AMPS , VOLTS , AND ALL THAT STUFF !!!!

[FORGIVEN]

Lets try and remember people, that not everybody owns a powersupply w/ a readout , i'm reading all about the volts , amps and all that stuff, when in reality , i dont know what the f#*k your'e saying , I'm fixing to make the jump to digital (would have gotten it today , but had to drop $1200.00 into my car ), and thank god i know how to tune my shit by sound , but not everyone does ....

[gremlin]

anything you need to know about volts, amps, etc... or electrical formulas etc. dont hesitate to ask remember I make electricity for a living lol and although Im a mechanical engineer, I work with a lot of electrical engineers.

[Essex Boy]

glad you said that Given,ive only got a standard power supply that only shows volts and want to make the step up.
a lot of power supplys ive looked at have volts and amps on it which is were i want to go but only one dial on to adjust so gremlin is it better to have one where you can adjust the volts and amps ie two controls or just volts and ajust the amps through the machine
does that sound confusing one dial two dials or have i got this totally wrong :?:

[gremlin]

ok the digital power supplies every one uses for tattoo power 98% of the time were never built as a tattoo power supply in the first place some smart tattoo artist just figured out how to make it work and liked it . they are really built to be used as labratory test equipment. basicly they are designed to provide a nice clean stable power supply to operate and monitor what ever lab instrument that it is hooked to is working correctly at the designed voltage and or amps. For Tattooing amps are not as important as volts. so while a power supply that shows both amps and volts is nice, the amps read out is a little overkill that is not really needed. (unless you want to build or repair power supplies...but then you would be in electronic repair class at the trade school lol) all you are really adjusting when you turn a single knob power supply is the voltage, and you aren't adjusting amps when you adjust your machine.

[Essex Boy]

thanks gremlin that answers a lot of things running around in my head

[Sarcastic_Bastar]

Some digi power supplies will record your machine settings
but first you gotta have a tuned machine running how you like it first
spend 2 years using the same machine and youll get used to what runs best for you........everybody struggles at first......and the rest comes with time spent with that machine....breaking it down ,building it up, trying diff springs, coils, a bar weights

digi power supplies aint important.........too much info in one time creates confusion........use the basics...........they work

[Essex Boy]

so gremlin the digital that jacks sellig is a good buy at $99
ive just been lookig at the same type of thing over here in uk and they are like treble that price for the same thing.
its cheaper for me to buy from jack have it shipped and im still saving a shitload of money
would i have to change anything as its from the states ie we are on diff volts (electric) over here :?:

[FORGIVEN]

IF ITS AN INSTEK IT WILL BE ALRIGHT WHERE YOU'RE AT , WAS DISCUSSING POWERSUPPLIES W/ A LADY TATTOOIST FROM ENGLAND THE OTHER DAY , AND SHE WAS AT HER OLD SHOP WHEN I POPPED IN , SHE SAID THATS WHY SHE LIKES THE INSTEK NO NEED TO CONVERT THE POWER .

[Essex Boy]

jack dont say what make it is and from the picture carnt make it out
if anyone knows let me know
thanks given

[gremlin]

the volt matching in the us and uk isn't the problem its the cycles
like most household current in the us is 110 to 115 volts @ 60 cycles and i think the uk is 110 to 115 volts but only @ 50 cycles.

[Essex Boy]

thanks gremlin

[Inkster]

the volt matching in the us and uk isn't the problem its the cycles
like most household current in the us is 110 to 115 volts @ 60 cycles and i think the uk is 110 to 115 volts but only @ 50 cycles.The UK voltage is 220 / 240 volts, some power supplies have a selector switch on the back to change from 110 to 240 volts, check the data plates before buying or else you will have to purchase a step up transformer to power your power supply. Some power supplies can be stripped and the in built step down transformer tappings can be unsoldered and moved around to achieve the right primary voltage. Hope that is clear with out being too confusing, if in doubt ask the manufacturer.

[Essex Boy]

no thats fine inkster

[XHAZE]

Good questions and I would like to clarify something here as well.

If your using a single adjustment power source it is amp "set" as Gremlin says and your only increasing the voltage. The only problem with that is, without a readout you can "wind it up" a bit to compensate for an out of tune machine and not really know what the volts are running at.
A volt readout in this case is useful.
With an amp/volt readout it will show that you machine is working correctly at the "designed voltage and amps" as Gremlin has already stated.
Running too high in volts will give a poorly tuned machine even more problems and if you start messing with amps you will cause health problems. Amps are dangerous. Too many will send your customers into shock.
No more than 1.5 amps and 9 to 11 volts.

Sarcas' made a good point about "basics". Being able to change from A/C to D/C at the flick of a switch is cool too.

I'm not a sparky either. And Forgiven, aint it a sweet sound :D

[Essex Boy]

WOW
OK OK OK all my machines are running nice and smooth but i want a better power supply(upgrade) my old one works just fine(and i am a firm beliver of if it aint broke dont fix it) but at the end of the day you gotta invest if you want to move forward and its time to do that so what would you guys recomend

[gremlin]

thanks inkster,
I wasnt exactly sure about the voltages in uk, and i stand corrected. I have so many voltages wizzing around in my head for diffrent regions i get them confused sometimes :oops:

[Inkster]

i want a better power supply(upgrade) my old one works just fine(and i am a firm beliver of if it aint broke dont fix it) but at the end of the day you gotta invest if you want to move forward and its time to do that so what would you guys recomendEssex Boy, my power supply works just fine and was unbelievably cheap, take a look.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TATTOO-POWER-SUPPLY-0-20-VOLTS-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ5610863614QQcategoryZ33918QQssPageNam eZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

My supply is identical except the name and mine has a footswitch jack plug socket to the right of the red and black connections

[Essex Boy]

yeh seen them mate the market place seems to be flooded with them which sometimes gets me thinking are they as good as they say or is just for the quick buck hit and run
thanks inkster