MMD > Archives > May 1999 > 1999.05.30 > 05Prev  Next


Chein PianoLodeon on 50 Hz
By Mike Knudsen

Jody is right.  The Piano Lodeon motor is a simple induction "phono"
shaded-pole type and will indeed run hot and slow.  You can probably
play a whole roll without overheating, and the reduced tempo (by factor
of 5/6) won't spoil the musical rendition by much.

However, the same motor also spins the centrifugal vacuum pump for the
player action, and the suction will be reduced by at least the same
fraction of 5/6, or quite possibly by its square (25/36, around 36%
loss).  And the Lodeon action doesn't have much reserve for reduced
suction power, to put it mildly.

But go ahead, borrow a step-down transformer and try it, with the back
off so you can monitor the motor temperature.  Then sell it to someone
in the Western Hemisphere!

Oops, I just remembered, with the back removed you get no sound
(music?) -- so replace it once you know how long you can safely run
the motor.

Best wishes, Mike Knudsen


(Message sent Mon 31 May 1999, 02:34:46 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

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