kudzurunner
6007 posts
Jul 04, 2016
3:23 AM
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I'm going to be bringing my HG2 to the UK in a few weeks and that reminds me that I either need to have my hosts supply me with a transformer or else provide one myself. This is always a hassle.
Can somebody tell me 1) how many watts the HG2 draws and 2) whether there is an affordable and not-too-heavy transformer that I could purchase for this task and bring along with me?
I found one item, which looks more or less like what I've been provided with in the past, but it only supplies 300 watts and I suspect that it's not powerful enough for the HG2. The items specifies "A wattage rating 2 to 3 times higher than the wattage of your appliance is always recommended when purchasing a voltage converter."
voltage converter
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Jul 04, 2016 3:24 AM
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Owen Evans
156 posts
Jul 04, 2016
8:24 AM
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Perhaps the best contact is Brian at HarpGear?
brian@harpgear.com
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kudzurunner
6008 posts
Jul 04, 2016
1:08 PM
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Yeah, I emailed him and then posted here. I"m a believer in redundancy and crowdsourcing.
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Owen Evans
157 posts
Jul 04, 2016
1:37 PM
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Cool, so am I as I Messenger'd him & he said he got your email. Great minds think alike. Or is that, fools never differ? Cheers.
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Bugfan
39 posts
Jul 04, 2016
4:57 PM
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HG2 manual says 1Amp fuse so watts =v x amps ...120v x 1A = 120watts -and that's max draw to actually blow the fuse. Operationally it will be less. 150w transformer will be fine- and still compact also- be easy to temp mount it in the bottom of the amp - Velcro strap and a couple of screws. (A 100w one would probably be ok but duty cycle would be high on it then and it could get hot). A 300W one would power my PA100 100W valve amp.I have run a VHT special 6 for a long time on a 150W transformer no problems.
I have found on travels it has always been easy to source stepup/stepdown transformers in the place you are going to , rather than buy at home. But you need time to go out and visit the electronics store when you are there of course.
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Greg Heumann
3250 posts
Jul 04, 2016
5:24 PM
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You amp draws minimal power. I bet it has a 1 amp fuse. 1 amp at 120V = 120 watts - and that is when the fuse blows- the amp draws less. I have recommended the Simran 200W transformer to several Kalamazoo users abroad - works fine. Try this Simran at Amazon
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
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Last Edited by Greg Heumann on Jul 04, 2016 5:25 PM
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Bugfan
40 posts
Jul 04, 2016
6:55 PM
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Hey Greg Heumann (master of all things microphonic!) I am glad to see my reasoning concurs with yours! On a different topic...I have an Astatic Element MC 564-4 ...never seen this particular designation anywhere- what is it- I believe its a ceramic element? Seen 564-1 & 564-3 on the net but 564-4 never mentioned - I am guessing the suffix is maybe just a year thing or maybe a version number, although I cant find 564-2 either. The date code puts it at 1964.
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WinslowYerxa
1172 posts
Jul 04, 2016
8:34 PM
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You might check to see whether the device or its external power supply switches voltage automatically, like my MacBook did when I took it to Germany a couple of years ago. All I needed was a plug adapter, and not the heavy transformer that I'd lugged along with an older laptop some years back.
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Winslow
Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
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kudzurunner
6013 posts
Jul 30, 2016
1:43 AM
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Now that I'm at the tail end of my UK tour, I wanted to check back in and say thanks to Greg for the Simran recommendation. Yes! The Simran Deluxe Step Down Converter, Model SMF-200, aced the job. Only $15 at Amazon. It weighs about 2 pounds, so it feels fairly heavy in your hand; it's compact and perfect for the job. See Greg's link above for a direct line to Amazon.
In the UK, you'll also need the standard tourist thingie that converts the 2 prong continental plug to the three-post UK plug. It's a passive piece of plastic, easy to find at tourist shops. (It's also what you use with a two-prong Mac charger for UK service; those chargers automatically convert voltage, but you still need the thingie.)
The HG2, on the Simran, worked perfectly. Still loud as s--t.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Jul 30, 2016 1:49 AM
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