[beat]

Hey guys,
I was considering purchasing some foreign gear that runs on 220v 50/60hz (euro I guess) What do you think about running another leg of power and creating a dedicated circuit that would fuel just your amp?

thanks,
beat

[Tonto Yoder]

beat,
I read a magazine article some years ago advocating use of 220 into the listening room---something about the different "sides" of the circuit cancelling out electrical noise. In his case, he used 110 gear with some sort of step-down transformer.

I still remember his anecdote: the electrician who ran the 220 line into the extra bedroom finally asked "Why you putting a stove in here?"

Sorry, but I can't remember which mag it was--maybe a similar opinion is somewhere on the web.

[shokunin]

240v circuits don't have a neutral like 120v circuits. There are two hot 120v lines plus the ground.  It's sort of like what a balanced power unit does to 120v line, it puts +60 and -60v to give you 120v, 240 gives you two 120v lines for 240.  Of course in the US we run 60hz AC, while the most 230v countries run on 50hz.  I'm not sure how that would affect audio equipment, but I know my European woodworking machines run 20% faster RPM's due to the 50hz / 60hz issue.

[Occam]

Hey guys,
I was considering purchasing some foreign gear that runs on 220v 50/60hz (euro I guess) What do you think about running another leg of power and creating a dedicated circuit that would fuel just your amp?

thanks,
beat

Many components are manufactured with dual primaries on their power transformers... For 115v usage they are configured with the primaries in paralell, and for 230v use, the transformers are wired in series. In that case, reconfiguring to and fro is relatively easy.[EDIT-with appropriate change(s) of the fuse]

Barring that, you really have to give us a clue.... are you taliking about source components with minimal power draw(s) or integrated/power amps that have substantially greater power requirements Each defines the range of options you might take in adressing this problem.

Give us a clue, what specific components are you talking about?

[doug s.]

Hey guys,
I was considering purchasing some foreign gear that runs on 220v 50/60hz (euro I guess) What do you think about running another leg of power and creating a dedicated circuit that would fuel just your amp?

thanks,
beat

dedicated lines are always a good idea, imo.  i have also heard that any gear, mfr'd both in 120v & 220v, will usually sound better in its 220v iteration.  (mebbe cuz of the series vs parallel transformer wiring thing?)  in any event, i have good success using 220v gear w/simple step-up dewices.  750w-rated stuff is awailable for ~$20 on ebay.  for mondo amps, you can get 2.5kva, & 3kva transformers for <$100.  and, this is yust like adding an isolation transformer; always a good thing, imo...

doug s.

[beat]

Thanks guys,
I was thinking power amps..so yeah, good thing eh? It stands to reason in my mind. I just wanted to see what you guys had experienced.

[bluesky]

Hi Carlman

I would advise caution on this issue.

The reason being I got a Shanling CDT-100 which runs on 115V and I had enormous hum ever since I installed it.  I used a "medical grade" step down (up?) transformer which stated quite clearly in its advertising that it was immune from such problems.  I have had no end of problems trying to solve the hum problem ever since.

It could be that I just don't know enough about it, but I took it to my professional "electronics wizard" and he advised getting some books on the subject.  There is no quick fix to problems of intergrating components of different voltages.

Then again you may very well an electronics wizard yourself and it won't be a problem.

Cheers

Ian

[bluesky]

Hi Carlman

I would advise caution on this issue.

The reason being I got a Shanling CDT-100 which runs on 115V and I had enormous hum ever since I installed it.  I used a "medical grade" step down (up?) transformer which stated quite clearly in its advertising that it was immune from such problems.  I have had no end of problems trying to solve the hum problem ever since.

It could be that I just don't know enough about it, but I took it to my professional "electronics wizard" and he advised getting some books on the subject.  There is no quick fix to problems of intergrating components of different voltages.

Then again you may very well be an electronics wizard yourself and it won't be a problem solving any hum issues.

Cheers

Ian

[doug s.]

Hi Carlman

I would advise caution on this issue.

The reason being I got a Shanling CDT-100 which runs on 115V and I had enormous hum ever since I installed it.  I used a "medical grade" step down (up?) transformer which stated quite clearly in its advertising that it was immune from such problems.  I have had no end of problems trying to solve the hum problem ever since.

It could be that I just don't know enough about it, but I took it to my professional "electronics wizard" and he advised getting  ...

i'm pretty confident the hum issue isn't directly related to the use of step-up/down transformers.  many folk have had this issue (myself included), with equipment that has woltage designed for its intended market.  ground-loop hum can rear its head w/different equipment set-ups.  sometimes cheater plugs, which float ground, are the easiest fix...

ymmv,

doug s.

[avahifi]

European 220V is a single 220V line referenced to ground.  US 220V is two 110V lines summed referenced to a third ground wire.  If you use European 220V equipment on a US 220V line, you may very well end up with 110V hot on the chassis of your equipment, a lethal potential as the situation is transfered to all other equipment connected thru the ground sides of interconnect cables.

It will only "sound better" while you are still alive.

Another worse than useless audiophlake idea.

Frank Van Alstine

[doug s.]

European 220V is a single 220V line referenced to ground.  US 220V is two 110V lines summed referenced to a third ground wire.  If you use European 220V equipment on a US 220V line, you may very well end up with 110V hot on the chassis of your equipment, a lethal potential as the situation is transfered to all other equipment connected thru the ground sides of interconnect cables.

It will only "sound better" while you are still alive.

Another worse than useless audiophlake idea.

Frank Van Alstine

i have used several different pieces of 220v gear successfully here in the usa, with a step-up transformer.  still alive to write about it.  dumb luck?     somehow i think not.  since there's a big biz selling step-up/down transformers, specifically to folks wanting to use this type of equipment when travelling, etc., i am sure there would be a plethora of news/lawsuits/etc, if this scenario was likely.  or even possible.

doug s., worse than useless audiophlake  

[avahifi]

You misunderstand.  It is OK to use a single phase 220 to 110 step down transformer if it has adequate capability.

The safety issue is using 220V single phase foreign equipment on a dedicated 220V three conductor line in the USA  (lines in general reserved for US 220V appliances - big 3-pin power plug).

Frank Van Alstine

[doug s.]

You misunderstand.  It is OK to use a single phase 220 to 110 step down transformer if it has adequate capability.

The safety issue is using 220V single phase foreign equipment on a dedicated 220V three conductor line in the USA  (lines in general reserved for US 220V appliances - big 3-pin power plug).

Frank Van Alstine

thanks, frank, for the clarification...

doug s.