re-wiring USA Plug to UK plug

[ikonia]

Hi all,

I've just had a pretty rare guitar amp head shipped in from the states.

Of course its got a USA plug on it.

I can test it of course using a converter.

It may sound dumb - but whats involved in changing it to a UK 3 prong plug.

Just a case of stripping back the cable and meeting the wires to UK layout ?

or is there more to it.

thanks.

[herulach]

Hi all,

I've just had a pretty rare guitar amp head shipped in from the states.

Of course its got a USA plug on it.

I can test it of course using a converter.

It may sound dumb - but whats involved in changing it to a UK 3 prong plug.

Just a case of stripping back the cable and meeting the wires to UK layout ?

or is there more to it.

thanks.

It depends on the kind of power supply, if its switch mode (only if its newer probably) Then it will accept anything between 90 and 250 ish, so youre golden. Other wise you need to either faf with the transformer, or get a stepdown convertor (not a cheap maplins on eor it will hum like crazy)

[TiG]

Personally i'd never re-wire a US plug to UK format. It isn't worth the risk of a few quid on a converter.

TiG

[TheAnimus]

Tig the risk? What risk, the £2 convertorss are always called shaver adaptors. They don't alter the voltage or frequncy at all.

Now if you've tested it on one of those adaptors, then just strip it back, wire it up. Really simple, save pissing about with the adaptor too.

[TiG]

The risk of you miss wiring it and blowing your rare amp?, some people aren't all that good with electricity.

TiG

[ikonia]

good feedback.

i'll get an electirician to look at this.

the converter is fine - but its hassle to carry one around/falls off/gets kicked out of the converter easier. A simple uk plug would be better.

glad I asked as there appears to be more to it than a simple re-wire, and this is a tad expensive to blow.

[herulach]

Personally i'd never re-wire a US plug to UK format. It isn't worth the risk of a few quid on a converter.

TiG

If its a switchmode power supply, or indeed has an adjustable voltage setting then theres no problem with it whatsoever.

[TheAnimus]

miss wiring it?

blowing your rare amp?

far more risk plugging it into the adaptor to find the PSU can't take our frequency or voltage.

How can you damage an amp when its okay with that miss wiring it? Lets say you told it to use earth as referance. You'd trip your houses earth leakage, no harm done.

really, more chance of not screwing it in right, and killing yourself when you decide to use your tounge to push the phase wire back in.

[Rave]

You probably know this and other posters have alluded to it, but just in case: do not plug it in using an adaptor unless you know for a fact that it's designed to work on 230V. You could easily blow it up if it's designed for 110V.

[TheAnimus]

good feedback.

i'll get an electirician to look at this.

the converter is fine - but its hassle to carry one around/falls off/gets kicked out of the converter easier. A simple uk plug would be better.

glad I asked as there appears to be more to it than a simple re-wire, and this is a tad expensive to blow.

if your convertor is like a shaving adaptor, there is nothing to fear, you've already run your amp on our voltage + frequncy.

[TiG]

Guys, All i'm saying is that if Ikonia is having to ask how to do it, then i'd suggest that caution is the best policy here.

Even thought i'd know how to do it myself, where electricity comes into things, i'd prefer to get a qualified professional to make a proper job of things.

I'd just take it round Beanbandit's and i'm sure i'd have a professional job sorted in a few minutes, with much better quality job than i could do myself.

If you've spent a lot of money on a rare item, and you weren't 99% certain how to do something i'm sure you'd be cautious too.

TiG

[ikonia]

exactly, the advice has been taken and I'll get an electrician to do it.

If you don't know and have to ask - thats fine, if the response you get back is "this is basic stuff" and you still don't know it, well I'm out of my league. I'll get someone who knows whats what to do this properly.

Appriciate the feedback.

[TheAnimus]

right, if he has already had it running on our mains fine, with a passive adaptor.

then if he were to damage it/himself fitting a plug on him, he shouldn't be allowed to vote, drive, or farther children.

changing a plug is stupidly easy even if your colour blind, i can't see what the danger is. (And after 2 years of A-level electronics, and i should be desigined the low frequency filter for my disertation right now, i *really* should know of any dangers).

but TiG, i'll say it again, if its been running on our mains + our frequency, there is F**K all danger. Really that simple.

[ikonia]

I've not run it yet - its not been turned on due to concern.

Its not the changing of the plug thats a problem, its more the possible problems issues if I do this and plug it in.

Which I see what you guys are saying.

[5lab]

i would personally get a 240-110v standalone converter, that way if the amps bust for any reason, you still haev the converter for the next one you buy. see maplin

[Svarn]

I bought a step-up/step-down voltage converter (which included adapters free) when I moved to the UK, it is a small black box that allows me to plug all my devices from North America in over here, and vica versa when I go back. Might be worth looking into.