US to UK transformer?

[Michael Messer]

I have recently received an American guitar amplifier to run some tests with. It is a small handbuilt 5 watt tube amp and I need to get a transformer to plug it into.

Looking on Amazon I see two types, small ones that go direct into the wall socket, or bigger free-standing units. If I don't need to pay £49 I would prefer to get a cheaper one, but if I have to I will.

Can anyone advise me on what I should get? Here are links to the Amazon page and a music shop that I have been looking at.

www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=us+to+uk+transformer&crid=353HCBPWWVEY&sprefix=%2Caps%2C58&ref=nb_sb_ss_recent_1_0_recent

www.gear4music.com/G4M/Mercury-USA-UK-100W-Power-Converter/2J28?origin=product-ads&gclid=CjwKCAjww7KmBhAyEiwA5-PUSh-6WF0ryM_jbZNIWLplEq9bOEGYL42gdNB3NYLCPnQYt0mmaPc7nhoClTEQAvD_BwE

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Shine On
Michael

[Pickers Ditch]

The 49 quider from Amazon - the wall wart types run a bit hot.
At least with the free standing unit you can get a bit of air around it which should keep it cooler and safer.

[bonzo]

I think the £25 one from gear for music is free standing PD.
Should do the job Michael not pulling a big load.

[leeophonic]

Michael I think Dave had one up at the workshop


Lee

[snakehips]

Hi there !

I find those things terribly confusing !
They should be made for just converting voltage one way only.
Most I’ve seen have a switch to convert either direction.
Then you panic wondering if you have the switch the right way so you don’t double up your 240v wall socket into a 120V guitar amp !!

I bought a cheapo voltage converter thing once and burned out a 120V leslie (speaker) motor when testing it worked.
I got two much better voltage converters when I bought those two Masco amp heads showed in thread about getting a mic’d up harmonica sound.
I’d send you one Michael, but I’m away on holiday for another week still. Bet you wanna test out that amp way before then !

[Pickers Ditch]

Good points Snakey.

I was fortunate that Pete The Valve, our local hero, made mine for me.

It's one way traffic, 220V to 110V, and he made sure that I understood that I should allow plenty of ventilation to keep it cool.