Electical requirements and adaptors in the UK

[catnixon]

I understand the UK uses the 220-250 voltage system and I'm coming from the US on the 100-120 voltage but I am not sure what kind of adaptors or converters to purchase so that my standard household appliances work. Can I buy a converter to plug into a standard US power strip and then plug my appliances into the power strip?

Some appliances I am bringing are vacuum cleaner (8 amps), coffee pot, lamps, etc. Any advice on how to best prepare for the electrical step down before arriving in terms of what to buy?

Thanks!

[Bevdeforges]

There are two kinds of "converters" for plug in appliances. The first is the small "travel converter" like you find in the travel stores. These are limited to small appliances - made actually for hair dryers and shavers, and for limited usage. No way should you even consider plugging a power strip into one of these as it simply will not take multiple appliances.

The other form of converter is a proper electrical transformer. These are heavy pieces of equipment and are rated by how many watts they'll carry. A transformer is a small metal block, about the size of a softball and it can weigh 5 or 10 pounds all by itself. When in use, these things run HOT so you have to be careful where you put them, as they can start fires. Transformers are normally a little difficult to find in the US - you need to ask at a well stocked hardware store (with a good electrics department) or at a specialty electrical shop. And don't plan on taking them with you - let the movers ship them.

Electrical appliances with motors do not last long when run on transformers. (It has to do with the frequency of the power, which is also different in Europe.) Don't bother bringing your vacuum cleaner. You'll ruin it. Coffee pot will work, but it is probably cheaper to buy one new. Lamps can apparently be converted (just the socket has to be replaced) pretty easily, but I wouldn't try to run them off converters or transformers.

Most computers or electronic gear will operate on 110 or 240 these days. Check the UL sticker on the power supply. For these items all you'll need is a plug adapter.

Most expat packages include an extra month's salary at each end of the assignment. The purpose of this is basically to allow you to replace small electrical appliances with those made for the appropriate power. Even if you're not on a package, you should plan on just replacing most items. It just isn't worth it to try and run things for the long term off a converter or transformer.
Cheers,
Bev

[catnixon]

Thanks for the great info!!! May I ask another specific question about a Plasma TV and DVD player? I have a 50" TV that I prefer not having to replace. Will a transformer work for that or is buying a new UK spec TV a must. And the same for the Blue-Ray DVD player ... will that also have a limited life running on UK electrical current? Should I buy a UK DVD player or will mine be just fine?

Thanks again!

[Bevdeforges]

I'm afraid I haven't gotten into the plasma tv thing yet. Normally the big catch to importing a television is the NTSC vs. PAL vs. SECAM standards, and traditionally a US tv just plain doesn't work in Europe unless you have access to the US Armed Forces broadcasts which are in NTSC. But, with all this digital tv stuff, I don't know if the different standards are still a factor.

The DVD player is another big question mark. If it's set up for zone 1 DVDs, it would be handy to have to play back your US DVDs. DVDs purchased in Europe are zone 2 and (theoretically, at least) won't play on a zone 1 player. Lately, however, it seems like most really cheap DVD players will play any zone DVDs. Not sure how that applies to the BlueRay ones, though. (I am a little behind the times with some of these gadgets, I admit. )
Cheers,
Bev

[catnixon]

Fair enough Bev ... thank you for the advice. What I took away was return the unopened blue-ray and sell my Plasma before coming over, then start over in the UK using the relocation allowance.

Best,
Cat

[smmoving]

I'll be moving to London myself in a few months, and have been doing a bit of TV/stereo/computer research.

With a TV, the issue is not so much the voltage, as the cycles. UK is 240V and 50hz, while USA is 120V and 60hz. You can get a step-down transformer of the appropriate power rating to convert 240V to 120V, and an adaptor to convert the plug, but nothing is available to convert the 50hz to 60hz.

According to Toshiba: "This may cause the unit’s power supply to operate at a higher temperature than that for which it was designed. It could eventually lead to a decreased life span of the equipment."

The iMac and AppleTV will work fine, but I understand the cycle difference causes noise with audio equipment running by step-down transformer.

If you Google "multi-system TV" or "dual-voltage stereo", you'll find TVs for world wide use (in PAL Secam and NTSC countries) and other useful stuff. I'll be buying one of each, so the new purchases won't be useless upon my return to the states.

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by smmoving

If you Google "multi-system TV" or "dual-voltage stereo", you'll find TVs for world wide use (in PAL Secam and NTSC countries) and other useful stuff. I'll be buying one of each, so the new purchases won't be useless upon my return to the states.

Take a look at the price differences, though, before you make any major investments in multi-system TVs. I admit it has been a while, but last time I looked, buying PAL/Secam - NTSC televisions with dual voltage power supplies was frightfully expensive.

Most TV sets in Europe will handle PAL/Secam these days, and AFAICT DVD players don't care which system they output to. The key thing is to find a DVD player that is either multi-zone or de-zoned so you can play either US or European sourced DVDs.

It may be far cheaper in the long run to sell your US TV, buy a European one, then sell that before your return to the US. TVs in the US are generally considerably cheaper than those in Europe and you can upgrade your set on your return in a few years.
Cheers,
Bev