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Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players Open-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, 8-track players etc.

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Old 7th May 2021, 6:24 pm   #1
PunchedLasagne
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Post Wiring a plug to a Toshiba KT-403D tape player/recorder

Hi all. I recently aquired a tape machine 2nd hand that needs to be wired to a plug. The wire has been cut and theres are 2 exposed wires. One black and one blue. Is it possible to wire these to a uk plug? I have a plug already with a 3 amp fuse.
Any help is appreciated.
Many thanks
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Old 7th May 2021, 6:55 pm   #2
TonyDuell
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Default Re: Wiring a plug to a Toshiba KT-403D tape player/recorder

Assuming the machine is designed to operate on 240V 50Hz mains (or is set to do so) then yes you can.

Connect the blue wire to the neutral (N) terminal of the plug

Connect the black wire the live (L) terminal of the plug -- this is the one that connects to the fuse in the plug.

Make no connection to the earth (E) terminal of the plug.

But you should ask yourself why the cable was cut. Is the machine faulty, or more seriously is it dangerous to use. It would be worth having somebody experienced take a quick look.
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Old 7th May 2021, 9:10 pm   #3
majoconz
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Default Re: Wiring a plug to a Toshiba KT-403D tape player/recorder

Quote:
Assuming the machine is designed to operate on 240V 50Hz mains
Black for live and blue for neutral is the American standard - so don't assume!
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Old 7th May 2021, 9:38 pm   #4
Restoration73
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Default Re: Wiring a plug to a Toshiba KT-403D tape player/recorder

I thought USA was Black live, White or Grey neutral, Green or Green/Yellow stripe ground.
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Old 7th May 2021, 11:27 pm   #5
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Default Re: Wiring a plug to a Toshiba KT-403D tape player/recorder

Yes I think USA neutral is normally white or grey (gray).

Looking at this model on eBay there are at least 2 mains power variants.

120 volts 60Hz so primarily for USA.

110 to 240 volts 50/60Hz universal with mains voltage selection switch on the underside of the unit.

I guess there also maybe is a 100 volt 50/60Hz for Japan specific use.

Cannot easily find a schematic but it must have a mains transformer , so which wire of the 2 core mains cable should connect to the live pin of the UK mains plug is not overly important. I personally prefer to connect the live to the connection that connects to the unit on/off switch.

So recommend to check the label on the underside of the unit to identify the mains power variant. If the universal variant then make sure the mains voltage selection switch is set to 240 volts for UK/Ireland use.

Agree with Tony about why was the mains cable cut.

David
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Old 8th May 2021, 9:32 am   #6
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Default Re: Wiring a plug to a Toshiba KT-403D tape player/recorder

Quote:
Originally Posted by PunchedLasagne View Post
I recently acquired
It it's not set for the right voltage for your mains supply, you might destroy it if you just fit a plug and plug it in.

The wire core colours are neither old UK ones nor current pan-European ones, so this throws doubt on what sort of mains it is made for.

Many tape recorders use the mains frequency to set the tape speed (not all, but many) and have different versions to run on 60Hz and 50Hz mains. Get this wrong and your tapes will run at a non-standard speed.

Get the voltage wrong and you may destroy the unit.

Where did it come from? This will give some clues as to what to do with it.

A google search for photos shows what looks to be a large mains-type motor and the overall styling looks made for the American market.

Is there a ratings label stating mains voltage and frequency somewhere on it?


David
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Old 8th May 2021, 11:17 am   #7
ms660
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Default Re: Wiring a plug to a Toshiba KT-403D tape player/recorder

110V-240V with taps in between.

50/60Hz.

15W.

Motor capacitor 1uF.

Lawrence.

Last edited by ms660; 8th May 2021 at 11:31 am. Reason: extra info
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Old 8th May 2021, 2:10 pm   #8
DMcMahon
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Default Re: Wiring a plug to a Toshiba KT-403D tape player/recorder

An example photo of the underside of the universal mains version.

There is a schematic on radiomuseum.org, as expected it does not identify the live and neutral on the 2 wire mains input.

David
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