Confused by electrical!
#1
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 5
Confused by electrical!
Hi all,
I'm a bit confused by the electrical side of things and am trying to organise what to bring with us to Canada. I've read the compatibility of good article, but still a bit confused. Can some electrical genius tell me whether the below are likely to work in Canada (without going down the transformer route)?
One is a food mixer, one an electric piano and one a coffee machine.
Thanks in advance and have a great day everyone
I'm a bit confused by the electrical side of things and am trying to organise what to bring with us to Canada. I've read the compatibility of good article, but still a bit confused. Can some electrical genius tell me whether the below are likely to work in Canada (without going down the transformer route)?
One is a food mixer, one an electric piano and one a coffee machine.
Thanks in advance and have a great day everyone
#2
Re: Confused by electrical!
The mixer is for UK voltage only and will not work here without a transformer or equivalent. Just buy a new mixer here.
The specifications for the piano look OK. Voltage and frequency are compatible. If this is just a power block for the piano then you can buy an equivalent power block here.
The coffee machine is UK voltage only. Waste of time bringing it and waste of transformer resources. Just get a new one here.
Whatever you bring, you still likely need adapters for the physical plug fittings. Also make sure they are compliant with Canadian safety standards.
The specifications for the piano look OK. Voltage and frequency are compatible. If this is just a power block for the piano then you can buy an equivalent power block here.
The coffee machine is UK voltage only. Waste of time bringing it and waste of transformer resources. Just get a new one here.
Whatever you bring, you still likely need adapters for the physical plug fittings. Also make sure they are compliant with Canadian safety standards.
#3
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Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,874
Re: Confused by electrical!
Note that most plug fittings are two pin ............ except for large appliances such as the range.
What are the plugs in the UK?? They were 3 pin when I left in 1967.
What are the plugs in the UK?? They were 3 pin when I left in 1967.
#5
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Re: Confused by electrical!
Before I left home to go to university, my dad sat me down and taught me how to change a plug .......... most small appliances (and some larger ones) came with no plug on the end!
#6
Re: Confused by electrical!
Doesn't happen now (but I well remember when it did)! All hard wired and sealed plugs - has been for at least the last 10 years!
#7
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Re: Confused by electrical!
[QUOTE=scilly;12418257]Note that most plug fittings are two pin ............ except for large appliances such as the range.
[QUOTE]
Be careful when using a Cooker Range or Clothes Dryer female plug as they are generally 240 VAC.
Don't directly plug a 120 VAC nor a UK 240 VAC appliance into them.
[QUOTE]
Be careful when using a Cooker Range or Clothes Dryer female plug as they are generally 240 VAC.
Don't directly plug a 120 VAC nor a UK 240 VAC appliance into them.
#8
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Location: Niagara Falls, Canada
Posts: 3
Re: Confused by electrical!
Any of those appliances will work in Canada, as they are all rated for 60Hz, and either 120V or 240V. You will obviously need to change the cord end to match the proper wall receptacle each one will need.
Only your coffee maker has an approved certification for "Canadian electrical devices", so if you ever did have a fire or accident with the other two, your insurance company would probably not cover your damages.
Only your coffee maker has an approved certification for "Canadian electrical devices", so if you ever did have a fire or accident with the other two, your insurance company would probably not cover your damages.
#9
Re: Confused by electrical!
That said, the difference between the price of a plug and the price of a coffee machine is close to zero and the mixer fails my rule of thumb "if it spins or heats up, don't bother bringing it".
Last edited by dbd33; Jan 14th 2018 at 11:10 pm.
#10
Re: Confused by electrical!
I remember people on here getting overly excited about this and saying it never happened before. Thing is, who wants to be the first one it happens to? We know insurance companies try to weasel out of things, so I bet it could easily occur.
#11
Re: Confused by electrical!
No claims have been declined on this basis. The probability of it happening is on is on the level of Lord Lucan riding by on Shergar.
#12
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Re: Confused by electrical!
Regardless ............. I seriously would not consider bringing any electrical appliance, large or small over here
#13
Re: Confused by electrical!
With the exception of devises that are rated for both sets of voltages at 60hz and use a power brick (laptops, games consoles etc.). These can be used and just normally need you to buy a North American power brick.
#14
Re: Confused by electrical!
I love it when this topic comes up. It's my favourite! My advice would be the absolute opposite. By either changing the plug to a North American one or using a small transformer, my experience was that virtually everything we brought with us worked either well or very well. Saved us a fortune during those expensive first few years. Turned out I had a 220v power supply in my garage as well, so all my power tools worked OK too.
#15
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Location: Niagara Falls, Canada
Posts: 3
Re: Confused by electrical!
Upon some further googling, prompted by dbd33, it seems that most insurance companies only care about the house wiring, not what is actually plugged in.