Using Step-Down Transformers

[Jason Hancock]

Hi, I'm a Yank living in Russia. Of course, what little gear I have and the gear I plan to purchase is all 110v but the current here is 220v. I have a lot of step-down transformers that can handle either 500 watts or 1000 watts total load each. I'm new to a lot of this and before I fry any gear, I need to know:

1. If I run a UPS or power conditioner (e.g., Furman PL Plus) after the transformer, how much will that subtract from the load that the transformer can handle?

Every other bit o' gear that I'd run would come after the power conditioner or UPS. So, that leads to the next question:

2. I'm considering active or passive near-field monitors (e.g., Yorkville YSM-1). How do I calculate the load they'll put on the transformer? And how does that change if the monitors are active or passive? If I'm running a power amp, how does that figure in?

Yuck....kind of an un-fun question and I may not have even formed it correctly.

I'll be here for at least another year and I'm planning on some major purchases meanwhile. I'll greatly appreciate any help.

Thanks,

Jason

 

[vox]

Most gear will have it's power consumption printed somewhere on the back, usually near to where the power cord connects. When checking amplifiers or powered speakers the power consumption is NOT the same as the power output, 100watt amp might use 200watts of power, the output and the consumption should both be listed on the back and in the manuals.

If I were you I would also leave a healthy margin, don't run the transformers at full capacity.