Power transformer

[salvady68]

Hi to all! this is my first post I found a two rock custom clean on reverb, but I live in Italy, so I need a 220V working amp. In the pics I can see on the back of the chassis the writings 110V/120V/220V/230V/240V so I asked to the seller but he don't know if the amp works also with 220V. I contatted at two rock support and they tolds me:
"About the voltage... We build amps specifically for the U.S. (domestic) market, OR for EXPORT (use outside of the United States and Canada.) U.S . domestic amps are wired for 120 VAC, 60 cycle operation. Export amps are built for 220, 230, or 240 volt operation, and are manufactured to be WEEE, CE and RoHS compliant. Although US market amps may be equipped with a multi-tap transformer, they were never intended for sale or use outside of the United States. Conversion for use outside the US voids the warranty, and Two-Rock Amplifiers, LLC, accepts NO responsibility for the performance, function, durability, or reliability of any product built for sale and use in the U.S. that has been converted for use outside of the United States and Canada.
However, for this amp, if you buy... I would be ok for you to send to me and I can work on flipping the voltage and preparing it for Italy. I would charge parts, labor and of course shipping."
My question is: in your opinion, has that amp a multi tap transformer so I can rewire it for 220V?
Thankyou

[sluckey]

I think any competent technician should be able to convert to 220v. It should be a simple process, especially if you can get a schematic and/or other service information.

[salvady68]

Infact I've seen other two rock USA models and there are only 110V marked on chassis, so that model has only 110V tap on the power transformer...cool! Thankyou for the replay!

[Roe]

You need 230v even in Italy

[salvady68]

Yes, is marked also 230V on the back of chassis, the important thing is that the transformer is multitap...i hope so... anyone have seen a two rock with this kind of PT?
You can see in the back pics that is specified voltages
https://reverb.com/item/7283099-two-roc ... -serial-13

[roberto]

I think that for 5200 bucks you can ask them to open the amp and send you some internal photos.

[salvady68]

Hem...is not a very helpful guy, maybe is because he don’t want ship overseas. So I asked to my friend to contact him...
In your opinion, is a bit pricey? There are only 29 custom clean on the earth

[roberto]

It should be a good investment. Not an amp to tour with.
It has to be pricey!

[Phil_S]

I know nothing about this particular brand of amp. Please forgive me if I'm missed something important. Just buy a step down transformer to plug in between the wall supply and the amp. These are relatively inexpensive and you don't need to do anything to the amp -- forever. You might consider bolting it into the case if there is room so that the only external wire is the 220v wire that supplies the step down transformer.

If you buy it and determine it has a multi-tap transformer, converting it should be a fairly simple matter, something that can be done in 15 minutes, assuming the chassis is mounted conventionally and can easily be removed. That stuff about voiding the warranty is crap. No self-respecting company would build a multi-tap arrangement and then tell you that only they can change it. It is quite possible there is a built in switch. You might need to use a screwdriver to turn it.

If you want to convert it once you have it in Italy, you should be able to buy an appropriate transformer that will fit the existing hole pattern and change it. That is maybe 30 minutes of a tech's time unless there is something unusual about it.

Good luck with it.

[Roe]

step down/up transformers don't help at all with the 50hz, sometimes resulting in overheating of transformers made for 60hz

[andresound]

step down/up transformers don't help at all with the 50hz, sometimes resulting in overheating of transformers made for 60hz

I have a vintage EPIPHONE amp (1961) and it uses a step down TX for our 240v wall voltage. I have been playing this regularly now for a while. How do I avoid damaging the original PT?

[martin manning]

The key word is "sometimes." If your Epiphone amp's PT doesn't run hot (too hot to touch for more than a few seconds, or it's dripping melted varnish) then there is no problem. A 50 Hz mains frequency requires a little larger core to deliver the same power, but there is probably enough margin to cover it.

[andresound]

Thanks Martin,
The step down TX runs cool. I thought he meant it might damage the 60hz original (which does run hot - but not melting

[martin manning]

Yes, that was the point- the Epiphone PT was designed to operate on 120V, 60 Hz power. The step-down transformer corrects the voltage, but not the frequency (it's still 50 Hz), which is asking a bit more from the Epiphone PT.

[salvady68]

Hi guys! Thanks for the replies! Yes, I hope it will be also a good investiment
It’s a good idea to buy a step down transformer, so I can check the voltages, and then, if is multi tap, I rewiring, or select, if there is a voltage selector, and check again
If isn’ Multi tap, I’ll know what power transformer ‘ will need.
Now is all clear and I’m ready to buy