23 Sep
2009
23 Sep
'09
2:05 p.m.
All items containing cores and windings (motors,
fans,
transformers, etc.) are typically line frequency specific. Some
are not - but one has to check them all!
Hmmm... Too small a core would make a transformer that would run on 60Hz
but overheat on 50Hz, but I can't think of how you'd do the reverse, at
least without a lot of work. In other words (apart form ferroresonant
PSUs!), the mains transformers should be fine. And of course the
smoothing capacitors will be larger-than-necessary for 60Hz, but that's
no problem either.
Fens will run faster on 60Hz. I don;t think this is a prolem. Certainly
all the AC fans I've seen are rated for 50/60Hz.
Disk drive spindle motors are the main problem, of course
Ferroresonant power supplies are almost always "tuned" for a specific
line frequency - and will do "bad" things when used at an incorrect
frequency.
Indeed.
Some switching power supplies support both 50Hz and 60Hz (or even
400Hz) power - but, again, one has to check the specs...
A switcher starts y rectifying (either plain rectification or a voltage
doubler) the incoming mains to get DC. It's hard to make that work on
50Hz and not on 60Hz :-). Some SMPUs have a small linear PSU to start
them up, this is unlikely to have problems either.
Line clocks are tied to the line frequency - and this could affect
some software (but this is usually not a huge issue - but it has
to be considered).
This one is trivial in that it's a logic-level signal needing almost no
power to drive it. If you can't correct it in software, it's not too hard
to make a circuit using a crystal oscillator and divider chain to toggle
the LTC line at the right frequency.
-tony