Hey guys, so I have moved out to Colorado from Australia and I have brought my 240v roland cm24 plotter only to find out it will not run on a standard power outlet here, has anyone got any suggestions on if there is a suitable voltage convertors that may be able to help me run this? I mainly only use for small decal runs for friends and the odd sign to help friends out so I would rather not have to buy a new unit.
Thanks Jason
[ June 16, 2010, 04:16 PM: Message edited by: Jason Bryant ]
Posted by Tim Barrow (Member # 576) on :
I would like to think you could buy an power hook-up from roland that just about any electronic repair man can install,....it would seem logical that you could possibly rob the power adpater off an old roland plotter and solder it in place of the european unit in your plotter,...other wise you can buy a step up converter here for about $20 plus shipping.
edited to say I fixed the link to a step up converter that will convert 110 up to 220 instead of step down from 220 to 110 ,....saved ya $20 in the process also
[ June 16, 2010, 05:24 PM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
Posted by Tim Barrow (Member # 576) on :
On another thought having read the specifications for your model have you tried just using an american power supply cord? is the receptical on the machine the same as the one on any old us computer device, rectangular with three prongs and angled corners on the one wide side,...the specs say it can run on either type of power so it may be just a matter of switching to a cord with a standard three prong us type plug.
Posted by Jason Bryant (Member # 3150) on :
I have tried switching the cord but only on a non earthed outlet so maybe I should try a earthed outlet and see if that works.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
You have 240v back at the electrical panel!
Hire an electrician to run a new line to where you will be using the plotter.
[ June 16, 2010, 05:11 PM: Message edited by: Si Allen ]
Posted by Tim Barrow (Member # 576) on :
He's gonna have a hard time getting an Australian or European receptacle to pass code here in the US of A Si,and its gonna look funky with a stove or dryer cord jerry rigged to it,...
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
The plotter might have a universal switchmode power converter/supply in it, which might take any input voltage from 110 to 250 volts AC, and regulate that down to the DC power it needs to operate.
Just take a look at the panel where the cord plugs in. (I think others have said the same thing above) It should say 240v only, or 110-240v or in some there's a switch to set one way or another to indicate the input voltage.
The cord will be a standard kettle/PC/monitor/printer 3-pronged plug on the back end. (not a stove or hairdryer one- anything rated for heat is different & usually fabric-covered as it won't melt as readily)
Posted by Tim Barrow (Member # 576) on :
Ian I checked my roland and there isn't one on the older american models. I know the switch you are talking about like on a computer power supply,...I read nothing about one in the manual and or the specifications they only read,...power consumption 0.8 A /117 V, 0.4 A / 220-230 V, 0.4 A / 230 -240 V
on another thought,...would changing the fuse to the one for 110 models possibly reset the voltage or is there an internal switch on the power supply unit?
[ June 16, 2010, 07:00 PM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
Posted by Gregg Parkes (Member # 7710) on :
Don't forget that there is a hz difference between Australia and the US, 50 & 60 hz, Running on 110 as a voltage without the hz converter as well will make it run faster. These are motors we are talking about.
Cheers - Gregg
Posted by Tim Barrow (Member # 576) on :
the stepper motors will run on whatever voltage the power supply inside the plotter steps it down to,.usually lower than 12v or whatever power is needed by the motherboard,....a 12v motor will start your car,....when its all said and done a new 110v ac power supply to replace the 220v one for the plotter technically would solve this problem but it is probably cheapest and most practical to get the $20 step up converter,....it would be very impractical for roland to make a different motherboard for both voltages when all they need is a different power supply for each of the two voltages stepping down the voltage to the same lower voltages needed for the motors and motherboard.
[ June 17, 2010, 12:30 AM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
Posted by Jason Bryant (Member # 3150) on :
I think I will just get a convertor as it seems the easiest, and I can use it if I need for my other Australian electrical things.
Thanks for all the replies
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Gregg ... 50 or 60 hz is gone once you convert to DC power.
Posted by Jason Bryant (Member # 3150) on :
Quick question does anyone know what type of wattage they produce as the converters range from 40watts up to many thousands? Thanks
Posted by Tim Barrow (Member # 576) on :
if all you are gonna pull is .8 amps at 110 volts I would think the small $20 100 watt unit will be fine,...its kinda like an inverter 12v dc stepped up to 110v ac for a truck it might not work with a skill saw but it will be more than enough for the plotter,....at .8 amps,... if you have drills and skill saws and other power tools from down under you want to use the same adapter with, you are going to need much more than a 100 watt unit, possibly upward of 5000 watts depending on the number of amps they will pull,...
edited to add from the calculator online I used it will only take 88 watts to run this plotter @ 110 v ac at .8 amp,...or 220v ac at .4 amp
The formula needed is,... volts times amps equals watts needed,,(volts) x (amps) = watts ,...don't know about down under but here in the states there should be a label on all electrical tools with the number of volts and amps needed to run the tool or appliance
[ June 17, 2010, 10:14 PM: Message edited by: Tim Barrow ]
