“I’m getting ready to purchase a voltage regulator that will allow me to travel back and forth between Europe and the U.S. with my gear. Though most of the units I’ve looked at will enable me to use 120v (U.S.) and 220v (European) voltages with my gear, none seem to address the issue of line frequency (50 Hz versus 60 Hz). How important is this?”
Sweetwater Sales Engineer, Rob Bowers, responds.
Most voltage regulators and UPS systems do not modify the line frequency. This is mostly because the vast majority of electronic equipment available today is perfectly capable of operating with 50 or 60 Hz power. In fact, you will notice that most of your equipment is labeled 50/60 Hz on the back panel where the power goes in. Even if not specified, it’s probably okay to drive it with either, though there are some exceptions:
Line frequency is an issue with synchronous motors; in fact most AC motors derive their speed from the line frequency. Take a B3 to Europe and I believe that it will not be in tune, because the motor will be spinning too slowly. In the case of Hammond there is probably a gear or some such which is changed out to account for the different line frequency. (Can any of our readers confirm or deny this?)
Many turntables for “real” phonograph records require a predetermined line frequency as this is used to derive the turntable speed. My old Sony solves this with pitch controls and a strobe pattern on the edge of the turntable (a dead give away of where it is getting its speed standard).
Older digital clocks depend upon a stable “clock frequency” which is then digitally counted for the clock. In the US, line frequency is very stable, so such a clock can keep great time. Some black burst generators derive their clocks from the AC line frequency as well.