Spyder Power Supply for EU?

[Musok]

Hi there people,
I was thinking on building this: http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/spyder/spyder.htm / http://ampbuild.blogspot.com/2009/03/day-one.html
But since i'm kind of new to the electronics I need to solve how to get this to work on the EU sockets. What items do I need to do such a thing? What do I need to do the power supply? Can anyone help?

[Perkla]

Its not the same voltage in all EU countrys, UK have 110volts and a different plug, Germany have 240 Volts and a different plugg, spain have 220 volts and a different plug, where do u live ?

[DavenPaget]

Its not the same voltage in all EU countrys, UK have 110volts and a different plug, Germany have 240 Volts and a different plugg, spain have 220 volts and a different plug, where do u live ?

NO ! UK has 230V and BS 1363 , but they all should terminate in a 3 pin IEC plug , as for 120/240 options one should use center tap 120/240 ( center tap + outer tap ) = 120v , 2 outer taps = 240v and a switch .
Germany is the same too , but different plug .

[Musok]

I'm from Portugal.

[Perkla]

Yes sorry.. UK 230 volts but a 3 pin plug, Sendoushi--> insert a picture of how the plugs look like in your country.. and if u have 110 volts or 230-240 volts

[Musok]

The picture: ( the EU one ).
About the voltage... I don't know but I know it isn't 110 so...

Maybe this can help: http://treehouse.ofb.net/go/en/voltage/Portugal

[Mike Burgundy]

That EU style plug has NO EARTH connection. Using this might kill you very dead.
You MUST earth the housing! Using the EU chassis connector as used in your ampbuild link allows you to use a "local" cable - WITH earth.
You're working with mains voltage here - I'm trying to put you down in any way, but dealing with mains should only be done if you *really* know what you're doing and what's involved and required safety-wise. Remember, if anything should go wrong, even weird an unexpected stuff, you're firmly gripping the conductor that's going to put the mains through YOU - your guitar strings.....

[R.G.]

Sendoushi, I urge you NOT to try this unless you get on-the-spot help from someone who is experienced with AC power wiring.

Unless you are already trained and experienced with AC power wiring, there is a good chance that you will get yourself (or someone else) shocked or killed if you make a mistake. AC power wiring is deadly serious.

[Musok]

I couldn't find the one with earth but i know that and there is a cable with earth of course. the one that computers use for example.

I see... I really need a power supply and they're all so expensive... I can always a switch to light up the power supply and with that... i can use a stick on the switch or something ehehe

[R.G.]

I sympathize with the expense issue. However, it's not worth dying for. And if you get it slightly wrong, it could be a problem waiting to happen which zaps not you, but one of your mates, a significant other, or a child.

There are many people who get very good results with the 1Spot power adapter. (Note that the company I work for makes these, but there are similar alternatives.) It is about US$20 in the USA, and similar but slightly higher prices other places because of taxes and duties. It is very likely that you'll spend more on parts. Please consider this as an alternative to getting into some dangerous wiring that you are not ready for yet. You can use it while you learn to do wiring safely, then do the perfect thing later.

I really don't like people endangering themselves.

[Musok]

So... how could I learn that? One day I want to build my own tube amp so...

[Perkla]

Listen.. what the hell, why would he get killed by building this ? there is alot of help to get from the internet, and if it was a common way of dying i belive there should be more talking about dying when building stompboxes/amps... and the plug for North Europe + Germany have two kinds, one with two pins and no ground



And one with two pins and a ground

[Musok]

Perkla that's it. So... you're of the opinion that I could go through with this project?
I really don't get it where the problem is if people that knows (like yourselves) help me choosing the components and I see where to connect them and such... I don't know...

I already make my own cables and the connections on my own guitars (some solder experience) and already made a midi controller and such...

[Perkla]

Well i say like this.. some day have to be the day u are gona learn this.. so if thats now or in 4 years thats up to u.. i dont see a problem here by building this, but as some other ppl said: U have to know what u are doing and find the information that helps u doing the right thing.. 230 volts are nothing that u are gona play around with, u could be killed IF u do the wrong thing.

Make some research of what u are gona build and make some notes of your own and go trought with it step by step when building this thing.. and of course u will get help in this forum as well, there is VERY much ppl in here that known ALOT about building stuff that i am sure will answer your questions as good as possible.

[R.G.]

Let me be very clear: the internet is NOT a sufficient source of training for wiring AC power.

You learn this by watching someone who is already skilled, and by then having them watch you in your first trials. Not that book, and by extension picture and text learning are not helpful. Surgeons read about procedures, study pictures, videos, and so on, but they do their first procedures under the observation of a skilled surgeon with experience. This process must be followed in all situations where the possible outcomes are deadly if you want the best chance to come out of it alive.

