Hello all,
I'm looking for suggestions on how best to power a US Apple IIc (110-120v 60hz) computer when in Poland which uses 230v 50hz. I know they make step down transformers for this purpose, but the frequency would still be 50hz rather than 60hz and that could be a problem. So what is the best way to power this machine in Europe?
Thanks!
If you don't want to modify the computer one way to do that is with an inverter which will "reconstitute" the power. By that I mean it will take say 12V and generate a new AC sine wave at 60Hz, 110V. You don't need a really big one because a //c doesn't draw a lot of juice. However most monitors which can accept NTSC inputs also require 110V 60Hz, and monitors, especially CRT ones, typically draw a lot more power. Anyway, instead of using a step down transformer from 230V AC 50Hz to 110V AC 50Hz, what you would do is get one that goes from 230V AC 50Hz to 12V DC that can supply sufficient amps. Then you run that into the inverter which goes from 12V DC to 110V AC 60Hz.
If you are using a RGB converter from the //c to a monitor that runs on your native 230V AC 50Hz power that may free you from needing to supply enough 110V AC 60Hz juice to power that. The issue with that is finding a suitable monitor that can handle the slow scan rates of a //c, or finding a scan converter which will handle that.
Your other option is to replace the power supply for the //c with one that is Euro spec. The //c+ I know didn't use an external brick but on the //c you may be able to find an external brick that will do it for you.
I think that would be one option. To get say 60 amps from the AC side one would need a rather beefy 12v supply, one that could supply at least 5 amps (assuming minimal losses).
[quote=gschmidt]
So what is the best way to power this machine in Europe?
[/quote]
The IIc operates from 9V to 20V DC(!), means indepedant from any frequency. Apple suggests 15V DC and 25W. You can use a modern switching power supply which delivers 2A @12VDC.
Connect this to a 7-pin DIN connctor: pins 2,3 GND and pins 5,6 +9..+20V.
Regards
Ralf
Thanks, thats another option, but the main problem is still the monitor which operates from mains. I do wonder if a step down transformer to 110v but still at 50hz would work. I don't know if the frequency difference is an issue or not.
[quote=gschmidt]
I do wonder if a step down transformer to 110v but still at 50hz would work. I don't know if the frequency difference is an issue or not.
[/quote]
Short answer: No it's not an issue.
[quote=gschmidt]
Thanks, thats another option, but the main problem is still the monitor which operates from mains. [/quote]
Ok, in your first posting you didn't mention a monitor. Which one?
[quote=gschmidt]
I do wonder if a step down transformer to 110v but still at 50hz would work. I don't know if the frequency difference is an issue or not.
[/quote]
No, it is not. If there is no external switch to change the voltage range open the case of the monitor: probably there is a solution inside. This was my solution in 1985 when I bought a second hand IIe from USA here in West-Germany.
Regards
Ralf
RaRalf - The monitor is the original G090S. Thanks.