🚀 go-pugleaf

Don't blame me if you fry something, because I've never gone this way,
although I have run lots of american equipment in England.
1) The frequency difference, 50Hz/60Hz. Basically, switch-mode PSU's don't
mind at all, the first thing they do is rectify the mains to DC anyway.
Switch mode PSU's will run off 50 Hz, 60Hz, DC, square waves, you name
it!. Transformers are more of a problem. Normally, 50Hz equipment will
work off a 60Hz supply with no problems, and I've never had any problems
with 60Hz stuff on a 50Hz supply. The transformer runns hottter in the
latter case, but not significatly. Waatch out for things that are tied to
the frequency though. Some older record turntalbes/tape recorders/LARGE
(14 " demountable) hard disks/clocks/timers use the mains frequency as a
reference. In that case you will have to get a modification kit from the
manufacturer. 
2) Voltage. 110 V stuff on a 220V supply either needs a new transformer, A
tap change, or a step down autotransformer. I've done all 3. The other way
is easier. First find out if there is a intenral adjustment for 110 V
mains. If not, check if there is a american model (or similar - going the
other way I fitted a British CoCo2 transformer in a Tandy CoCO3 that I was
going to use over here). If there is, buy the transformer, and fit it.
Othewise you can use a 220V socket in America. The problem is that neither
side is grounded, whereas one side of the 110V supply and of our 240V
supply is. This shouldn't matter really - the design should never
intentionally pass current from either side to the ground conductor. You
should use a Double-pole switch in this case though (in fact, you should
use one anyway!). Most suff should work OK at 220V neither side grounded.
Anohter nice trick. You can (If you have the schematics, and know what you
are doing, modify the input side of a 240V switch-mode PSU from a bridge
rectifier (giving about 340V on the smoothing cap) to a voltage doubler.
In fact the switches on most small switch-mode PSUs do just that. If there
is no switch, you can try anyway (By wswitch, I of course mean a voltage
selector switch, not an on-off one).
3) Video standards. HELP!!!!! RGB is possible (most monitors work at
either frequency, and of couse IBM PC type monitros work at 60HZz vertical
everywhere (except for those high-end standrds that use 70Hz etc). No
problems at all. TV/composite is more of a problem. very little modern
equipment uses the mains for any timing reference in the video stuff, so a
european video recorder will play into a european TV no matter what the
mains frequency is. Just don't expect to be able to record off-air

-tony 'PDP11 Hacker' Duell
ard@siva.bris.ac.uk