Re: Buying an amp in the UK and use it in France: 110v/220v compatibility issues ?

k o y l · Post by **k o y l** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 6:38 am

Let's say I want to buy a all tube amp head in the UK and I'm in France, what power issues will I have to face ?

- 1st, are tube amp really designed differently for 110v and 220v ? (Apart from the cord plug.. but that's no big deal)
- If so, what can I do to make an amp designed for 110v power work on 220v power ?
- Does it worth the hassle to save 100 Euros ?

Thanks for your input.

kreuzberg · Post by **kreuzberg** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 6:55 am

Electricity is 110v in the US but 220v in the UK if I am not mistaken.

Post by **Orang Goreng** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 6:57 am

Do you mean you're buying an amp for the US market in the UK? If not: the UK doesn't have a 110 V power grid, but (IIRC) 240 V. There shouldn't be a problem using 240 V gear on 220 V. However, stuff built for the American grid (110 V) won't work here; you'd need a quality transformer, which might not be much cheaper than the money you're saving.

k o y l · Post by **k o y l** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:29 pm

No.. sorry , I messed things up !

I thought 110v was in use in the UK but if it's 220v it should work like a charm..

I'm talking about a UK product for the UK market... I'm talking about an Orange actually !

(that's funny, I wrote the sentence under my avatar only by wordplay and reference to Jacque Prevert... but now I wonder if it's not destiny !

.... )

northern_dirt · Post by **northern_dirt** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:32 pm

240 has some kick to it...

Post by **mezcalhead** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:04 pm

some website wrote:Originally, the UK mains voltage supply was specified at 240V RMS +/-6%. Some while ago, the specifications were changed (230V +10%, -6%) to allow harmonisation across Europe.

So all you'll need to change is the plug, easily done with an adaptor. IIRC Australia is still officially 240V.

Superfuzz · Post by **Superfuzz** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 3:19 am

k o y l wrote: No.. sorry , I messed things up !
I thought 110v was in use in the UK but if it's 220v it should work like a charm..

I'm talking about a UK product for the UK market... I'm talking about an Orange actually !

(that's funny, I wrote the sentence under my avatar only by wordplay and reference to Jacque Prevert... but now I wonder if it's not destiny ! .... )

and the poor HH?

k o y l · Post by **k o y l** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:15 am

mezcalhead wrote:
some website wrote:Originally, the UK mains voltage supply was specified at 240V RMS +/-6%. Some while ago, the specifications were changed (230V +10%, -6%) to allow harmonisation across Europe.
So all you'll need to change is the plug, easily done with an adaptor. IIRC Australia is still officially 240V.

It'll be even simplier (to find I mean) to change the cord. I think I already have a spare one somewhere.

Now what makes me hesitate is that I'll actually save only 60 Euros (because of shipping costs) and I don't know it it's worth considering how complicated it would be to make it repair using the warranty if it has a problem...

Superfuzz wrote:
k o y l wrote: No.. sorry , I messed things up !
I thought 110v was in use in the UK but if it's 220v it should work like a charm..

I'm talking about a UK product for the UK market... I'm talking about an Orange actually !

(that's funny, I wrote the sentence under my avatar only by wordplay and reference to Jacque Prevert... but now I wonder if it's not destiny ! .... )
and the poor HH?

I will keep it but I don't really know what to expect from it so I still have to try it with a cab and see (or hear) how it sounds.
If I like it I'll keep it... it may even be used as an extra power amp for the Tiny Terror.

The thing is it's christmas time, everybody's asking me what I want from SantaClaus (

).. and I thought this is the perfect occasion.
... but I must say "The Great Destroyer " aen Pedal is tempting too..

k o y l · Post by **k o y l** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:47 pm

I bought a Tiny Terror !
Santa Claus is indeed very nice this year.

I purchased it from a store on eBay UK. They don't deliver to France but since 2 weeks my cousin work and live in Liverpool so she'll receive it.
This little trick allowed me to save 100 Euros on the rest of europe price. I wouldn't have been able to have it without this..

mjet · Post by **mjet** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 4:13 pm

Buying something in the UK to save money - who would have thought?

k o y l · Post by **k o y l** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 4:23 pm

As long as Parcelforce is not involved, you can !

Royal Mail will not be involved as well. I just received a mail from the seller telling me my cousin's work place is in the road he parks his car when he goes shopping in Liverpool so he'll deliver the amp to her in person wednesday when he'll go there for his Xmas shopping !
Incredible !

mjet · Post by **mjet** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 4:25 pm

Parcelforce is obscenely expensive. I've have very good luck with Parcel2Go.com - check them out!

http://www.parcel2go.com

k o y l · Post by **k o y l** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:04 pm

It looks really interesting !