And no, I'm not exaggerating about the possible outcomes.

The immediate thing which  pops up is "Well, how did the first "skilled" people get their skills then?" And the answer is - they killed people, including themselves, learning. The people watching the first unsuccessful trials learned "don't do THAT". Over time, and with luck, a group of people built up enough things to avoid and things that must be done THIS way that the chances of getting through it alive got better.

One problem with AC power wiring is the embedded hazard. You may make a mistake that won't kill you now. It may lie there and seem OK for a while, even years, but when the wrong combination of circumstances happen, it causes shock or a fire. It may not kill you. It may kill your spouse, your child (even if you don't have them yet) or kill an audience in the place you're playing.

I think that my advice is accurate: if you don't ALREADY know how to do this, do not attempt it unless you get on-the-spot guidance and review by someone who is already skilled at it. It may take a while to find and/or cultivate a new friend who has these skills, but hey, you get to drink part of the beer along the way.

[Perkla]

Let me be very clear: the internet is NOT a sufficient source of training for wiring AC power.

You learn this by watching someone who is already skilled, and by then having them watch you in your first trials. Not that book, and by extension picture and text learning are not helpful. Surgeons read about procedures, study pictures, videos, and so on, but they do their first procedures under the observation of a skilled surgeon with experience. This process must be followed in all situations where the possible outcomes are deadly if you want the best chance to come out of it alive.

And no, I'm not exaggerating about the possible outcomes.

The immediate thing which  pops up is "Well, how did the first "skilled" people get their skills then?" And the answer is - they killed people, including themselves, learning. The people watching the first unsuccessful trials learned "don't do THAT". Over time, and with luck, a group of people built up enough things to avoid and things that must be done THIS way that the chances of getting through it alive got better.

One problem with AC power wiring is the embedded hazard. You may make a mistake that won't kill you now. It may lie there and seem OK for a while, even years, but when the wrong combination of circumstances happen, it causes shock or a fire. It may not kill you. It may kill your spouse, your child (even if you don't have them yet) or kill an audience in the place you're playing.

I think that my advice is accurate: if you don't ALREADY know how to do this, do not attempt it unless you get on-the-spot guidance and review by someone who is already skilled at it. It may take a while to find and/or cultivate a new friend who has these skills, but hey, you get to drink part of the beer along the way.

Well.. i am not gona say anything more about this, its up to each individual what he/she wanna do or not, i´d say go for it IF u have the right "tools" for it and/or ppl around u that u could ask, cus as i said before, 230 volts are not to play with, i have 230 volts here and there is a ton of ppl that get hurt and/or killed every year.. so u need to know what a to do... thats for sure.,

[Musok]

What if I mount everything but the transformer and then take it to a electrician or someone specialized to do the rest? This way it won't get too expensive and there is not much hazard. The thing is... if i know the components needed I can buy them cheaper and then even ask an electrician to wire it!

I understand that it's needed training but there are a lot of people doing amps and stuff and do they have special training? all of them? i don't think so.
I can always do it to 110v or something and then get an adapter since there is a lot more information about 110v.

What do you think?

[R.G.]

What if I mount everything but the transformer and then take it to a electrician or someone specialized to do the rest? This way it won't get too expensive and there is not much hazard. The thing is... if i know the components needed I can buy them cheaper and then even ask an electrician to wire it!

That is a very smart way to do it. It's the AC power wiring that is hazardous.

I understand that it's needed training but there are a lot of people doing amps and stuff and do they have special training? all of them? i don't think so.

I don't think they do either. However, that does not mean that their wiring is never going to get them or someone else hurt. It is very easy to do AC power wiring that works - for a while. Doing it so it will reliably work without causing hazards even in the face of forseeable failures, like any one wire breaking (that's in the safety standards, btw) is another thing.

Let's make an analogy with driving. There are lots of kids who would just get into a car and start driving. It's pretty simple, if you've watched your parents do it - the wheel steers it, moving that lever thing makes it go forwards or backwards, one of those pedal thingies makes it go faster, the other one makes it stop. Couldn't be simpler, right? So is it OK to let a first timer just get in and drive on the roads with other people?

I can always do it to 110v or something and then get an adapter since there is a lot more information about 110v.

The required subtleties for 110Vac are not simpler or more available than for 220/240. And 110/120 is just as dangerous, perhaps more so.

You already figured out the smart thing to do - get skilled help with the AC power wiring.

[Musok]

So... going objectively. Following the Spyder tutorial. Which components should I buy?

At least for now i'll go with "mount everything and then take to a specialist for the AC".

[R.G.]

If at all possible, get this one:
https://taweber.powweb.com/store/wpdlxfmr2sch.jpg