[Coco] Step down transformer for use in UK / Use on TV in UK

[Joel Ewy]

Steve.Lancaster at Moorestephens.com wrote:
> Hello all
>
> I have just taken delivery of my first ever Coco 3. Since it was purchased 
> from the US it has the 2 pin plug, and designed for 110 volts.
>
> In the UK, the standard voltage is 240 volts. Therefore, I need to 
> purchase a step-down transformer.
>
> What type do I need, one with 45 watts output, or will one with 100 watts 
> output suffice.
>
>   
My CoCo 3 says .2A on the bottom, which would suggest that 24 watts
@120V would be sufficient.  If that's right, then the 45W or the 100W
should work.
> I am really looking forward to getting to know this computer.
>
>   
I think you'll have fun with it.
> Also, this question may have been visited before, and probably asked by me 
> anyway. I note the Coco 3 has the RF output and the audio/video sockets. 
> Will it work, using the standard cables, on a PAL TV. However, my TV is 
> NTSC compatible.
>
>   
If your TV is really NTSC compatible, then I suspect you should have no
problem.  Does the TV have different antenna connectors for NTSC vs.
PAL?  Does it have a manual switch?  Or does the TV automatically sense
the type of signal it's getting?
One thing that may be an issue:  The CoCo's clock works by counting the
AC power zero crossings.  In the US the power lines use 60Hz, while for
you it would be 50Hz, I think.  There are 50Hz clock driver modules for
(Nitr)OS-9, etc.  This clock may be unrelated to the video signal,
though the vertical sync signal of an NTSC signal is 60Hz, and I think
that of PAL is 50Hz.  Software that uses the mains-based timer to sync
up with the video signal might get confused?  Your machine might be
something of an oddball if it's an NTSC model, but using a 50Hz clock. 
Others may be able to tell you what the full ramifications of this might be.

Good luck!

JCE
> Best wishes
> Steve 
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