Forum: music.stackexchange.com
Tags: <synthesizer><electronics>
Title: Can I plug a 2.5A 250V~ cable to a synth that is 100 - 240v?
Question: I just got my new synthesizer, Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard.  I live in Korea and the power plug that came with won't match.  This is the plug that came with the keyboard:   and this is the receptacle on the back of the keyboard:   The Waldorf specs are  Nominal voltage: DC12V Supply Voltage: 100-240v Maximum current consumption: 0.3 A Maximum power consumption: 5 W    I have playstation cable which is 2.5A 250V~   Could I plug this to my Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard ?   Would it be ok ?

Answers:
sents: text: The 2.5A and 250V on the cable is just the highest current (Ampere) and voltage (Volts) that it's safe to use at.
text: Provided that your mains supply is in the range 100V to 240V
text: then that's no problem.
text: If you're not sure about the voltage in your country take a look at the Mains electricity by country article on Wikipedia.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/19615/Simon B
score: 11
sents: text: To plug what to what??
text: If your cable fits the power supply for the keyboard, then that's fine.
text: If you're considering plugging it straight into the Waldorf directly, it will go BOOOM big time.
text: [I'm assuming it's the first - the second really shouldn't be physically possible.
text: If it was, someone would have set their house on fire by now]
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/12556/Tetsujin
score: 5
sents: text: A simple cable with just wires and no electronics inside, as the one your photo shows, will simply forward any voltage.
text: It won't change it.
text: The label on the cable specifies the maximum voltage it was made for.
text: You can use it for any lower voltage as well.
text: The ~ says that the voltage is alternating, in contrast to = where the voltage is constant (aka.
text: direct).
text: I'm not sure how many different Waldorf Blofeld models exist, but one looks like this: If your keyboard has this connector labelled AC
text: In (alternating current in), then your cable will fit into the wall on one side and into the keyboard on the other side.
text: No serious electronics engineer would construct a 12 V= plug with that kind of connector, simply because everybody expects to put 110 V~ or 230 V~ into it.
text: A typical low voltage DC connector looks like this:
text: So there's no way you could accidentally mix a high voltage AC cable with a low voltage DC plug.
text: If your keyboard has a low voltage DC connector, then you need a power supply that converts 110 or 230 V~ to 12 V= like this (should have been shipped):
text: As you can see, it has the high voltage connector on one side and the low voltage connector on the other side.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/34120/Thomas Weller
score: 4
sents: text: No.
text: The 250v is AC, and the keyboard is DC, and only 12volts.
text: Completely incompatible.
text: Playstation plug is a 'figure of eight' or 'Grundig' plug, used exclusively for mains powered items.
text: It also gets used to power the black boxes (psu) which do transform 250vac into the 12vdc that your keyboard requires.
text: But do not connect up direct.
text: I can't think how you could anyway, as the keyboard will have a round socket for power, so it wouldn't (thankfully) fit.
text: EDIT _
text: I get it now!
text: The figure of eight plug will fit your keyboard, it's just that the end which goes in the wall socket isn't right for your country!
text: Any wire with the right plug ito the wall, and a figure of eight at the other end will do!
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/2808/Tim
score: 3
sents: text: The Waldorf Blofeld requires a "tip positive" DC barrel connector supplying 12 Volt at least at 500 mA.
text: The mains should only connect connect to a step down transformer and rectifier to convert it from 250 Volts AC to 12 Volts DC.
text: Only use the mains PlayStation cable to the mains transformer.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/2567/Rob Kam
score: 2
sents: text: Cite from the FAQ at https://support.waldorfmusic.com/products/Blofeld%20Keyboard
text: Can I use my Blofeld Keyboard with the power grid in my country?
text: The device comes with a wide range power supply which covers everything between 50-60 Hz and 110-240V.
text: You just need a power cord with a "figure of 8" cable, also known as C7 connector and the other plug matching the power grid standard in your country.
text: A voltage converter is not needed.
text: Cite from https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/south-korea/ In South Korea
text: the power plugs and sockets are of type C and F.
text: The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz.
text: So your cable should fit.
answer_details: author: music.stackexchange.com/users/65495/Mike11
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
The 2.5A and 250V on the cable is just the highest current (Ampere) and voltage (Volts) that it's safe to use at. The mains should only connect connect to a step down transformer and rectifier to convert it from 250 Volts AC to 12 Volts DC.
The Waldorf Blofeld is safe to use at 2.5A and 250V. It