the transformer take this into account or solve this problem?

i am a tinkerer by nature, and I have some DIY skills. That said, I am no electronics engineer!  If I am going to attempt this, I’ll need to have a good plan/procedure in place. Any advice to how I might proceed and what the tools and skills necessary may include?

are we talking soldering? Or perhaps just some sort of detachable wiring terminator that holds the wire to the points on the transformer?

lastly, is there any way to know for sure, before I risk disaster, that the new wiring scheme is 100% correct?  As I am not familiar with Power supply transformers, I am not aware of there is a common standard that is obvious to an engineer.

It is not worth risking my gear if there is a chance of catastrophic failure. That said, if it is possible to see/envision the correct wiring  scheme will total confidence, I think I am game to do the conversion myself.

last but not least, I have a medium size step up transformer here in the USA. I suppose I could test the component at 220v to see if it works, and still be on the correct side of the Atlantic to get it fixed at the factory if I fail!

 Thanks! 
Mark
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