Wiring Help Please!

sootywooty · Dec 31, 2009

Hi All!! i just need some advice on plug wiring please, i have an hifi amp from the usa and it has a feature to swap it from 120 to 240 volts which is ok, but the plug is the american type just 2 wire one black and the other black/white, is it ok to just put an english plug on with the black to the live and the black and white to the netural socket and leave the earth socket vacant. It states the total output on the amp as 580 watts, so if it is best with a voltage down stepper which type would be best.

Thanks Alot for any Advise!

acat · Dec 31, 2009

Look through your instructions for the amp it may be what we would call a class 2 item which is double insulated and no earth is required. Look for a symbol that is two squares one inside the other on the appliance or in the paper work if its there or it mentions double insulated no earth is needed.

Chris

Amp David · Dec 31, 2009

You normally gat a UK converter plug on these sort of things, where you just plug the 2 pin into the UK 3 pin adapter.

eskimo39 · Dec 31, 2009

I think the 580 watt referes to audio power.

dufjax · Dec 31, 2009

Could frequency be an issue if it is 60 Hz?
I just remember a horror story from a mate of mine that brought some Denon DJ equipment from the US. It had the 120/240 switch but “apparently blew up” when he plugged it in. He sent it off to Denon (UK) who said it blew up due to the unit being a 60hz model not 50hz…. Then again knowing him he probably left it on 120v.

sootywooty · Dec 31, 2009

Thanks for all the replies Guys! it is a 1978 amp but has been well looked after, i would not know if it is a safe without earth because their is no marks or leaflets.

I have plugs for other usa things i have, but what power rating would i need i think mine are 45 watt step downers, i would like to run it direct if i could tho.

All the best, Paul.

eskimo39 · Dec 31, 2009

Hi, I don't think you need to worry about the power, if it says 580w "Output" surely that is audio.

If however, it says 580w "Input" then by ohms law this would have been using 4.8a on 120v so using it on a 230v supply would only increase the supply current to 9.26a which is still below the usual 13a plug fuse type.

If it is 120v/230v 50Hz then it should work fine in the UK as it will only draw the power it requires.

Also if it originally came with a 2 pin plug, I believe this would be double insulated as per this article:

AC power plugs and sockets - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hope this helps.