Use 110 Volt AC radio in the UK?

[Eddy]

Can anyone tell me if a radio that has a United States 110 Volt AC plug on it can be used in the UK?

Years ago I bought a radio alarm-clock with a 110 Volt AC plug on it in Far East and I have been using it here in the UK for the last ten years. However, I have just turned it over and looked at it carefully and on the back it states: power supply 110 Volts - 220 Volts.

The machine I want to buy can be seen at the following address, although I think I can buy it from another US supplier. (I don't think Amazon.com will ship to the UK anymore.)

[meow2222]

> Thanks,

Small 110v appliances can be run on a 240:110v transformer. I think you'd need a good reason to buy 110 new though.

NT

[Alan]

In message , Eddy wrote

Download the manual/marketing specification from the Sony USA site and you will find its 120V, 60Hz only

[Derek Geldard]

gizmo from Maplin to make it work.

DG

[Pete Verdon]

...and while the voltage can be fixed with the cheap[1] gizmo from Maplin, the frequency requires a more expensive doofer.

Pete

[1] if bought from somewhere other than Maplin

[Andy Burns]

>> Small 110v appliances can be run on a 240:110v transformer. I think

The frequency spacings on the radio could be wrong for the UK too.

[Alan]

In message , Derek Geldard wrote

By the time you've paid Maplin £30 for the transformer in a box it may be worth buying the UK version with DAB/FM/AM (XDRCD70DAB ) from Amazon for around £100

[Eddy]

Thanks, all.

Is this the right gizmo from Maplins?

looks neat, not too expensive, but the 60Hz sounds like a problem.

The reason I want the radio from the US is because the UK version doesn't have battery-backup installed. Switch the power of here, or have a powercut for some reason, and you lose the time-settings as well as all the radio pre-sets.

You don't know if there's a gizmo at Maplins that would swing into action in the event of a power cut, do you? :-)

Eddy.

[Andy Burns]

Some of the Pure DAB radios can be fitted with NiMH battery packs (which they charge internally) so no missed alarms ... DAB has its detractors, but for a bedside radio audiophile quality is not really the issue.

[Harry Bloomfield]

Eddy used his keyboard to write :

> Thanks,

It sounds as if not only will there be a problem with its transformer being 110 and 60Hz, but if the time keeping is based on the 60Hz then the clock will run slow too -even if you could get a 240/110 adapter. I think the AM channel spacings are different too.

Not really very useful in the UK.

[Eddy]

Thanks, Harry. And if I buy the UK version, which has no battery-backup integrated into its system, is there any way of fitting something simple so an external battery will kick in in the event of the power supply being cut? (It happens too often out here where I am!)

Eddy.

[S Viemeister]

We have our tv/radio/stereo plugged into a UPS.

[meow2222]

Mains frequency is a non-issue. Any 60Hz psu will be fine on 50Hz The radio will be rated 60Hz simply because thats the market its designed for.

Time keeping derived from mains frequency is ancient history, no modern equipment does this.

The one issue that might crop up though is differing frequency spacings.

can you not find a uk model that meets your requirement? Would surely be easier.

a UPS, thats another option with a 240v radio.

NT

[Peter Parry]

If your power only fails for short periods you might be better getting a DAB version like the Roberts CRD 26. This has non volatile storage of alarm times and resets time automatically when power is restored. Doesn't help if power is still off when the alarm should be going off but my experience of various battery backed up clock radios is that quite a few of them don't work reliably on backup.

[Derek Geldard]

Well £16.99 anyway :

"UK/US Step Down 45VA RP90X 16.99"

DG

[Eddy]

Thanks, Peter, for the Roberts CRD 26 suggestion. Unfortunately we get no digital signal here in south west Shropshire - also poor mobile phone coverage and very weak broadband! We think this area is right at the bottom of everyone's lists. Anyway, in terms of radio we have to listen to FM or AM.

Eddy.

[Eddy]

Yes. Never heard of these before. Maplins have several. Pricey though.

Eddy.