Nord User Forum

Yeah, about that, the answer I got from the German distributor was that regarding the Voltage adjustment procedure I should contact NORD directly, and should I decide to proceed, given that it would be a permanent change, the warranty would be void.

Rodkeys wrote:Yeah, about that, the answer I got from the German distributor was that regarding the Voltage adjustment procedure I should contact NORD directly, and should I decide to proceed, given that it would be a permanent change, the warranty would be void.

Rubbish. It's not a permanent change it can be switched back as easily as it was switched initially. Additionally it is a normal opperational state for the Keyboard, not some third party modification. There is NO LEGAL basis for voiding the warranty for switching the power from 230 to 120V or 120 to 230V when running the keyboard in a region with a different power grid.

Who ever answered that question from the German distributor is spouting garbage. Which is actually not uncommon these days, given the lack of actual technical knowledge from people in tech support.

cgrafx wrote:

Rodkeys wrote:Yeah, about that, the answer I got from the German distributor was that regarding the Voltage adjustment procedure I should contact NORD directly, and should I decide to proceed, given that it would be a permanent change, the warranty would be void.

Rubbish. It's not a permanent change it can be switched back as easily as it was switched initially. Additionally it is a normal opperational state for the Keyboard, not some third party modification. There is NO LEGAL basis for voiding the warranty for switching the power from 230 to 120V or 120 to 230V when running the keyboard in a region with a different power grid.

Who ever answered that question from the German distributor is spouting garbage. Which is actually not uncommon these days, given the lack of actual technical knowledge from people in tech support.

Legislation varies across countries, what is true in the US may not be elsewhere, can't you just consider this?

maxpiano wrote:

cgrafx wrote:

Rodkeys wrote:Yeah, about that, the answer I got from the German distributor was that regarding the Voltage adjustment procedure I should contact NORD directly, and should I decide to proceed, given that it would be a permanent change, the warranty would be void.

Rubbish. It's not a permanent change it can be switched back as easily as it was switched initially. Additionally it is a normal opperational state for the Keyboard, not some third party modification. There is NO LEGAL basis for voiding the warranty for switching the power from 230 to 120V or 120 to 230V when running the keyboard in a region with a different power grid.

Who ever answered that question from the German distributor is spouting garbage. Which is actually not uncommon these days, given the lack of actual technical knowledge from people in tech support.

Legislation varies across countries, what is true in the US may not be elsewhere, can't you just consider this?

Can't you consider that miss-information is quoted by incorrectly informed distributors all the time and that opening a case to change a readily accessible switch does not void a warranty as NO MODIFICATION of the DEVICE HAS TAKEN PLACE.

There is no warranty void sticker on the case (and even if there were it is almost 100% guaranteed not enforceable).

If you are not comfortable removing a few screws, toggling a switch and replacing a fuse, then don't do it. But let's not make this out to be some scary thing that will void your right to warranty repair if your device later fails (as that failure will have nothing to do with the switch change).

Changing the switch and swapping out the fuse to the corresponding value is in fact operating the NORD as it was intended and that fuse and switch are only set based on the country it is being shipped to so it will operate properly in the geographic location where it is being initial sold, not because it can't be changed later to the appropriate setting when operating the keyboard in a different geographic location.

As Maxpiano stated, we are in Europe. There may be a warranty fraud even if no sticker is warning directly on the item. Some warranty conditions always apply in one market and don't in another. In my eyes, the only option is to ask Nord themselves if you doubt the distributor's information (which I do as well).

FZiegler wrote:As Maxpiano stated, we are in Europe. There may be a warranty fraud even if no sticker is warning directly on the item. Some warranty conditions always apply in one market and don't in another. In my eyes, the only option is to ask Nord themselves if you doubt the distributor's information (which I do as well).

The European Union has way more consumer friendly warranty enforcement than the USA. For example you get 2 years even if the warranty from the Manufacturer says 1 year (like we get in the USA).

Regardless, people are free to do as they wish and for those that are uncertain about their ability to open the keyboard, change the switch and fuse, and replace the screws than don't do it. Go get yourself an external step-up or step-down transformer.

Of coarse if the external transformer is built poorly or fails its way more likely to damage your Nord than switching the power supply to the correct voltage (and that damage will definitely not be covered under Nords warranty).

Longer warranty coverage is also due to more strict warranty rules, you get nothing for free.

An external 220V to 110V 2:1 transformer is as simple as a device can be, no frequency conversion required (unlike e.g a Hammond organ which rely on mains freq), failure mode can only be not conducing and in any case the vendor of the transformer would responsible for any damage caused by its malfunction.

I don't want to scary anyone, just inform and the OP contacted the distributor which provided a feedback which is (maybe, I would believe) more authoritative than a NuF forumer's . Then everyone is free to assess the risk and go in one or the other direction.

cgrafx wrote: Changing the switch and swapping out the fuse to the corresponding value is in fact operating the NORD as it was intended and that fuse and switch are only set based on the country it is being shipped to so it will operate properly in the geographic location where it is being initial sold, not because it can't be changed later to the appropriate setting when operating the keyboard in a different geographic location.

Sure, it can be changed, by Nord service; otherwise tell me why hasn't Nord included an esternal switch for that pr any mention in official user documentation. My view is: because, even if simple and 99% harmless if you know what you are doing, it is not intened for the user to do it.

I wonder what are the excuses for not using a transformer that accepts any existing mains voltages...

Mr_-G- wrote:I wonder what are the excuses for not using a transformer that accepts any existing mains voltages...

Not being an expert in any way but I think a psu that accepts 100-240 volt input is a switching psu which technology introduce more rf-emissions (noise) problems as opposed to a standard fixed voltage linear psu. Problem is solved with using external psu’s with DC input to the keyboard, but that’s not what we want on a Nord I think?

An update on the issue: My dealer "Thomann" in Germany replied: "The technical department advises you to contact the manufacturer directly to change the voltage of the instrument so that they can indicate an authorized center where it can be carried out. Please note that this would be a permanent change, and the warranty on devices that have been modified is void." I am still waiting on a reply from NORD.