RE: Outfitting AC to 220V in USA


I live in Hawaii and have the opportunity to purchase an ASR Emitter I amplifier (220V version) for bi-amping. My AC is currently at 120V but my electrician tells me he can run a dedicated 220V line from my dedicated audio circuit breaker to power the 220V amplifier. The amplifier's power cord has a standard 15 amp IEC and has what I believe to be a German Shuko two prong plug.

I contacted a business that specializes in selling European wall outlets, transformers, and outlets. The representative recommended that I pick-up a transformer to convert 220V to 120V to power the 220V amplifier.

I would prefer not to purchase a transformer and would rather (if possible) have an electrician install a dedicated 220V line and install a Shuko wall outlet, that will enable me to use the amplifier's power cord and go directly to the wall outlet. Is this possible? If so, does the standard German AC power line or shuko power cord have two positives, one neutral and one gorund OR two positives and one ground OR two positives and a floating ground?

If a transformer is the only alternative, can you provide me with a brief explanation why. I do not know if I will have phase problems.

I would appreciate your thoughts to my questions. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
hawaiikid

Showing 2 responses by ngjockey

There are rare pieces of audio gear that don't like split phase. Most have no compatibilty issues and European gear would be even less likely to have problems than American because of international standards.

All electric stoves and dryers use 240V (+120/0/-120) in US/Canada. The two hots are 90 degrees out of phase (inverse sine wave) and cumulative. Oddly, this is still, most often, called single-phase. The neutral only carries the difference ("garbage" for a single load) between the hots. 3 phase is used in industrial/commercial motors where three hot 115V, or more, at 60 degrees phase add up to 208V, or more. 3 phase has no neutral and, sometimes, no ground.

An adequately sized transformer would isolate and filter AC and often sounds better. They're not that expensive, if you know what you're looking for. It only has to reproduce a very narrow 60 Hz bandwidth. Converting from 60 Hz to 50Hz is usually not necessary for audio gear.