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Hello All.
I have a friend who may move back to Europe and wants to bring his US system with him, and be able to power it via a step-down. anyone have any recommendations, either do's or don'ts regarding specific brands or vendors?
thanks,
Mark
Follow Ups:
Nor sure what equipment your friend got, but some may be switchable inside the chassis.
I've done it on all of mine.
Are there specific manufacturers that u know that have that.
tks
Don't know any specific brands. Usually a look at the inside and wires running to the transformer is a good start.
Yeah, I know, I'm having a storm of intellect this morning... this is my 3rd or 4th post.Why on Earth would someone move to Europe at this time? Does you friend not understand the phrase "long-term recession"? Europe has been in a recession for at least the past 10 years.
Having said that, I'd love to move to Europe, only because it's so cool, and it beckons to me. But holy moly, who wants to pay $8 a gallon for gas, and have a fridge with a freezer and ice without it costing half a fortune, and dim room lighting? Don't even get me started on having a clothes washer and dryer. Unless, of course, your friend wants to live like we did in the USA back in the 1920's and 1930's. My advice: get a REALLY good job there first, or be ready for a big surprise.
Oh, and take the speakers, but buy new/used other stuff there. The whole transformer thingy is a total drag.
Edits: 07/06/12 07/06/12
FWIW, my daughter (born and raised in Baltimore) just married a Frenchman, and they have set up house in Toulouse. We visit regularly. All that you say about economies, prices and amenities is true. But it's the South of France, for crying out loud, and it's paradise on earth.
Happy listening,
Jim
South of France! Near Lourdes? Wanted somebody to light a candle there.
Cheers
Bill
We did in fact visit Lourdes last month. As American Protestants, we were rather put off by the commercialized nature of the place. It almost had a Disney feel to it. But hey, if somebody gets healed by a visit/candle/waters, then who am I to cavil?
Happy listening,
Jim
Jec, my sister in law is going to Lisbon next week. I have requested her to drive up to Fatima where the Virgin appeared to three children. There is a new church there but not that commercialised. A candle will be lit there. The marble statue of Our Lady of Fatima is one of the most beautiful, sculpted from descriptions by the three kids, Lucy, Jacintha and Francis.
All the best
Bill
I'll add Fatima to my list of places to visit. Thanks.
Jim
I never quite got that "South of France" thingy. Why don't they just call it "south France", like "south Texas"?
:)
I have been to south Texas, and I have been to the South of France, and all I can say is, the more we distinguish between the two the better.
As Philip Sheridan once said, "If I owned both Hell and Texas, I would choose to rent Texas and live in Hell."
Happy listening,
Jim
Hahahahaha!
Fair enough!
:)
Apart from any issues with the difference in frequency that have already been mentioned, the residential wiring in Canada and the USA is 120/240V. This is with two "hot" wires that measure 240V between each other, and a neutral that measures to each hot as 120V.
The 240V is used for you range and drier receptacles, but it's available at the panel. If there's any way of running a new Romex cable back to the panel, and connecting it to a double pole breaker then you can install a plug for 240V.
The plug will have a different configuration so that you can't plug in a 120V device by mistake and blow it up.
Sometimes, however, it's easier to just sell whatever gear can't be converted or switched from one voltage to another. At some point, your friend may want to sell his gear, and 50 Hz 220V supply might be hard to get rid of.
In Europe, they call it 220V, over here we call it 240V. Essentially, it's the same thing.
i think you guys may be reading this backwards, or i worded it badly. he is in the USA now, and all of his gear is set up for USA voltage/frequency. he will be taking it all to Europe, and hence needs a step-down tranny to run it there. i am aware of the frequency differences and what that impies - i was simply asking for recommendations of specific brands or vendors of 2-1 xformers based on people's experience.
if i worded the post otherwise, or am misreading the replies, my apologies.
I read it incorrectly. In that case, yes, you definitely need a stepdown transformer.
I believe voltage is not the issue (moving from USA to Europe your firend needs a step UP transformer), however the power line fequency may be a problem.
Some made-for-USA components (60 Hz power) may not work properly with 50 Hz power.
Items that do no work properly for certain: anything with a synchronous motor: e.g. turntables without electronic speed control and tape decks;
May not work properly: 60 Hz power amplifiers / receivers / powered sub-woofers. If the component draws plenty of current, the power transformer may buzz and/or overheat when powered by 50 Hz. I suggest calling factory service department with model name in hand.
Some inmates may tell you that a step-up will hurt dynamics and punch. The best way around this is to buy a household 120> 230V step-up rated for at least 3 KVA (5 times the maximum power demand of a typical audiophile system).
If your friend owns power-hungry tube or Class A amps, I suggest adding the power draw of all components at maximum power and multiplying by five.
Tell him NOT to buy the step-up from the friendly local hardware store. It must be a professionally made, EUROPEAN (made for 50 Hz) heavy-duty industrial transformer able to run 24/7 without any significant noise or heat build-up.
Good luck!
Try one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Power-Bright-VC500W-Voltage-Transformer/dp/B000MX1QXA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1341573822&sr=8-3&keywords=stepdown+transformer
If you are in Europe where the voltage is 240, then you need a step down voltage converter/transformer. The power is 240 and you need to step down to 110/120 for the US gear. I lived in Europe for over 20 years and have many experiences with transformers. Many of us who were assigned there as part of the US forces were able to purchase these in the PX. You can order online from Amazon. Turntables, unless line voltage also switches the hertz, and gear that oscillates on a 60 hertz frequency will not work properly. Amps, receivers, subwoofers, and some tube gear will operate correctly with no issues. You do not need to leave the transformer on 24/7 unless you want to pay for the heat draw and the extra electricity that the transformer will use while on. I looked at a whole house transformer solution, a 7.5kw to place next to the sub panel, however, I would need to run wire all over the place to get the power where I needed, the transformers from Amazon, eliminate that hassle.
Ciao,
Audioquest4life
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