American to Australian amp voltage?

[Weirdo]

Hey all,


So there's an amp i'm pretty keen on and have cash ready to go.
The problem is, it's an American Amp and i live in Australia. It comes with a step down transformer, and by logic, thats all it needs.. right?
Is it just as simple as that though?
Amp -> Transformer -> Wall
I just wanna make sure it's not a heap of a hassle.

 

[beans-on-toast]

What is the make and model of the amp?

Some amps can be rewired internally for 240VAC, this is the easiest solution. If it can't, the options are to replace the power transformer or use an external step down transformer that the amp plugs into.

 

[Weirdo]

It's an Orange ad200b

 

[Weirdo]

It comes with an external step down, too.

 

[beans-on-toast]

If it comes with the correct external transformer, it sounds like you are good to go.

There is a manual available here: http://www.orangeamps.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Orange_AD200B_User_Manual_web.pdf
The manual indicates that you can switch between 100 and 120 OR 220 or 240VAC. I am assuming that the amp is 120VAC and that the external transformer is converting 120 to 240VAC. Just to be clear, you should ask what mains voltage the amp requires and what are the specs on the external transformer.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Agreed. The external transformer should have a VA rating at least double the wattage output of the amplifier. About 500VA as a minimum. If the primary of the internal power transformer can indeed be reconfigured for 240V that would be the best way to go. A competent tech should be able to do that for you.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Being an Orange it is "probably" very simple to rewire the power supply to 240v. Don't forget to change the main fuse. The US one passes double the safe current before it blows, when run at 240v.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Nice catch - but I would expect a tech to do that as a matter of course.

 

[FFTT]

If it's a new amp, just ask the builder if an international power supply is available.

 

[Wolffgang]

I went through this exat thing a little while ago before deciding I hated the Orange sound anyway.

Orange customer support themselves were completely useless, but the Orange forum was full of helpful people. Link! http://forum.orangeamps.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=51426&p=610444&hilit=ad200+voltage#p610444

It wasn't something I or my studio tech (not an amp tech, but knows a little about a lot) could do, and I didn't end up doing it, but it looks doable.

I ended up buying one of these http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-Blac...Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item462322bb0b

It's a pain to lug around, but it works. Don't let the price scare you; in my guitard days I bought an American Triple Rec and got a MUCH more expensive (~$350) tansformer from jaycar, and this cheap ebay one works just as well. Get it, you'll be happy, then you can decide whether to monkey around inside the amp or not.

Best of luck!

 

[Wolffgang]

Also here is the AD200b's unoficcial manual, which is infintely more useful than the 'real' one http://www.docstoc.com/docs/32629305/Orange-AD200B-Bass-Amplifier---U

No way to download it without paying, but you can browse it online all you want. Has some handy info about biasing and tube positions. Worth a read.

 

[Downunderwonder]

It wouldn't surprise me if it's your amp doing the rounds. Can't be too many buying big stepdowns when there is a perfectly good schematic to swap the PT series/parallel.