Q Brian, KA7KUZ, asks, “I am going to tour Australia. I know they use 220-V systems and all of my ham gear is 110 V. Do you know if the Australians also use 60 Hz for their ac mains? I can switch my rigs to run on 220 V, but I’m concerned about the frequency.”
A Australia uses 220 V at 50 Hz. The 50-Hz power should not be a problem. Your power supplies may run a little hotter, but not dangerously so. And if you have difficulty converting your gear to 220 V, there are transformers available that will step 220 V down to 110 V. They are available from 50 to several hundred watts.
From QST March 2000
