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Post subject: Fender Champ 5F1 1959 in 230v area
Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 9:15 am
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Hi,

I have a Fender Champ 5F1 amp and I just moved back to Europe where we have 230v line voltage. I think that I have to buy new transformer to get it working correctly. I don't want to touch the original soldering so I will buy external desktop model (230V --> 120V). My question is do I need bigger one than 150W (150VA) trasformer or should this one do.? Could anyone help me out with this one?

Thanks!


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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:13 pm
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Hey there Janppa, the choice of the 150watt converter should be fine, giving you a large margin of safety. Just a question: does the Champ have a 3 Prong grounded power cable? ART


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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:48 am
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What you have should work..I did electrical work for quite awhile soI am quite surer but to be 100% positive go to RS GUITAR WORKS or check with MERCURY MAGNETIC' S and ask them...

If thisis an original ya surely don;t wanna blow it up !!!!

Hope this helps....

One way you can make a NEW solder join t look old is just as you are soldering and it is in place put a TAD of GREASE from a grease gun and rub it into the still slightly HOT SOLDER..CARE FULL IT WILL BE HOT, but NO-ONE will be able to tell it's not an original solder joint !!!!

Actually any STEP DOWN TRANSFORMER shoud work but be sure it can also take the change from 50 HZ to 60 CYCLE...You guys do have 50 CYCLE in the UK right???
That is more of a issue than what step down tranny you can use...cost should be fairly low.....RADIO SHACK should sell the smaller tranny's but MERCURY MAGNETIC'S should be able to sell ya one to make the amp sounds RIGHTEOUS !!!!

THE TRANNY is one of the MAJOR parts when it comes to your TONE !!!

Hope it works out for ya.

St James 8)

_________________
I got a good mind to give up living and go shopping instead........
And pick me out a tombstone and be pronounced DEAD
When I read your letter this morning that was in your place in bed
That's when I decided . that I'd be better off dead


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Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2009 10:00 am
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aclempoppi wrote:
Hey there Janppa, the choice of the 150watt converter should be fine, giving you a large margin of safety. Just a question: does the Champ have a 3 Prong grounded power cable? ART


Hi,

This one has the original 2 prong cable.

I bought a 150watt converter for this amp and I think there might be somekind of grounding issue. I noticed it after couple of days playing that a "snapping" sound appers every now and then when I'm not touching my guitar. Shound I be worried about this issue?


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Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:54 am
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8) YES YOU SHOULD !!!

AS SOMEONE WHO HAS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DEGREE TRUST ME SHOULD YOU TOUCH A MIC OR ANOTHER PLAYER THAT SNAP YOU HERE WILL BE GOING THROUGH YOU>

YOU ARE NOT GROUNDED !!!!

THERE MAY BE A SWITCH ON THE BACK TO MOVE THE GROUND LEFT OR RIGHT>>>>BUT WITHOUT A THREE PRONG CORD GROUNDING OUT THE METAL CHASSIS YOU:RE HOT AND WAITING TO GET SHOCKED !!!!

YOU CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM VERY EASILY.

GET A NEW PLUG (3 pronged) remove the old cord and HOOK UP the BLACK to where they have the black and the white to where they have the white...and put the GREEN wire to ANY WHERE on the METAL CHASSIS., NOW YOU ARE GROUNDED !!!!!!
Now you can plug into your gear safely and not have to worry about getting shocked and even worse blowing out your amp or damaging your pups< or pots an caps in your amp and ax !!!!!!

THIS WILL FIX YOUR SNAPPING AND ALSO ENSURE YOU ARE SAFE AND GROUNDED......

GOOD LUCK
St James

_________________
I got a good mind to give up living and go shopping instead........
And pick me out a tombstone and be pronounced DEAD
When I read your letter this morning that was in your place in bed
That's when I decided . that I'd be better off dead


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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:23 pm
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Janppa, St. James is quite right about the 3-Prong plug saving you and the amp! The new transformer has a 3-prong or ground wire on the receptacle and plug, right? The thing is that a wire(power cable) provides a path to ground, not you! Be safe, and keep pickin'. ART


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Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 3:47 pm
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8)
One last thing is to be sure your receptacle you plug into is GROUNDED.
If at all possible try to use a DESIGNATED GROUND AND CIRCUIT.

I ran all these in my studio and NO NOISE AT ALL !!!

IF possible all ya need is the GROUNDING BAR....that would be the bar that ALL WHITES AND GREENS go to to complete the circuit.

Put ANOTHER one of these BARS inside your electrical panel..be care full !!!

DO NOT BOND IT TO THE PANEL..it should come with some spacers to keep the TWO METALS one from the bar and the panel bx from touching....you have NOW ISOLATED THE GROUNDING to any circuit you put the WHITE (neutral) and GREEN (ground) to BUT you must also put in a GROUND BAR OUTSIDE and take a NUMBER 6 wire to the ground bar.

Now should you run a couple of circuit for your amps and pedals you can put the breakers anywhere space permits BUT BE SURE TO PUT THE WHITES AND GREENS TO THIS NEW ISOLATED GROUND BAR.....

YOU WILL NEVER HAVE A SOUND N YOUR AMPS OR FROM YOUR PEDALS AND WILL BE VERY SAFE.
It may sound complicated and if so I will explain it to ya via email if ya like.

I have 30 years working as an IBEW MEMBER..now retired so I kind of know my ELECTRICAL BACKROUND

KEEP the OLD CORD should ya want to return it to ORIGINAL for re-sales.
But I WOULD NEVER SELL THAT AMP IF IT WERE MINE.

HOPE THAT HELPS YA
IF ya need more you can ask and I will email ya a drawing or explanation.

YA see anything like a DIMMER or FAN CONTROL or TRANSFORMERS or BALLASTS in FLUORESCENT LIGHTS will cause that HUMMMMMMM

ISOLATING THEM WILL ENSURE YOU WILL HAVE NONE.....

IF ya notice in the HOSPITAL they have receptacles with a GREEN DOT???
That means they are a DESIGNATED CIRCUIT AND ISOLATED GROUND. and are also hooked up to the back up power system in the hospital...
Something just can NOT be turned off !!!!

Good LUCK
St James

_________________
I got a good mind to give up living and go shopping instead........
And pick me out a tombstone and be pronounced DEAD
When I read your letter this morning that was in your place in bed
That's when I decided . that I'd be better off dead


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