What does this mean?

otokomae · 22nd August 2005, 06:41 AM

The amp I'm working on now came with a power cord installed that looks like this:
[IMG]

[/IMG]
What kind of plug is this? I assume it's from a country outside the US, but which one? Also, does anybody know what I need to do to get this amp ready to play on US current (I think we're 117V?) Please say I don't have to change the transformer or something like that...........
Thanks!!!

tubetvr · 22nd August 2005, 07:28 AM

Quote:

What kind of plug is this? I assume it's from a country outside the US, but which one?

It looks like a Japanese plug, they often have a separate wire for grounding like you can see here, (I lived in japan 8 years so I have seen it often).

Quote:

Also, does anybody know what I need to do to get this amp ready to play on US current (I think we're 117V?) Please say I don't have to change the transformer or something like that...........

Japan is 100V, not 117V it can be an important difference in some cases as the raw transformer voltages inside the equipment will be 17% higher if you run on 117V instead of 100V, if electrolytic caps or other components are marginally designed it could be a problem. There are converters available from 117to 100V.

BTW, Japan use both 50Hz and 60Hz, 50Hz in the eastern part, (like Tokyo) and 60Hz in the Western part, (like Osaka).

Regards Hans

otokomae · 22nd August 2005, 08:30 PM

Yeah, I lived in Tokyo for 2 years, actually, and I was know that the plugs over there fit the regular Type A outlets here, but I think now that it's just an old style North American plug. The amp has a grounding switch that's been disconnected, and I think somebody must've just had this really old style grounded plug laying around or something and stuck it in. Anyway, thanks for answering!

rdf · 22nd August 2005, 10:41 PM

Hi otokomae, you got me curious. Are both prongs the same width? I'm wondering if that's some sort of grounded cheater plug.

arnoldc · 23rd August 2005, 12:44 AM

The Philippines too. Some refrigerators, aircondition units sold here, have plugs like that. My AVR has the same exact plug

otokomae · 23rd August 2005, 07:36 AM

Well, the reason that this is such a mystery is because it came on a Fender '59 Bassman RI chassis. The amp dates to 1990, and I just didn't think that Fender would be putting that kind of plug on a new amp unless it was bound for some country that required it for grounding. However, there is a grounding switch on the amp that has been disconnected, and this cord appears to have been wired in in its place, so I'm thinking somebody put this on after they got b/c they got tired of using the ground switch. Either way, I'm ripping it out and replacing it as soon as I get another power cord for it. Man, this amp is just weird... I've got another strange cord question coming soon. Oh, any recommendations as to what power cord is best to use for it? I was going to set it up to use a detachable Monster Cable power cord...

amperex · 23rd August 2005, 02:01 PM

You may have a fender amp that was a direct copy of the real Fender. I have seen one that was bought at a US base PX store back in the 1960s. It is so close, it is hard to tell the difference.

Giaime · 23rd August 2005, 03:50 PM

In fact, I believe it, since you're also the guy who posted about strange speakers plugs. It's hard that Fender made an amp like that... probably it's a rip-off.

otokomae · 23rd August 2005, 04:06 PM

actually, I finally got in touch with the guy I got this chassis from in the first place. It's a 1990, which was the first year Fender reissued these amps, and he says that in the beginning they were putting these plugs on them because that's the plug used in the original 1959 version that they were basing it off of. The original also came with a ground switch. Either way, I've already ordered a 3-prong from Mojotone, so I'll have this problem solved soon enough...

And it's really funny that they would go through all that trouble copying the original (I can't imagine that anyone would've complained about changing the plug) but then they used PCB construction, which was the biggest complaint when these first came out!

22nd August 2005, 06:41 AM	#1
otokomae diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2005	What does this mean? The amp I'm working on now came with a power cord installed that looks like this: [IMG][/IMG] What kind of plug is this? I assume it's from a country outside the US, but which one? Also, does anybody know what I need to do to get this amp ready to play on US current (I think we're 117V?) Please say I don't have to change the transformer or something like that........... Thanks!!!

23rd August 2005, 02:01 PM	#7
amperex diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: MI	Fender Clone You may have a fender amp that was a direct copy of the real Fender. I have seen one that was bought at a US base PX store back in the 1960s. It is so close, it is hard to tell the difference.

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22nd August 2005, 08:30 PM	#3
otokomae diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2005	Yeah, I lived in Tokyo for 2 years, actually, and I was know that the plugs over there fit the regular Type A outlets here, but I think now that it's just an old style North American plug. The amp has a grounding switch that's been disconnected, and I think somebody must've just had this really old style grounded plug laying around or something and stuck it in. Anyway, thanks for answering!

22nd August 2005, 10:41 PM	#4
rdf diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: big smoke	Hi otokomae, you got me curious. Are both prongs the same width? I'm wondering if that's some sort of grounded cheater plug.

23rd August 2005, 12:44 AM	#5
arnoldc diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Makati	The Philippines too. Some refrigerators, aircondition units sold here, have plugs like that. My AVR has the same exact plug

23rd August 2005, 07:36 AM	#6
otokomae diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2005	Well, the reason that this is such a mystery is because it came on a Fender '59 Bassman RI chassis. The amp dates to 1990, and I just didn't think that Fender would be putting that kind of plug on a new amp unless it was bound for some country that required it for grounding. However, there is a grounding switch on the amp that has been disconnected, and this cord appears to have been wired in in its place, so I'm thinking somebody put this on after they got b/c they got tired of using the ground switch. Either way, I'm ripping it out and replacing it as soon as I get another power cord for it. Man, this amp is just weird... I've got another strange cord question coming soon. Oh, any recommendations as to what power cord is best to use for it? I was going to set it up to use a detachable Monster Cable power cord...

23rd August 2005, 03:50 PM	#8
Giaime diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	In fact, I believe it, since you're also the guy who posted about strange speakers plugs. It's hard that Fender made an amp like that... probably it's a rip-off.

23rd August 2005, 04:06 PM	#9
otokomae diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2005	actually, I finally got in touch with the guy I got this chassis from in the first place. It's a 1990, which was the first year Fender reissued these amps, and he says that in the beginning they were putting these plugs on them because that's the plug used in the original 1959 version that they were basing it off of. The original also came with a ground switch. Either way, I've already ordered a 3-prong from Mojotone, so I'll have this problem solved soon enough... And it's really funny that they would go through all that trouble copying the original (I can't imagine that anyone would've complained about changing the plug) but then they used PCB construction, which was the biggest complaint when these first came out!

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