using computer and audio equipment in other countries

[Speak Easy]

So I'll be working in Libya for 1 year. I was looking forward to bringing my music production gear over there, but I heard one guy's Xbox blew up because of a power surge (or maybe power compatibility issues?). Now I'm a bit nervous of using my stuff over there. Do you think a getting a good surge protector would be enough to protect my equipment (iMac, monitors, turntables)? Any advice?

[Tone Deft]

what country are you in?

many countries have different line voltages that run at eithr 50Hz or 60Hz. the back of the power supplies for your gear will tell you what they can run at.

probably all you need to know:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_voltage

you can get power surges anywhere, not just Libya.

[Speak Easy]

I'm in the U.S. I'll check that link. Thanks!

[Speak Easy]

So Libya has 127 V/50 Hz, the U.S. has 120 V/60Hz.

Would an adapter and surge protectors be enough or are there other things to consider. I remember back in my homeland (back in the day), my dad had some kind of transformer so we can use foreign-made computers.

[Tone Deft]

you should check the power supplies for your gear. they by law have to state what input voltage they need and what frequency they can use. also notice that some cities in Libya are 230V.

MANY are good for 120V and 240V, 50Hz and 60Hz.

IMO you don't need a surge protector in Libya any more than you need one in the US. it's not a surge protector problem (from what I've read.)

read that chart closer, your biggest problem is the shape of the power plug, they use these:









a note on 120V vs 127V. AFAIK that won't be a problem (50 vs 60Hz might.) if you measure the wall voltage in your home it can fluctuate a lot. anywhere from 105 to 130VAC. we say 110V or 120V but it actually varies quite a bit. I was surprised when I heard about this. you can't take that part of the spec too literally.

hth.

[PLacidBasilisk]

I'm curious as to what kind of job takes you to Libya!

[ianomurchu]

So I'll be working in Libya for 1 year. I was looking forward to bringing my music production gear over there, but I heard one guy's Xbox blew up because of a power surge (or maybe power compatibility issues?). Now I'm a bit nervous of using my stuff over there. Do you think a getting a good surge protector would be enough to protect my equipment (iMac, monitors, turntables)? Any advice?

Hey Speak Easy,
I am living and working in Nigeria at the moment, the mother of all shitty electrical grids! I brought out my whole rig! There have been problems and the dead gear list is now growing. So far I have lost a moogerfooger, a presonus tubepre, a korg electribe and a behringer effects unit that was crap any way!
The fuses on my KRK's blew as well (which was a previous forum saga(thanks for the help with that guys)) I use 2 huge industrial standard voltage regulators and surge protectors, helps but not enough! Going home soon, hope to get dead gear fixed!! Bottom line, you need to have your gear with you to keep you sane in these places but if the power supply is intermittant its going to take its toll! You can get UPS Surge protection and voltage regulation, you'll still have problems!

[rikhyray]

There are extreme power fluctuations ( if offcial is 220V in real life might be anything from 100 to 300V), power cuts etc in most of developing countries. Uninterrupted power supply - UPS is prefered , if not at least voltage stabiliser of some decend brand (be sure it is original not some cheap fake). Have your own power strip so only that will be connected to UPS or stabiliser.

[ianomurchu]

@rikhyray,

UPS and Voltage regs not doin the trick here in Naija! I have other friends here with better studios than mine with same protection still frying their gear! Just a warning tale is all

[ark]

There's not much modern equipment that cares whether you're using 50 Hz or 60 Hz -- I can't think of any offhand. I also echo the comment that voltages between about 100v and 130v should be considered equivalent.

The real question, then, is whether the power supply is subject to surges, transients, miswiring, etc. that could fry your equipment.

I do not believe that all devices marketed as "surge protectors" would protect you from that. You should probably look for something that's designed for A/V use in areas of questionable power. I think, for example, that Furman makes a number of products that will do what you want.

[rikhyray]

@rikhyray,

UPS and Voltage regs not doin the trick here in Naija! I have other friends here with better studios than mine with same protection still frying their gear! Just a warning tale is all :P

Hm, how? I am not electrician, just wonder how it would be possible- perhaps someone competent in these matters could explain, how what could be a factor(s). I am from India and except for some major cities like Bombay, there are all these problems but have not heard much of people having issues with equipment used in proper studios. There are other factors, extreme heat, all penetrating dust, and the worst salty humidity. If you open any piece of electronics used in tropical country, it will after 1 year look like 5 years in normal conditions. One of major reasons of the instability is stealing of electricity, power companies have limited control over their own nets, it can be as much as 30% in New Delhi to over 60 % in the countryside. What I hear about place like Lagos it is probably worse, still dont understand how it can be issue in properly wired studio behind all the protectors and UPSs.

[SubFunk]

^^^ i am no electrician either, but it sounds like it is no real UPS (mind you there is a lot of crap around and real UPS systems costs extremely)

we used them in the audio company i was working for, they operate worldwide... and we used them in countries like china, etc.
they usually have two ways of operating, one is you run over the mains and in a dropout the battery jumps in, that method could fry your stuff if you have ridiculous spikes, the other is a cascade battery system you always run of them while the others charge, that is 100% foolproove... but costs a fortune.

those guys make decent systems http://www.online-usv.de/index.asp

[Tone Deft]

So I'll be working in Libya for 1 year. I was looking forward to bringing my music production gear over there, but I heard one guy's Xbox blew up because of a power surge (or maybe power compatibility issues?). Now I'm a bit nervous of using my stuff over there. Do you think a getting a good surge protector would be enough to protect my equipment (iMac, monitors, turntables)? Any advice?

Hey Speak Easy,
I am living and working in Nigeria at the moment, the mother of all shitty electrical grids! I brought out my whole rig! There have been problems and the dead gear list is now growing. So far I have lost a moogerfooger, a presonus tubepre, a korg electribe and a behringer effects unit that was crap any way!
The fuses on my KRK's blew as well (which was a previous forum saga(thanks for the help with that guys)) I use 2 huge industrial standard voltage regulators and surge protectors, helps but not enough! Going home soon, hope to get dead gear fixed!! Bottom line, you need to have your gear with you to keep you sane in these places but if the power supply is intermittant its going to take its toll! You can get UPS Surge protection and voltage regulation, you'll still have problems!

wow, good story.

what struck me are the different shapes of plugs within one region, do you find that to be a problem?

nice post, WORLDWIDE forum, you never know who or what's going to pop up.

[Speak Easy]

Gah! These stories are scaring me! I just bought a pair of Adam A7's. It just crossed my mind that maybe I should return them if they'll get messed up anyway.

I'll look into that UPS link above.

Oh, the job is an engineering job to build housing and roads in Libya. One good thing is that I'll be 2 hours from Italy and have decent amount of time off.