do I need a transformer?

[james m Statman]

Hi fellow Brennanites:

I am in the US, plugging into 120 V electric current.  I will soon be residing in a country that uses 230 V 50 HZ.  Does the Brennan B2 have a transformer built-in (like most laptops) or must I plug into an external transformer to safely step-down the current?

Best to all,

James.

[JAC]

Hi.  The B2 uses an external "brick" power supply to convert AC mains to 24 Volts DC.  Many modern power supplies have a "wide range" design which will accept any AC mains voltage from say 90 V to 250 V without the need to change any settings.  Unfortunately I cannot confirm if the type currently being shipped by Brennan is of this design.

It's possible to use a third party power supply with the B2, as long as it has the right DC connector and can supply 24 Volts DC at up to 2 Amps.  I believe the B2 will also work with somewhat lower DC voltages, but the built-in audio power amplifier will not be able to deliver full power.

[Peter Lowham]

Hi James,

No, you won't need a transformer, the B2 works on 110 - 250 Volts AC and 50 - 60 Hertz.  The only thing to note is that the mains power plug will possibly be different to yours and therefore you might need an adapter so that you can plug it into the wall socket.

Regards,

Peter.