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2010-03-28 by plastikanimal
Anyone know how to do this safely? If the ground wire is going to the metal case, can it be connected to the third prong instead? Would this cause a ground loop or some other problem? I ask because my JX-8P needs a new plug installed. I was thinking of "upgrading" it to modern standards. Good idea or bad?
2010-03-28 by Alan Probandt
The old two prong connecters that had both prongs the same size were dangerous because either side could be plugged into the 'hot' side of the wall outlet. And one of the wires would go to the power transformer in the appliance while the other would go to chassis. I remember being a child and having my first record player always giving me 'funny throbing pulses' whenever I touched the metal plate behind the off/on/volume switch. I didn't know then that it was 120VAC. With modern three wire connecters, the black (hot, short blade on the wall plug) and the white (neutral, long blade on the wall plug) will go to the primary side of the internal appliance transformer (or primary side circuitry of the switching power supply) and the yellow/green (ground/zero voltage) will go to the chassis/case of the appliance. You might want to get a 'ground fault adapter' that goes between the modern three wire plug and the two wire vintage synth, especially if you end up connecting the Neutral and the Ground wires together. Do a Google search on "connecting the Neutral and the Ground wires together" to see if this is a bat-shit crazy thing to do or if it is acceptable in certain circumstances. I'm not an electrician. The ground-fault-adapter is a small box (found at a hardware store) that will switch off the power to the appliance nearly instantly if the current in the ground circuit goes above a certain level. Another suggestion is an isolation transformer. At least replace any old plug that has blades the same size with a two-prong plug (if they are still allowed to be sold) that has one wide blade and one thin blade. That way the chassis/case will not be accidentally connected to the hot side of the wall power.
2010-03-28 by Alexis V. Rogers
Replace the two-prong IEC socket with a three-prong and run a wire from the ground lug on the socket to the chassis ground point. --- In vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, "plastikanimal" <plasticanimal1@...> wrote:
> > Anyone know how to do this safely? > If the ground wire is going to the metal case, can it be connected to the third prong instead? > Would this cause a ground loop or some other problem? > > I ask because my JX-8P needs a new plug installed. I was thinking of "upgrading" it to modern standards. > > Good idea or bad? >
2010-03-28 by Mike de Vries
Not all countries use the same standard for colours of Active / Neutral / Earth etc.. so don't go quoting colours... not all countries use the same voltage either. If someone is not sure about wiring up AC power, I think rather than asking a random bunch of people on the internet, they should probably get a professional to do it. The advice you get on the net probably is well intentioned.. it would be a shame if it killed you. --- On Mon, 29/3/10, Alan Probandt <alan_probandt@...> wrote:
From: Alan Probandt <alan_probandt@...> Subject: [vintagesynthrepair] Google it - Adding a 3 prong plug to vintage synth? To: vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com Received: Monday, 29 March, 2010, 10:12 AM The old two prong connecters that had both prongs the same size were dangerous because either side could be plugged into the 'hot' side of the wall outlet. And one of the wires would go to the power transformer in the appliance while the other would go to chassis. I remember being a child and having my first record player always giving me 'funny throbing pulses' whenever I touched the metal plate behind the off/on/volume switch. I didn't know then that it was 120VAC. With modern three wire connecters, the black (hot, short blade on the wall plug) and the white (neutral, long blade on the wall plug) will go to the primary side of the internal appliance transformer (or primary side circuitry of the switching power supply) and the yellow/green (ground/zero voltage) will go to the chassis/case of the appliance. You might want to get a 'ground fault adapter' that goes between the modern three wire plug and the two wire vintage synth, especially if you end up connecting the Neutral and the Ground wires together. Do a Google search on "connecting the Neutral and the Ground wires together" to see if this is a bat-shit crazy thing to do or if it is acceptable in certain circumstances. I'm not an electrician. The ground-fault- adapter is a small box (found at a hardware store) that will switch off the power to the appliance nearly instantly if the current in the ground circuit goes above a certain level. Another suggestion is an isolation transformer. At least replace any old plug that has blades the same size with a two-prong plug (if they are still allowed to be sold) that has one wide blade and one thin blade. That way the chassis/case will not be accidentally connected to the hot side of the wall power.
