Buying a US GCX, living in the UK........

[jediboab]

Hi there guys, I'm buying a GCX Audio Switcher from the US (as we get slayed here in the UK for prices... £399 UK vs $399 US....almost half the price!), my question is as it is a US Power Supply, is it possible to use this in the UK with the addition of a US to UK Convertor Plug e.g. http://www.pulsat.com/products/USA-to-U ... -Plug.html
(without any additional noise/buzzing, etc..)?

Or will I need to purchase a UK version of the Power supply???

Cheers in advance guys..


Bob

[JohnClark]

Any UK Voodoo Lab dealer will be able to get the correct 240V power supply for the GCX.

Good Luck!

[jediboab]

Hi John, I can get the UK 240V Power supply from my local guitar dealer no probs, but it'll cost me £35, and I was trying to avoid this. As the one I am buying from the US comes with the power supply (all be it, a US 110V version), I was hoping that all I'd need was a US to UK Convertor Plug

e.g. http://www.pulsat.com/products/USA-to-U ... -Plug.html

This will cost me £3, will this work without adding any additional noise/buzzing, and still power up my Ground Control Pro?

Cheers
Bob

[JohnClark]

The linked device will NOT work for what you are trying to do. Here is the warning from the link...
"Warning: Does not convert voltages. Please ensure the equipment you intend to use operates at UK voltage rating between 220-240V."

If you absolutely had to use the US power supply, you would need to connect it to a step down transformer that converts the voltage down from 240V.
Because these power supplies are essentially step down transformers themselves (they convert the regional mains voltage down to 9V) it seems that simply getting the correct power supply would make things easier in the long run regardless of any slight cost savings.

Good Luck!

[jediboab]

Hi John, got my GCX and Ground Control Pro today!! Super excited! As per your previous post, I contacted a UK Voodoo Lab dealer from the Voodoo Lab website who sell the UK Power supply for the GCX, BUT, it still only has 2 pins! I've been advised that I will need to cut the 2 pin plug off, and hard wire a 3 pin plug on!...... A bit surprised by that!

When you buy a new GCX in the UK, does it not come with a 3 pin power supply??
If it does, do you know where I can get one as I would prefer a sealed 3 pin plug?

I'm able to wire up a 3 pin plug no probs provided there are 3 wires
(BROWN:goes to fuse pin, GREEN/YELLOW:top earth pin, and BLUE:-left hand pin)


Can you confirm that when I cut off the 2 pin plug that there will be 3 wires coloured as per above?
If not, can you tell me what coloured wires there will be and which of the 3 UK plug pins to connect them to......?
And what amp of fuse will be required (e.g. 13, 5)


Cheers

[BadMelonFarmer]

Hi,

I did exactly the same as you and bought my Ground Control Pro in the US.

The official line is bound to be you need to use an officially supported power supply, but....

looking at the specs you just need a 9V AC power supply that will provide enough juice.

There are quite a few options out there, http://www.effectpowersupplies.com/ (no connection personally) offer a few.

I use a Line 6 PX2 for my GCP and it works great.

If you go for a PX2, shop around as you can get them cheaper than effectspowersupplies. I got mine for around £15 delivered from dolphin (no connection)

Cheers

[jediboab]

Thanks for the tip Badmelon, but I plan to power the GCP with the GCX, and the GCX requires a 9v AC Power Supply with 4 pins at the end (like a midi cable), and have enough juice to power up the GCP.

Cheers

[BadMelonFarmer]

Thanks for the tip Badmelon, but I plan to power the GCP with the GCX, and the GCX requires a 9v AC Power Supply with 4 pins at the end (like a midi cable), and have enough juice to power up the GCP.

Cheers

Sorry dude, I thought the GCX had the same power connector as the GCP....sorry about that

[JohnClark]

These types of power transformers do not have a ground connection so there will only be the two wires. The power supply for the export GCX is what we refer to as a "table top" adapter with a "euro" plug on the one end. Usually it would be our dealers in the UK (or wherever a change is needed) that would swap out the wall connector for you, otherwise I may suggest talking to a local electrician about the modifications you would like performed.

[jediboab]

Hi Badmelon, thanks for the advice anyway mate. Good to know that the Line 6 power supply is working for ya as I have one for an old pedal I don't use.

John, I asked the authorised Voodoo Lab UK dealer about sending a 3 pin plug version to keep in line with our wall sockets and they said the only 240volt they had was the "euro" 2 pin version and it is illegal for them to modify it to 3 pin! It was even suggested that I could use a 3 pin plug upside down using the top pin to open the top gate, allowing me to plug the 2 pin euro straight into the wall?

If I have to use a 2 pin - 3 pin convertor , that is ok (would something like this work in conjunction with the euro 240v power supply........http://www.cable-trader.co.uk/items/2-p ... erter-plug )?

Thanks
Bob