Moving from US to Switzerland -

StrikerKratos · 02/14/2018, 10:23 AM

Looking to set up a 150-200gal Acropora tank when I move to Zurich. Aside from sourcing the tank itself and corals, I'm mostly concerned about the electrical difference.

I'm in the US and thus use 120v 60Hz, all of my equipment (APEX, Radion G4's, dosing pumps, etc....) is made for the US grid.

Switzerland is 230v 50Hz...

Would a step down transformer be OK or do I need a frequency converter as well? They are quite expensive (like $1k+), but I feel like it may be easier to keep doing what I'm used to and just import US equipment. I like my hardware and don't want to experiment anymore, just set it up and watch it grow.

StrikerKratos · 02/14/2018, 10:25 AM

Oops!
Accidentally posted when I was trying to edit the title! Meant to say "Moving from US to Switzerland - Electric differences?"

ninicap · 02/23/2018, 02:14 PM

I, I'm from North of Italy, i think that the Hertz, 50 or 60, do not count for the power supply; outgoing you need is a continuous and the power supply will produce it, it doesn't matter the frequency of the ac.
Are you sure that your power supply has not the switching 90-240V ? (Usually, in the last years products, should be so.)
IMHO

ninicap · 02/23/2018, 02:20 PM

Surely bring with you EVERYTHING you can for the tank
because Zurich is a very expensive city and Switzerland price for technical equipment in salt tank are surely superior then USA!

Gorgok · 02/23/2018, 07:00 PM

Pretty much all the DC gear will be universal power more than likely, especially if it has a IEC plug on it... Replace those cables with whatever doohickery they use over there if you need to plug it right into the wall.

Only things i would be concerned with anymore are AC pumps (where frequency and voltage will matter) and MH/T5 lights. The lights can more than likely be swapped over to 240 if they don't also do it automatically (electronic ballasts probably do) and magnetic ones probably have a 240 wire capped off to swap the 120 input wire onto.

Just look on the power bricks for something like 90-250v (or 100-240v) 50/60hz tags or similar.

If you can see any sort of electrical sticker on the Apex that would be interesting to see. I haven't see if that is universal input or not. The outlet plugs will be US style, so you will need to keep cables of that sort for the gear that plugs into it.

Kevin Guthrie · 02/23/2018, 09:00 PM

Do you know the cost of a kwh of electricity in Switzerland? My understanding is that it is quite high.

02/14/2018, 10:23 AM	#1
StrikerKratos Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Tampa Bay Area, FL Posts: 40	Moving from US to Switzerland - Looking to set up a 150-200gal Acropora tank when I move to Zurich. Aside from sourcing the tank itself and corals, I'm mostly concerned about the electrical difference. I'm in the US and thus use 120v 60Hz, all of my equipment (APEX, Radion G4's, dosing pumps, etc....) is made for the US grid. Switzerland is 230v 50Hz... Would a step down transformer be OK or do I need a frequency converter as well? They are quite expensive (like $1k+), but I feel like it may be easier to keep doing what I'm used to and just import US equipment. I like my hardware and don't want to experiment anymore, just set it up and watch it grow.

02/14/2018, 10:25 AM	#2
StrikerKratos Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Tampa Bay Area, FL Posts: 40	Oops! Accidentally posted when I was trying to edit the title! Meant to say "Moving from US to Switzerland - Electric differences?"

02/23/2018, 02:14 PM	#3
ninicap Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 2	I, I'm from North of Italy, i think that the Hertz, 50 or 60, do not count for the power supply; outgoing you need is a continuous and the power supply will produce it, it doesn't matter the frequency of the ac. Are you sure that your power supply has not the switching 90-240V ? (Usually, in the last years products, should be so.) IMHO

02/23/2018, 02:20 PM	#4
ninicap Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 2	Surely bring with you EVERYTHING you can for the tank because Zurich is a very expensive city and Switzerland price for technical equipment in salt tank are surely superior then USA!

02/23/2018, 07:00 PM	#5
Gorgok Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 1,904	Pretty much all the DC gear will be universal power more than likely, especially if it has a IEC plug on it... Replace those cables with whatever doohickery they use over there if you need to plug it right into the wall. Only things i would be concerned with anymore are AC pumps (where frequency and voltage will matter) and MH/T5 lights. The lights can more than likely be swapped over to 240 if they don't also do it automatically (electronic ballasts probably do) and magnetic ones probably have a 240 wire capped off to swap the 120 input wire onto. Just look on the power bricks for something like 90-250v (or 100-240v) 50/60hz tags or similar. If you can see any sort of electrical sticker on the Apex that would be interesting to see. I haven't see if that is universal input or not. The outlet plugs will be US style, so you will need to keep cables of that sort for the gear that plugs into it.

02/23/2018, 09:00 PM	#6
Kevin Guthrie Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 506	Do you know the cost of a kwh of electricity in Switzerland? My understanding is that it is quite high.