Casio CZ/ VZ/ FZ - Pro Series

Hi all,

I just brought back in Canada a CZ-1 I bought in Europe and I trying to figure out what must be done to use it here with an adapted line chord without frying the board.

I guess it should be ready to be adjusted for different voltage specifications or else it wouldn't be very handy for touring musicians.

The owner manual, under power supply, is refering to: 100V, 120V, 220V, 240V AC. And then there is this warning: CHANGING THE VOLTAGE SELECTOR MAY REQUIRE THE USE OF A DIFFERENT LINE CORD OR ATTACHMENT PLUG, OR BOTH. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL GUIDELINES LAID DOWN BY FCC RULES FOR USE OF THE UNIT IN THE U.S.A. (not applicable to other areas).

Does anyone knows where is this voltage selector? Is it refering to an internal switch or it's a soldered part that must be changed?

Thanks a lot for your help!

Jérôme

According to freely downloadable Service Manual (not the best quality)  
this instrument has universal transformer with voltage selector in  
primary circuit. Voltage selector is in the list of parts, so it must  
be somewhere. That means no soldering or reconnecting cables is  
necessary.

Because such selector is not described in Owner's Manual, it's inside  
the machine, somewhere in PSU circuit near the transformer.

During changing the voltage pull AC cord from the mains. Good luck.

Anyway I don't think you can destroy it even when connected - Canada  
has 120 V, Europe 220 V. It will just not work.

Daniel Forro


On Aug 31, 2015, at 7:12 PM, Jérôme jeromestpierre@...  
[CZsynth] wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> I just brought back in Canada a CZ-1 I bought in Europe and I trying  
> to figure out what must be done to use it here with an adapted line  
> chord without frying the board.
>
> I guess it should be ready to be adjusted for different voltage  
> specifications or else it wouldn't be very handy for touring  
> musicians.
>
> The owner manual, under power supply, is refering to: 100V, 120V,  
> 220V, 240V AC. And then there is this warning: CHANGING THE VOLTAGE  
> SELECTOR MAY REQUIRE THE USE OF A DIFFERENT LINE CORD OR ATTACHMENT  
> PLUG, OR BOTH. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, REFER  
> SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL GUIDELINES LAID DOWN BY FCC  
> RULES FOR USE OF THE UNIT IN THE U.S.A. (not applicable to other  
> areas).
>
> Does anyone knows where is this voltage selector? Is it refering to  
> an internal switch or it's a soldered part that must be changed?
>
> Thanks a lot for your help!
>
> Jérôme

Hi, Edward,

not so dangerous when we keep basic rules:

- do everything at once, step by step, without interruptions  
(especially when somebody can touch the instrument, or switch it on  
when you are not there or so - I've heard about such cases)

- check, check, check always and again

- keep away from the open machine all metal tools, or anything, which  
could fell inside during the work, and be also aware not to fell  
inside - keep order at your working place

- keep away curious children or pets

- work with the highest concentration and very carefully - even  
experienced person can do a fatal mistake when opened machine is  
switched on (I speak from my own experience after having good luck  
more times in my life  to survive few high voltage shocks without  
injury - that was good lesson)

- don't touch anything in mains circuit with naked fingers

- !!! disconnect the cord from mains !!!

- wait some time for discharging PSU caps

- if you have no experience with high voltage, never switch on the  
opened machine

We want to hear about you tomorrow :-)

Daniel Forro

On Aug 31, 2015, at 8:59 PM, Loscha loscha@... [CZsynth] wrote:

> Regarding anything to do with Mains Power: "I think I can work it  
> out" is dangerous.
>
> Get someone to look at it if you don't know what you're doing.
> We want to see you around on the list next month!!!
>

I have moved from Europe to Japan 12 years ago with all my circus  
(really lot of instruments and other gear) and had to solve similar  
problem. My experience is:

- very few machines have PSU which accepts wide range of voltages and  
switch automatically to any input voltage (example - Emu Systems  
instruments, Apple computers...)

