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How to Convert a Guitar Amp to 240V

A guitar amplifier is used to magnify the output signal coming from the electronics of an electric guitar. An amplifier produces a magnified copy of the input signal by means of a powered active component such as a vacuum tube or transistor. Most guitar amplifiers use an electrical signal that has been converted to DC voltage as their power source. The magnitude of voltage applied to the active component is largely dependent upon how much voltage the amplifier receives from its power supply; therefore, an amplifier designed for the North American market must be plugged into a 120-volt outlet. If you wish to use such an amplifier in Europe -- or some other place with a 240-volt electrical service -- you will need an amplifier to step the voltage down to 120 volts.

Things You'll Need

240-volt, two-wire power cord
240v/120v, 50 Hz transformer
Electrical wire
Electrical pliers
Electronic solder
Soldering iron
Solder-type spade terminal
120-volt electrical receptacle
Screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Pull apart the wire ends of the 240-volt power cord until there is a 6-inch separation between these wire ends. Use the electrical pliers to strip 1/2 inch of insulation from the wire ends of the power cord.
- 2
  Place one of the stripped wire ends from the power cord on top of one of the transformer primary terminals. Melt a small drop of solder to both the terminal and to the wire end. Smooth out the soldered joint until it is shiny and free of lumps. Solder the second power cord wire end to the remaining primary terminal on the transformer.
- 3
  Cut two lengths of wire, with each length being 6 inches long. Strip 1/2 inch of insulation from the ends of each wire segment.
- 4
  Solder one end of the first wire segment to one of the secondary transformer terminals. Solder one end of the second wire segment to the remaining secondary terminal on the transformer.
- 5
  Place a spade terminal over the loose end of the first wire segment and solder the wire to the terminal. Place a spade terminal over the loose end of the second wire segment and solder the terminal to the wire.
- 6
  Use the screwdriver to loosen one of the screws on the left-side terminal of the electrical receptacle. Place the spade terminal that is attached to the first wire segment under the head of the loosened screw. Tighten the screw so that it holds the spade terminal snugly to the receptacle's left-side terminal.
- 7
  Loosen one of the screws on the right-side terminal of the electrical receptacle. Place the spade terminal that is attached to the second wire segment under the head of the loosened screw. Tighten the screw so that it holds the spade terminal snugly to the receptacle's right-side terminal.
- 8
  Plug the amplifier into the 120-volt receptacle. Insert the 240-volt power plug into a 240-volt wall outlet.

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