I have not been posting here a lot. Why? I’ve been super busy with work!! But I thought I would take out a few minutes and riff on some questions and issues that come my way a lot. I’m hoping that someone might save themselves a lot of trouble if they google their questions and find this page.
My Wurlitzer Electric Piano is missing an AC wall cable/power cable/extension cord. Do you sell these?
No, I do not. But here’s what you need to know.
For many but not all examples of these models: 200, 200A, 203, 203W, 210, and perhaps some of the plastic-topped classroom instruments, 206, 206A, 214, 214A…
Instruments from the 200 and earlier 200A series, from 1968 through around 1978, used an oval connector with 3-round pins, plugging into the female end of an AC cable that was also used by Hewlett Packard. The connector is called a PH-163. It is a less than ideal component to the instrument. The pins tend to get loose. Many of the power cables Wurlitzer used resolved to an unpolarized two pin AC plug, and even some of the 3-pin plugs had a fake ground plug. Polarity wasn’t wired consistently in the instrument, and cables used were randomly Belden/Volex part number #17280 or #17952, as detailed here (note: connection not secure):
http://madrona.ca/e/powerConn/index.html#163
Source: Brent Hilpert, Madrona.ca
and here:
Round-pin power cords for older equipment using PH-163 connector
Belden/Volex power cord model #17280 has standard polarity per UL 817 and CSA 895B.
Belden/Volex power cord model #17952 has neutral and hot lines reversed, and it appears that HP used this configuration based on some Web conjecture (i.e., not confirmed).
It’s preferable to replace this plug with a standard modern 3-prong IEC cable with a C13 connection. Later 200A series used these, anyway. However, Custom Vintage Keyboards often has the ph-163 cables in stock:
Wurlitzer 200 Power Cable early oval
For earlier model Wurlitzers: 110, 111, 112, 112A, 120, 700, 140, 145, 140A, 145A, 140B, 145B, 146, 146B, 720, 720A, 720B, 726, 726B.
These instruments use standard two-prong appliance cables of the 1950’s and 1960’s. It is strongly advisable that you have an electronics pro upgrade the amps to make them compatible with a standard modern 3-prong IEC cable with a C13 connection. (and take the “death caps” out of those old tube amps while you’re at it!! chassis can give you a lethal shock if those caps are wired in and fail). Nonetheless, Custom Vintage Keyboards also sells these at times:
Wurlitzer Early Model Electric Piano 2-Pin Power Cable for 112 120 140 145
When all else fails, trying doing a search on eBay for a “3-Prong Oval End AC Power Cord”. That works pretty well. Make sure the ground prong is intact at the wall end.
