Footswitch bought in Europe on timer in the US?

Hilo · Apr 12, 2020

I feel rather stupid asking this question, but want to make sure:

A friend in the US has a 110v timer and I want to give him a footswitch bought here in Europe. Am I right to think this footswitch will work on his timer without any problem?

Pics attached, thanks for your help - Michael

MattKing · Apr 12, 2020

The plug and receptacle may differ.

Sirius Glass · Apr 12, 2020

The switch is rated for 250 volts. It will work at 120 volts or less very well. Plugs and adapters are more of a problem.

shutterfinger · Apr 12, 2020

Being its a mechanical switch that does not require power to operate it will be fine. The switch is rated for 10 amps 250 Volt so it's limit with 120V is 20 amp. Standard US 110V as its called is 118-120 volt.

koraks · Apr 12, 2020

shutterfinger said:
The switch is rated for 10 amps 250 Volt so it's limit with 120V is 20 amp.

No. It's safe to assume it is still rated at 10A, not more. So the maximum switched power in the US will be 1.1kW instead of 2.3kW. This is likely still ample. It does depend on the kind of load that it switched as the rated current is likely the peak current and therefore any inductive load (eg a transformer, which draws a significant inrush current) may not switch reliably in the long term if the nominal load is close to the maximum current of the switch. Hence, in practice, it's possible that only a 250-350W load will switch reliably over a longer period of use, with higher loads resulting in burned contacts.

Long story short - it'll likely work OK, but may burn out at some point.

shutterfinger · Apr 12, 2020

Power out cannot exceed power in without causing a failure. The general rule for power is Volts*Amps=watts.
250*10=2500 watts. 120*20=2400 watts.
You are correct that this is likely the peak current not the run current.
As long as the enlarger power does not exceed the switch power rating it will be good.

koraks · Apr 12, 2020

shutterfinger said:
As long as the enlarger power does not exceed the switch power rating it will be good.

Yeah, although 'power rating' is ambiguous in this case. The switch in the picture is rated up to 250V and 10A. This means that in 110V applications, it's still only good for up to 10A.

pentaxuser · Apr 12, 2020

As it is a foot-switch for a timer then surely it isn't going to be subjected to a wattage anywhere near the levels that are being mentioned. If this is so then for the sake of the OP isn't it encumbent on those who reply to state this very clearly.

So can we say that if it is used as a timer for an enlarger then it will be safe?

pentaxuser

koraks · Apr 12, 2020

pentaxuser said:
So can we say that if it is used as a timer for an enlarger then it will be safe?

Likely, yeah. Depends a bit on the specific application, but 99% sure it's going to just switch a small signal.
Then again, I've seen pretty dumb or downright dubious electrical circuitry in photographic equipment.

M Carter · Apr 12, 2020

I've wired several timers to use a standard musician's footswitch. But when I'm inside the timer, it seems like 120V goes through the switch (and thus through the cable and the foot switch), it's not like the switch seems to attach to a relay - but then again, I'm no engineer so could be wrong.

Hilo · Apr 12, 2020

Thanks, you all, your comments help a lot.

awty · Apr 13, 2020

What timer are you using?
Foot switch I have works off of a 12 volt relay. They can be rated for mains voltage but I dont see why you would actually need to run mains through it.
The switch itself are usually generic and you could just swapped for a 20 amp.

RalphLambrecht · Apr 13, 2020

Hilo said:
I feel rather stupid asking this question, but want to make sure:

A friend in the US has a 110v timer and I want to give him a footswitch bought here in Europe. Am I right to think this footswitch will work on his timer without any problem?

Pics attached, thanks for your help - Michael

View attachment 243766 View attachment 243767

I am not an electrical engineer but I don't see why wouldn't.

shutterfinger · Apr 13, 2020

koraks said:
Yeah, although 'power rating' is ambiguous in this case. The switch in the picture is rated up to 250V and 10A. This means that in 110V applications, it's still only good for up to 10A.

I was off on a tangent. Contacts rated for 10 amps are only good for 10 amps until their maximum voltage limit is exceeded then they will likely fail. Voltage at or lesser than their rated maximum will be fine.
I've been out of electronic servicing for several years and the grey cells are out of calibration.

Hilo · Apr 13, 2020

awty said:
What timer are you using?

This is about a Kearsarge 301 timer, made for the US market. Again, I am giving this to a friend in the US and wanted to make sure he can connect the footswitch (bought here in Europe) without any problem.

The 301 is a simple timer without programs. I bought my first in Paris in the 80ties and later on I got more of them from B&H when in New York. Always the 240 volt version. They got a lot of use, still do and never had a problem. Now I have three of them set up in my darkroom.

koraks · Apr 13, 2020

Sadly I can't find a schematic for that unit, but some poking around with a digital multimeter would give some clues. This does requirw a basic understandig of electronics though. I'm not sure how well versed you are in that department?

Looks like a neat unit btw.

awty · Apr 13, 2020

koraks said:
Sadly I can't find a schematic for that unit, but some poking around with a digital multimeter would give some clues. This does requirw a basic understandig of electronics though. I'm not sure how well versed you are in that department?

Looks like a neat unit btw.

Judging by the size of the wiring, it looks to be mains power. I would imagine it wouldn't be hard to buy a suitable foot switch in the States and can switch the plug and lead if necessary.

Hilo · Apr 13, 2020

koraks said:
Sadly I can't find a schematic for that unit, but some poking around with a digital multimeter would give some clues. This does require a basic understanding of electronics though. I'm not sure how well versed you are in that department?

Looks like a neat unit btw.

I am right out bad technically & electronically. But I think this footswitch will work in the US, with the 110v timer.

Footswitch bought in Europe on timer in the US?

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Footswitch bought in Europe on timer in the US?

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