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
I have lived overseas for the past 6 years and currently live in Southeast Asia. All my equipment is 120 Volts.  I use three 2500 Watt Diamond Series Voltage Transformers to step down from 230 to 120 volts. I have had no problems using these transformers and no issues with sound quality.  They are a very reasonably priced option that have worked well for me.  Recommend you check with your equipment manufacturers on the frequency change from 60 to 50 hertz to ensure there are no issues. I would expect not, but it's best to check. I do not use a UPS.  The equipment I power through these transformers includes an Antipodes DX server, Lampizator Golden Gate DAC, Yamamoto 300B amp and the powered subs in my Zu Definition speakers. Hope this helps.

I used a Seven Star AR2000 transformer automatic voltage regulator  when I moved from the US to France. Worked very well for me, no issues at all. See my previous post on this subject.

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!!!!
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.