110v to 220v converter

[tony]

Anyone have any experience of this?. US product at 110v. I want to leave it as is and use a step up transformer. Are they a regular item in maplins or radionics. Are there any issues using this type of product? Should I get the us company to arrange for conversion to 220v. This option would be more expensive but if the view is it is safer I would go that route.

[Ivor]

Anyone have any experience of this?. US product at 110v. I want to leave it as is and use a step up transformer. Are they a regular item in maplins or radionics. Are there any issues using this type of product? Should I get the us company to arrange for conversion to 220v. This option would be more expensive but if the view is it is safer I would go that route.

I think Maplins or Radionics would stock these.

[tony]

Thanks Ivor. Will check out prices tomorrow or maybe tonight online. Still wondering if anyone has had experience using this on hifi. Wouldnt care too much if it was a kettle but want to be sure it is the right thing to do with electronics.

[Matt]

Hi Tony

What is the hifi component to be connected to the Transformer?
I personally wouldnt use one unless quality isnt an issue.

Im a strong believer in audio grade mains cables and products in a decent hifi system. And i would definitely think a transformer of that type would affect the sound/image quality of a high end product.

Cheers
Matt

[Modest]

Hi Tony

What is the hifi component to be connected to the Transformer?
I personally wouldnt use one unless quality isnt an issue.

Im a strong believer in audio grade mains cables and products in a decent hifi system. And i would definitely think a transformer of that type would affect the sound/image quality of a high end product.

Cheers
Matt

Except turntable :)

[Adrian]

Hi Tony,

I think what you want is a step down transformer, not a step up transformer. Domestic supply in Ireland is 230V or thereabouts, most US domestic products run at 110V. Hence you would require to step down from 230V to 110V or 115V.

If you were to step up then you would be going from 230 to 460V which is a no no unless you are entering the area of industrial equipment.

A few years ago I had to run a printer at 110V, so I bought a step down transformer in Peats of Parnell st. I think it was about 60 punts at the time, can't remember the VA rating.

The transformer was not a true isolation transformer, but a autotransformer. Still provided 115V for my printer and it did not notice any difference, printed just fine.

A autotransformer is not the same as a Transformer, but it still achieves a voltage reduction and is much cheaper.
If you were to go down this route make a note of the VA required for the HiFi component, your transformer or autotransformer should exceed this VA rating by 10% at least.

In addition, if you sell the hi fi component in the future you will have to sell the transformer unit with it. The plug on the 110V component will be of a different design to the normal domestic plugs we have here. The transformer unit should have a socket for a 110V plug, i.e. it should be impossible to plug a normal 230V plug into a 110V socket.

The downside of using these equipment is that you have to use a step down device, which adds clutter to your HiFi rack, unless you can hide it behind a bookcase etc. In addition there is a danger that if you mistakenly change power leads and plug in your component directly into a 230V supply then very serious damage can / will occur to the component which will result in a expensive repair.

If you have the option of going for the 230V model then I would rather take the hit now and go for this.

In relation to the quality issues I could not comment, perhaps other people on the forum have experience of this.

Regards,

Adrian

[tony]

Thanks guys for the advice. It is very much along the lines I was worried about. I bid on a headphone amp on ebay from the us and surprisingly they accepted my bid as it was $50 below the buyitnow price. I realised after I had bid that it could be 110v and that proved correct. The cost to convert it to 220v is $100. I decided as suggested in your replies that it is the sensible option to take.
Probably acting in a bit of a rush and not waiting as fran suggested but I fancy this amp and hopefully it will be ok.
Now I need Ivor to talk to my wife and explain it away as only he can. For the moment I am hiding in the shed with my motorcyle helmet on.
Hopefully the storm will pass.

[Andy S]

Tony

My Tag Mclaren 100X5R Five Channel Power Amplifier is a US 110v version, so is my Nakamichi CR7A, these run very succesfully using a step down transformer, although I do use an industrial one, you know the big yellow ones that are used on building sites for power tools.

The CR7A works fine on a standard €30.00 step down transformer I bought from Maplins so I think a headphone amp would work perfectly well on one of these.

Regards.

Andy

[Fran]

It will work fine, and maplin sell one for about 30 quid that has us sockets for outputs.

Look up the item number on the web then ring the store to make sure its in stock. Same things are available on eBay.


Fran

[tony]

Thanks a lot Andy,Fran. Ok I will go with that. saves me a 100 bucks and the little worry about the how they convert it.