US/EU Mains wiring.

[sr1200]

A friend of mine just got a deal with orange amps. Hes heading across the pond for a EU tour next month and asked if i can rewire and amp for him to take over. So, "sure" i said, "but doesnt the amp have a switch for that kind of thing? "

" It does but its not for switching between 120/240." 

"Whats it got then?"

(Sends me schematic from orange ).

Its wired for 100/120. Not sure who uses 100 but i dont think ive seen anything in the US, proper, under 110.  The alternate scheme is 220/240.

My question is, if i wired this thing to work on 120 or 240 would that be acceptable or should i wire it for 120/220.  Are there differences across eu that it would make sense for me to just make it 220/240?  Thanks in advance.

 

[Andy Peters]

Its wired for 100/120. Not sure who uses 100 but i dont think ive seen anything in the US, proper, under 110.

Japan uses 100 V.

 

[pucho812]

yes Japan is 100. 

 

[RuudNL]

A lot of European countries who used 220 V in the past, are now using 230 V. The Netherlands does anyway!

 

[ruffrecords]

A lot of European countries who used 220 V in the past, are now using 230 V. The Netherlands does anyway!

I think the European standard is 230V plus or minus 5%. This means countries that produce 220V are within the spec as is the UK where it is still 240V.

Chers

ian

 

[ln76d]

A lot of European countries who used 220 V in the past, are now using 230 V. The Netherlands does anyway!

Yes, for example in Poland, few years ago , mains voltage was change for 230V.

 

[sr1200]

So 230 is now putting me right in the middle of the two.  Most of their shows are in Germany, Spain, Austria, Italy and Holland.  +/- 5% at 240 is putting me at 228 on the low side and 231 on the high side of 220.  If anyone has a preference that might be "safer" to go with, I would love to just change this over to 120-2X0.  Thanks again, and btw, that chart is awesome!

 

[warpie]

and btw, that chart is awesome!

USSR, Yugoslavia

Some things (inc. AC mains in some countries) has changed since the chart was published  ;D

 

[PRR]

> Its wired for 100/120.

Does it HAVE a 2x0V possibility? Probably *two* 1x0V windings you can series?

As said, 100V is much of older Japan (but other voltages exist in some areas; and a Big Venue Concert might have 120V/240V on stage as needed.)

The "220-240" across Europe is as fictious as "120V" in the USA. Here I get 125V late at night and 112V when I'm cooking. I know people who get 130V routinely and 140V when the utility system has a problem. In my last shop we spent a couple years getting 108V on a "117V" tap because a backhoe had taken out half the city's electric feeders. Take whatever 2x0V connection Orange gives you and accept somewhat different performance at every gig.

A voltage meter would be good to carry. I have seen ALL different voltages at some of the dives I have played. (Concert in the Park was worst, generator voltage was high or low but never 110-120V.) For US outlets, Radio Shack used to stock a dandy meter. There must be a similar product for 2x0V outlets.

 

[sr1200]

@PRR thats the thing.  I can either rewire this for 220-240 or 100-120 according to the notes orange sent me.  HOWEVER, i can also wire it for 120-240 (or 110-220) by changing a few things.  I understand that voltages from the pole are never exact or even reliable.  Just wanted to know if I made it 120-240 if it would be ok operationally outside the UK. (which they wont be hitting this go round) that way he wouldn't have to keep having it re-wired when he leaves the country (I dont know why he didn't just ask the company to provide a EU wired version for the tour... but thats none of my business lol)

 

[PRR]

I would take the 240V tap. Lower voltage does no harm, just a bit less power. Over-voltage can go BOOM.

A "240V" amp plugged into a 220V line will be about 0.75dB down on maximum output, which is hardly audible in A/B tests, NOT audible with a long bus ride and a bad meal between 240V and 220V gigs.

240V on a "220V" amp probably will be fine for a night, but *might* put something over rating and into melt-down.

Likewise "120V" will be fine most anywhere in the USA or Canada.

"120V" will "work" in Japan's 100V areas, though perceptibly down on grunt.

Mexico, rural Slovakia, much of India, islands off the Maine coast.... be best to know local musicians who would be willing to lend amps known-good on the local juice.

 

[sr1200]

Thank you for that.  My mind is now at ease.

 

[RuudNL]

I am having a lot of fluctuations on the mains voltage here, including some short 'dips' from time to time.
(You can see that the lights dim a bit for a fraction of a second.)
Would an 'online voltage stabilizer' be a solution for this?
In fact I think it is something like a UPS, you constantly charge an internal battery and generate your own AC.
Any suggestions? I don't need very high currents, I think 1 KWh is more than enough! (230 V / 5 Amps)

 

[PRR]

> a lot of fluctuations on the mains voltage

You want all your voltage all the time?? Fussy fussy. Lot of places are glad for whatever they get.

Is it a Problem? Most gear tolerates a wide range of voltages and short (half-cycle) drop-outs.

Most power companies try to avoid dips which will re-set computers and clocks.

Call the power company. Act dumb. Act scared. "My lights flicker! Is that dangerous?? I am afraid!!"

Most power companies DO want to give you steady power. Wire sizes are selected for nearly-no lamp flicker. My company prohibits use of large motors or arc-welders unless I contact the company, because such loads can crap-up the power for other customers. If someone has installed heavy nasty machinery without co-ordinating the power supply requirements, the power company would like to know.

And there are power-company problems which will give bad power. Many areas use voltage stabilizers, the older ones are mechanical contraptions. When they get sticky you can have odd jumps in voltage. The next step is they stick, and you get +20% or -20% voltage, pretty bad. They will want to send a tech out to polish or oil before it gets worse.