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
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.
I doubt it. You could check with the manufacturers of your equipment if it is fine to feed it with 50hz, or you could consider converting it to 220v/50hz.
I'd look into acupwr.com transformers, they have a series for refrigerators that would change 220-240v @ 50h into 120v @60h.

They also have power stabilizers @ 1000w & 2000w for brown outs.
not affiliated with them in any ways, except thinking of buying these two products for my own use.
good luck 
Yup, I looked them up. They do have it and you can buy directly from them. The company sounds good, I would give it a try for sure.