- only few instruments has universal transformer and voltage selector  
- mainly older machines (for example some Yamaha, Roland, Korg,  
Casio...)

- very few machines have voltage selector but quite unusable for my  
case as it can switch only 100 or 120 Volts, or 200 or 240 (example -  
Yamaha active speakers MS60S)

- few machine have universal transformer and inside are pins enabling  
reconnecting to different voltage (example - Korg mixer 168RC)

- very few machines have universal transformer but it's necessary to  
solder cables to different location (for example Roland JD800)

- most machines were manufactured for different world zones and can't  
be switched to different voltage without changing transformer. I have  
to use  step-up transformer changing Japanese 100 Volts to European  
220 Volts. I have custom made big transformer  - 5 kW - for all  
machines in my studio, one 2.5 kW which I use for concert gigs, and  
few more smaller for different tasks and reserve.

Let's not forget when you change the voltage, it's necessary to change  
also fuses! Try to find some information about this.

Daniel Forro


On Aug 31, 2015, at 11:16 PM, '350ypvs@...'  
350ypvs@... [CZsynth] wrote:

> Jerome, please post what you discover if you find a solution to your  
> Europe to Canada CZ-1 voltage problem. I have emigrated to the USA  
> and next year I will be shipping over my synth collection from the  
> UK, which includes mains powered CZ-1, FZ-20M and VZ-1. I was  
> looking at buying some 110v - 240 voltage converters, but if there's  
> a simple switch inside the Casios that can make them run on 110v  
> that would be much better.
>
> Cheers!
>
> Chas

On the VZ1 and several other Casios, the voltage switch is just a screwdriver operated rotary switch on the bottom. On the VZ1, it's underneath on the treble side... A few seconds to change it...


Sent from my iPad


On Aug 31, 2015, at 8:46 AM, '350ypvs@...<mailto:350ypvs@...>' 350ypvs@...<mailto:350ypvs@...> [CZsynth] <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com<mailto:CZsynth@yahoogroups.com>> wrote:






Daniel, thank you for the detailed and very useful information. It's interesting in that many modern power supplies in the form of "wall warts" - e.g. my mobile/ cell phone transformer, my digital camera transformer and the power supply for my laptop all work happily on 110v as they do on 240v, yet older electronic devices don't.


I was looking at buying a few of these for when I ship over my "circus" (good description - lol!) next year:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/271916970396?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT


Where did you get your custom made transformers made? My other option would be be to get something similar that could the be connected to a gang socket/ multi socket that I could then use to power all my UK instruments from.


Cheers!



Chas


On 31 August 2015 at 10:33, Daniel Forr? danforcz@yahoo.com<mailto:danforcz@...> [CZsynth] <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com<mailto:CZsynth@yahoogroups.com>> wrote:




I have moved from Europe to Japan 12 years ago with all my circus (really lot of instruments and other gear) and had to solve similar problem. My experience is:


- very few machines have PSU which accepts wide range of voltages and switch automatically to any input voltage (example - Emu Systems instruments, Apple computers...)


- only few instruments has universal transformer and voltage selector - mainly older machines (for example some Yamaha, Roland, Korg, Casio...)


- very few machines have voltage selector but quite unusable for my case as it can switch only 100 or 120 Volts, or 200 or 240 (example - Yamaha active speakers MS60S)


- few machine have universal transformer and inside are pins enabling reconnecting to different voltage (example - Korg mixer 168RC)


- very few machines have universal transformer but it's necessary to solder cables to different location (for example Roland JD800)


- most machines were manufactured for different world zones and can't be switched to different voltage without changing transformer. I have to use  step-up transformer changing Japanese 100 Volts to European 220 Volts. I have custom made big transformer  - 5 kW - for all machines in my studio, one 2.5 kW which I use for concert gigs, and few more smaller for different tasks and reserve.


Let's not forget when you change the voltage, it's necessary to change also fuses! Try to find some information about this.