2010-03-29 by plastikanimal
Well it's easy enough to rewire a three prong the same way as the old two prong. Leaving the cords ground disconnected. It's just that the old way is potentially dangerous. I want to connect the third. I'm just not sure if this will hurt the synth or cause a noise problem. Your reply is well appreciated. Very good advise that needed to be added to this thread. --- In vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, Mike de Vries <mrjdevries@...> wrote:
> > Not all countries use the same standard for colours of Active / Neutral / Earth etc.. so don't go quoting colours... not all countries use the same voltage either. >  > If someone is not sure about wiring up AC power, I think rather than asking a random bunch of people on the internet, they should probably get a professional to do it. >  > The advice you get on the net probably is well intentioned.. it would be a shame if it killed you. > > --- On Mon, 29/3/10, Alan Probandt <alan_probandt@...> wrote: > > > From: Alan Probandt <alan_probandt@...> > Subject: [vintagesynthrepair] Google it - Adding a 3 prong plug to vintage synth? > To: vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com > Received: Monday, 29 March, 2010, 10:12 AM > > >  > > > > The old two prong connecters that had both prongs the same size were dangerous because either side could be plugged into the 'hot' side of the wall outlet. And one of the wires would go to the power transformer in the appliance while the other would go to chassis. I remember being a child and having my first record player always giving me 'funny throbing pulses' whenever I touched the metal plate behind the off/on/volume switch. I didn't know then that it was 120VAC. > > With modern three wire connecters, the black (hot, short blade on the wall plug) and the white (neutral, long blade on the wall plug) will go to the primary side of the internal appliance transformer (or primary side circuitry of the switching power supply) and the yellow/green (ground/zero voltage) will go to the chassis/case of the appliance. > > You might want to get a 'ground fault adapter' that goes between the modern three wire plug and the two wire vintage synth, especially if you end up connecting the Neutral and the Ground wires together. Do a Google search on "connecting the Neutral and the Ground wires together" to see if this is a bat-shit crazy thing to do or if it is acceptable in certain circumstances. I'm not an electrician. The ground-fault- adapter is a small box (found at a hardware store) that will switch off the power to the appliance nearly instantly if the current in the ground circuit goes above a certain level. > > Another suggestion is an isolation transformer. > > At least replace any old plug that has blades the same size with a two-prong plug (if they are still allowed to be sold) that has one wide blade and one thin blade. That way the chassis/case will not be accidentally connected to the hot side of the wall power. >
2010-03-29 by plastikanimal
I guess that would make sense because the circuit boards are grounded at several points to the chassis as is the transformer. So all grounds are connected to the outlets ground. Was mostly worried about noise. Have enough of that in the chorus ;) I'll try it and see. Hopefully nobody dies(me or the synth). --- In vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, "Alexis V. Rogers" <alexis.v.rogers@...> wrote:
> > Replace the two-prong IEC socket with a three-prong and run a wire from the ground lug on the socket to the chassis ground point. > > --- In vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, "plastikanimal" <plasticanimal1@> wrote: > > > > Anyone know how to do this safely? > > If the ground wire is going to the metal case, can it be connected to the third prong instead? > > Would this cause a ground loop or some other problem? > > > > I ask because my JX-8P needs a new plug installed. I was thinking of "upgrading" it to modern standards. > > > > Good idea or bad? > > >
2010-03-29 by Troy Cromwell
Anyone know how to do this safely?
If the ground wire is going to the metal case, can it be connected to the third prong instead?
Would this cause a ground loop or some other problem?
I ask because my JX-8P needs a new plug installed. I was thinking of "upgrading" it to modern standards.
Good idea or bad?
2010-03-29 by Paul Cunningham
I have done this multiple times for annoying synths using those two-prong modular cables. adding the IEC socket was a breeze using crimp connectors as it's usually an exact fit, and i have never had any problems adding a proper ground to the chassis. most rolands are VERY WELL grounded internally. its like the designers were terrified of RF or getting shocked or something. ;-) friend me on facebook if you want to see photos of my IEC mods and more... -pc
On Mar 28, 2010, at 9:12 PM, plastikanimal wrote: > I guess that would make sense because the circuit boards are grounded at several points to the chassis as is the transformer. So all grounds are connected to the outlets ground. > Was mostly worried about noise. Have enough of that in the chorus ;) > I'll try it and see. Hopefully nobody dies(me or the synth). > > --- In vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, "Alexis V. Rogers" <alexis.v.rogers@...> wrote: >> >> Replace the two-prong IEC socket with a three-prong and run a wire from the ground lug on the socket to the chassis ground point. >> >> --- In vintagesynthrepair@yahoogroups.com, "plastikanimal" <plasticanimal1@> wrote: >>> >>> Anyone know how to do this safely? >>> If the ground wire is going to the metal case, can it be connected to the third prong instead? >>> Would this cause a ground loop or some other problem? >>> >>> I ask because my JX-8P needs a new plug installed. I was thinking of "upgrading" it to modern standards. >>> >>> Good idea or bad? >>>