Voltage Tolerance +/-?

Hi-Fi Corner
1

Dear all,

I have moved to a location where the voltage from the wall is 238/239V, Would it be too high running for my 230V naim machine? I am not sure about the tolerance of naim equipment. Would it be safe to operate in long terms? Thanks!

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In Australia, for many decades we had 242v which had no adverse effects on my Naim HC and 250.

Today , just measured 241v, and am running
HC, 250, Armageddon, DAC, ND5XS2, ps555DR, Core, Mu-so 2, Nait 2

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Naim manufacture their components in conformity with local laws or better. IIRC their 230v tolerance is something like -12.5% +10%

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Given the allowable voltage tolerance range is typically 216 volts to 253 volts you will be fine.

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Thanks for reply! I believed equipment could work well but not sure if machine would easily got damaged for the long run since it hasn’t stated, like 220-240v
etc…

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Thanks . i see

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You are unlikely to damage the equipment but modest over-voltage is a common cause of transformer hum which some find irritating.

8

I have been operating my 230V NAP 250 continuously since 1982, and 230V HiCap since 1985 with no failures.

Armageddon and Nait2 since 1993.

All the OC and Core & Bentley Mu-so 2 since the 2020 onwards.

All have worked with 241V without issues.

3 separate systems for different parts of the home….. just love the Naim audio signature sound.

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Naim transformers are made (amongst other things) to comply with EU voltage harmonisation.
This covered all EU countries voltages with a minimum of 216 volts & maximum of 253 volts.
Nothing actually changed other than equipment has to be spec’d to cover the 216 to 253 range and rated at 230v.

I will add that up to a few years ago I had a constant 248-250v supply to my home, this has now been reduced thru a power supply initiative to 238-240v.

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As Dugby writes above, in some places in Australia voltage can run very high. I recall Warren Stolmack telling me of a customer out in the countryside who regularly saw over 250 Volts on their mains, with no ill affects on their Naim kit bar a transformer buzz when the voltage got really high.

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Actually, if memory serves me, that could have been me, as I’m 3000km west of Warren in Sydney.

As I now recall having this conversation with Warren Stolmack in the 80/90’s when our local power provider “SECWA” (State Electricity Commission of WA) was pumping out 254V and when they announced a technical change down to 242v, we sighed with relief that our Naims would be at lesser risk of failure.

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How wonderful if it was indeed you!