The Steel Guitar Forum

I may be going to Thialand in the near future, and I was wondering about the fact that they run on 200 volts with 50 cycle for electricity. Are there decent amps over there or is there a converter so my amp and processers would work? My electrical terms may not be acurate, but you get the drift.
All the best,-Andy

in Thailand they run at 220 volts. The part of other transformators i m leaving up to another forumites advice, but I can say that you will need extra protection for your equipment. First of all its hard to find a grounded outlet, secondly the power supply is not as stable as you and I are use to. Any time power can go down and than come back with a sudden power peak, which can do damage to your amp. Maybe Radio Shack sells a device to protect you from that. Other than that you will have great fun, Thai people like music and partying, and there are a lot who do some fine playing on uitar, keyboards etc.

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Steelin' Greetings
Marco Schouten
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Marco Schouten on 17 May 2000 at 11:15 PM.]</p></FONT>

The 50Hz current will not affect performance
of a typical amp. It only affects appliances
with AC motors in them; in terms of musical
equipment we'd be talking about very old
turntables and tape decks. Since about
the '70s these mechanisms have been running
on internal DC motors, unaffected by the
frequency (Hz) of the AC they're plugged
into.

You will have to put a step-down transformer
between the wall and your amp (or any other
110/120VAC electrical equipment.) Your co-
workers or friends in Thailand will be able
to tell you where to get them. I would guess
they would be cheaper there because they're
more commonly in use. A 50 watt, 220/110
transformer should be enough for your amp.
A refrigerator would need something like a
1,500 watt transformer.



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Rod Mason

Andy,

I ran a 120VAC 60HZ 8 track personal studio with guitar amps, processors, etc. while living in North Yorkshire, UK for several years on 220VAC 50HZ. The step down transformers mentioned earlier will do you just fine, but the recommendation for line power conditioners would be well heeded. Furman and others produce quality line conditioners. Best of luck to you.

Cheers, Robert

Also, AAA sells a slew of things to solve electrical problems you may encounter when you go to other countries. Go to one in a good sized city.
John Paul Jones