The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

FloridaClay wrote:Re voltage, I encounter the same issue with some of my antique radios. Line voltage here often hits 120 or so. I use an APC voltage regulator, which can be set for 110 volts. You can get them on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/APC-LE1200-Automa ... 200+Line-R

If you get it, get it checked out electrically before using it if a fuse blew, so as not to do more damage.

Clay

Absolutely DON'T try to use it with today's higher mains voltage. And always have a competent tech check out the unit before trying to use it anyway. The capacitors will most likely fail (if original) and I'm sure that many of the resistors (if original) will have drifted out of spec, too.

Best,
Fran

Just FYI, there are no capacitors in these motors, there is usually a bank of resitors in the back of the machine, you hook the mains to the one corresponding to your volatge. I've never seen these fail. Mine have 110 / 220 as choices. Can't say I've ever seen one with just 110? If it's blowing a fuse, you more than likely have a problem with the universal motor or something a simple as a short in one of the wires. I recently worked on one of these that was blowing fuses (actually my breaker) any time power was applied and it turned out to be just a simple connection in the plug, it was just slightly loose. Certainly a good idea to go through everything in one of these before powering up for regular use, though.

Sean