Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

How to safely change an old 2-pin plug to modern 3 pin fused?

Options
  • 27-01-2013 2:54pm
    #1
    cojobt
    Closed Accounts Posts: 208 ✭✭


    Hi,

    I'd like to get my father's old reel-to-reel tape recorder operating again. It's been gathering dust in its original condition for a long time. It's reported to have been working at the time of shelving.

    My first problem is getting power into it. Currently it has an old 2-pin plug (round pins). If I remove this old plug, can I simply connect the wires to a modern 3 pin plug?

    Or, is this similar to a Euro-plug, in which case a Euro-Irl/Uk adaptor will do the job?

    Or, is there much more to it?

    The reel-to-reel is the Philips EL3553 RK25SM, from around 1965.
    The mains voltage info as described on an online manual is: "110, 127, 220, 245V, 50 Hz" and the Power Consumption is "ca 40W". This corresponds with info on the machine itself.
    The manual (in German) is here: http://philips.pytalhost.com/EL3553s/PhilipsEL3553-01.JPG
    EL%203553.jpg

    We believe the tape on it contains recordings from the 60s so, we're eager to get it going. I know that this can be picked up quite cheaply on the second hand market, but it would be nice if it's still working.


    cojobt


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    jjf1974
    Registered Users Posts: 924 ✭✭✭jjf1974


    You would probaly better of fitting a standard 3 pin plug.if the wires are red and black connect the red to the live fused connection, connect the black to the neutral (n) connection.check to see if there is a switch to change input voltage, this should be set to 220 volts.
    You should also change the plug in the fuse from 13 amp to a 3 amp as the machine is rated at 40 watt.


  • Options
    #3
    gctest50
    Registered Users Posts: 9,605 ✭✭✭gctest50


    You might need to "bake" the tape to dry it out if it has been idle for so long - otherwise it might stick to the heads n stuff

    http://www.beechpark.com/services.html

    http://sasireland.com/tapebaking.html


  • Options
    #4
    Solair
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,230 ✭✭✭Solair


    Red Live & Black Neutral applied in the UK in the past, but not in Germany!

    If the plug is like this http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Schuko_plug_and_socket_annotated.png

    It may be a 'schuko' type plug i.e. 2 pin, with scraping side earths.

    If you open the plug, the live and neutral will be wired to the two pins (in random order as the plug's not polarised) and the earth will be connected to the scraping earth.

    See this site for more info : http://www.lanzaroterelocation.co.uk/wiring-a-spanish-plug-in-lanzarote/ (shows wiring a Spanish plug, exactly the same as a German (or most continental countries)

    Just be VERY cautious. Some old German wiring used red as earth!!!

    It was:

    Red - Earth
    Black - Live
    Grey - Neutral.

    I would either use an adaptor, or carefully analyse which wire's connected to which terminal in the plug and then use a phase tester / meter on the body of the appliance before you touch it with your hands.

    I'd just use it with an adaptor like this : http://www.radioshackuk.co.uk/Travel-Adaptor if you're unsure of the plug wiring.

    Bear in mind that continental plugs and sockets were used in Ireland at one stage. They're the same design as modern German sockets, so a modern adaptor will work fine. The design has remained unchanged since the 20s really.

    A lot of appliances sold in Ireland also used to come with German-type plugs right into the 1990s too and people often used the with adaptors / by jamming the plug into a 3-pin socket.


Advertisement