Daniel Forro




On Aug 31, 2015, at 11:16 PM, '350ypvs@...<mailto:'350ypvs@...>' 350ypvs@...<mailto:350ypvs@...> [CZsynth] wrote:


Jerome, please post what you discover if you find a solution to your Europe to Canada CZ-1 voltage problem. I have emigrated to the USA and next year I will be shipping over my synth collection from the UK, which includes mains powered CZ-1, FZ-20M and VZ-1. I was looking at buying some 110v - 240 voltage converters, but if there's a simple switch inside the Casios that can make them run on 110v that would be much better.


Cheers!


Chas

I forgot to mention external power supplies - that was easy: partly I  
use original ones connected to the step-up transformer, partly I could  
find their 100 Volt versions.

You are right that modern external power supplies accept wide range of  
input voltages... But using them with musical instruments can cause  
problem with hum or so - digital camera, battery charger, lap-top  
computer or similar gear can use more simple adapters with not so good  
filtering...

For making that huge and heavy transformer I have found a small  
private firm in my old country. They did it pretty well, absolutely  
professionally, and for good price. The only problem was to get this  
almost 20 kg huge thing from Europe to Japan. Situation was  
complicated by the fact I travelled to France for three day trip, and  
then continue to Japan- that means checking-in at two airports.  
Somehow I had good luck and could bring two big suitcases without  
paying for overweight. But after checking in at the Nice airport I was  
called by name few minutes before departure and security guys escorted  
me to some room, I had to open the luggage, unpack and explain what it  
should be, why I bring it with me and why it is so big :-) It looks  
like it's not quite common souvenir from Europe trip. Fortunately it  
was not confiscated, I was not arrested and could fly home with it.
I had to find a plastic box for it, make ventilation holes, add some  
switch, fuse and connect cables... It serves me without any problems  
about 10 years now.

The only problem in my studio is I have to be very careful when  
disconnecting some instruments' cables - not to confuse them. Some are  
for 100 Volts, some for 220. Of course there are different plugs, but  
on some instruments I use only plug reduction, so I used tape to fix  
it. Problem can start when cable is disconnected at the side of the  
instrument - as these connectors are the same nowadays and can accept  
cables with both Japanese or European plugs on the other end...
Nothing can happen when I do mistake and connect 220 V instrument to  
100 Volts, but opposite way can be fatal case for the instrument. Of  
course few years ago I did such mistake and my Kawai K5000W refused to  
work after very short electroshock curing. Fortunately it is very well  
made instrument, there's a lot of protection (Zener diodes or so) on  
each board, main transformer survived, so I had just to replace most  
of components in PSU - besides fuses voltage regulators, transistors,  
and when doing it also resistors and capacitors and machine is OK.   
Only FDD died, it is connected directly to PSU. It was quite easy to  
find proper FDD as that one has slightly different pin assignment, but  
after some experimenting I managed to find the right assignment.

Daniel Forro


On Aug 31, 2015, at 11:46 PM, '350ypvs@...'  
350ypvs@... [CZsynth] wrote:

>
>
> Daniel, thank you for the detailed and very useful information. It's  
> interesting in that many modern power supplies in the form of "wall  
> warts" - e.g. my mobile/ cell phone transformer, my digital camera  
> transformer and the power supply for my laptop all work happily on  
> 110v as they do on 240v, yet older electronic devices don't.
>
> I was looking at buying a few of these for when I ship over my  
> "circus" (good description - lol!) next year:
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/271916970396?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
>
> Where did you get your custom made transformers made? My other  
> option would be be to get something similar that could the be  
> connected to a gang socket/ multi socket that I could then use to  
> power all my UK instruments from.
>
> Cheers!
>
> Chas

I got it and my CZ-1 is now working on 120V. John was right, there was only a selector to turn underneath a part that had to be unscrewed.

I am glad I printed a binded copy of the service manual because it is not so clear. The dashed lines indicating each part are a little blurry. Anyhow, it was easy to identify the voltage selector on the 1-6 Power Supply schema but I had to look at the board for a good 15 minutes before to figure out. 

