Moving From USA Overseas... Looking For Advice re: Electrical Service and Gear


hello all,

i'm moving from the USA to Vietnam (220V / 50 hz) and am looking for some advice on the best and safest way to hook up my system out there.  the area i'm moving to - district 2 in ho chi minh city - apparently has power outages monthly.  any advice on safely running my gear out there would be appreciated.

  • is it better to have my gear converted to 220V, or simply use a 220V - 120V step down transformer?
  • should i use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS / battery backup) or is a good surge protector sufficient?
  • is it possible to use a step down transformer in line with a UPS, ie, wall to UPS, UPS to transformer, transformer to gear?

as you can see, i have no idea what's the best and safest way to run USA spec equipment in Vietnam and would appreciate all inputs and recommendations.

thanks!
Scott 
128x128srosenberg

Showing 4 responses by zephyr24069

Correction: Argentina is 220-240v and 50Hz so my question regarding a step-down transformer that would also convert (up) from 50Hz to 60Hz while it steps down the voltage from 220-240v to 115-120v is important.
Thank you very much,...I am grateful to the OP and those who respond on this thread as I have a very similar question around a potential move to Argentina in about 1 year's time. Their power is 220-240 60Hz as well. 

Questions:  Is there a step-down transformer that in addition to converting from 220-240v, also changes cycles from 50 to 60Hz?

Also,...is it best prior to the move to purchase a sub-panel and proper breakers to take with you to have a local electrician install instead of just going straight from the step-down transformer to the your equipment.  My purpose for asking this is from multiple angles;  all transformers emit noise to a great or lesser extent in their immediate environment,...I would consider installing the transformer in a separate room and then running a large gauge feed to a sub-panel and then 10-gauge wire from the sub-panel to audio-grade receptacles in the wall (that I would also take with me during the move along with the proper in-wall boxes, etc....

What are everyone's thoughts on this? Am I wasting my time and energy if I go this route? I suspect I may not be as I could take things like my Environmental Potentials Ground filters, etc...with me for install in the sub-panel? I'm not an electrician so if I am blurring the details here and making mistakes, please let me know.  Thank you!!!!