Right beside the power connector, it's underneath the part labeled as ESE371 that is round with 5 wires coming out of it vertically. There is only 2 screws to pull out and underneath the switch is clearly indicating 100V, 120V, 220V and 240V. 

This was well designed and it's very easy to do. I'll attached the 2 pictures I took that shows the part with the voltage selector.

Is there a FAQ section on Yahoo groups where I could post the illustrated instructions?

Cheers & have a nice one!

Jérôme

"'350ypvs@googlemail.com' 350ypvs@... [CZsynth]" <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com> a écrit :

>  
>
>Thanks so much for that info. John. When I return to the UK next year, I will check the back of my Casios to see which have voltages that can be changed with a simple turn of a screwdriver. Great to know!
>
>
>On 31 August 2015 at 11:04, John Leimseider john.leimseider@... [CZsynth] <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>
>  
>
>On the VZ1 and several other Casios, the voltage switch is just a screwdriver operated rotary switch on the bottom. On the VZ1, it's underneath on the treble side... A few seconds to change it...
>
>
>Sent from my iPad
>
>
>On Aug 31, 2015, at 8:46 AM, '350ypvs@...' 350ypvs@... [CZsynth] <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>
>  
>
>Daniel, thank you for the detailed and very useful information. It's interesting in that many modern power supplies in the form of "wall warts" - e.g. my mobile/ cell phone transformer, my digital camera transformer and the power supply for my laptop all work happily on 110v as they do on 240v, yet older electronic devices don't. 
>
>
>I was looking at buying a few of these for when I ship over my "circus" (good description - lol!) next year:
>
>http://www.ebay.com/itm/271916970396?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
>
>
>Where did you get your custom made transformers made? My other option would be be to get something similar that could the be connected to a gang socket/ multi socket that I could then use to power all my UK instruments from.
>
>
>Cheers!
>
>
>Chas 
>
>
>On 31 August 2015 at 10:33, Daniel Forró danforcz@... [CZsynth] <CZsynth@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>
>  
>
>I have moved from Europe to Japan 12 years ago with all my circus (really lot of instruments and other gear) and had to solve similar problem. My experience is:
>
>
>- very few machines have PSU which accepts wide range of voltages and switch automatically to any input voltage (example - Emu Systems instruments, Apple computers...)
>
>
>- only few instruments has universal transformer and voltage selector - mainly older machines (for example some Yamaha, Roland, Korg, Casio...)
>
>
>- very few machines have voltage selector but quite unusable for my case as it can switch only 100 or 120 Volts, or 200 or 240 (example - Yamaha active speakers MS60S)
>
>
>- few machine have universal transformer and inside are pins enabling reconnecting to different voltage (example - Korg mixer 168RC)
>
>
>- very few machines have universal transformer but it's necessary to solder cables to different location (for example Roland JD800)
>
>
>- most machines were manufactured for different world zones and can't be switched to different voltage without changing transformer. I have to use  step-up transformer changing Japanese 100 Volts to European 220 Volts. I have custom made big transformer  - 5 kW - for all machines in my studio, one 2.5 kW which I use for concert gigs, and few more smaller for different tasks and reserve.
>
>
>Let's not forget when you change the voltage, it's necessary to change also fuses! Try to find some information about this.
>
>
>Daniel Forro
>
>
>
>On Aug 31, 2015, at 11:16 PM, '350ypvs@...' 350ypvs@... [CZsynth] wrote:
>
>
>Jerome, please post what you discover if you find a solution to your Europe to Canada CZ-1 voltage problem. I have emigrated to the USA and next year I will be shipping over my synth collection from the UK, which includes mains powered CZ-1, FZ-20M and VZ-1. I was looking at buying some 110v - 240 voltage converters, but if there's a simple switch inside the Casios that can make them run on 110v that would be much better. 
>
>
>Cheers!
>
>
>Chas
>
>
>
>
>
>
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