Dreaming of moving
#31
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Zala County
Posts: 289
Re: Dreaming of moving
An interesting read for me ! I think that I am going to have to get an electrician in to see exactly what is what in the house that I have bought !
After I bought it, a new modern meter was installed prior to me taking over the property fully. It is an ex farmhouse and also has a three phase supply. On one of the room walls there is a rectangular box, grey / silver in colour, with a red light and green light and on / off switch on it… the cooker is connected to that and it works… there is another one in the barn but I have not tried that one and there doesn't seem to be anything connected up to it machinery wise.
I think it would be a good plan to find out exactly what sort of wiring is in there and also to fit a safety feature as suggested !
As to white goods, I will be buying new when there full time but will take a few electrical things over with me from the UK such as the slow cooker. I have bought a pack of adaptors cheaply from E.bay and they work fine for the few electronic devices I have tried so I'm not worried about fitting new plugs !!
After I bought it, a new modern meter was installed prior to me taking over the property fully. It is an ex farmhouse and also has a three phase supply. On one of the room walls there is a rectangular box, grey / silver in colour, with a red light and green light and on / off switch on it… the cooker is connected to that and it works… there is another one in the barn but I have not tried that one and there doesn't seem to be anything connected up to it machinery wise.
I think it would be a good plan to find out exactly what sort of wiring is in there and also to fit a safety feature as suggested !
As to white goods, I will be buying new when there full time but will take a few electrical things over with me from the UK such as the slow cooker. I have bought a pack of adaptors cheaply from E.bay and they work fine for the few electronic devices I have tried so I'm not worried about fitting new plugs !!
#32
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2016
Location: Blackwater, Nr Camberley & Tiszaujvaros
Posts: 29
Re: Dreaming of moving
Just a few observations from a relative newbie living (part-time) in the NE of the country. Many wise words from the old hands, but for me the things that struck most were absence of low, depressing grey cloud which can spoil even a UK summer day. Public discipline and responsibility are generally much greater than my area of southern UK, with little apparent crime. There can be terrible road accidents with casualties not commensurate with the (lower) traffic levels outside Budapest. Most people seem to use the excellent bus services which runs reliably, and starts much earlier. At my UK address they don't even start till 7 a.m. whereas many Hungarians have already put in some hours by then.
Negative aspects for me include the difficulty experienced by working people in basic survival with prices at similar levels to UK but salaries very much less. Government beaurocracy seems bafflingly complicated, variable and very authoritarian in outlook. Some departments accept electronic communications, others only original paperwork (completed in blue ink, not black, please!)
I'd recommend making any move before Brexit while the going's good. Nobody has a clue what's happening afterwards, but do you really think it'll be any easier?
Negative aspects for me include the difficulty experienced by working people in basic survival with prices at similar levels to UK but salaries very much less. Government beaurocracy seems bafflingly complicated, variable and very authoritarian in outlook. Some departments accept electronic communications, others only original paperwork (completed in blue ink, not black, please!)
I'd recommend making any move before Brexit while the going's good. Nobody has a clue what's happening afterwards, but do you really think it'll be any easier?
#33
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Joined: May 2015
Location: Near the Black Forest and near Esztergom
Posts: 923
Re: Dreaming of moving
@hobgoblins:
Good to hear you're manageing this well!
@blackwaterman:
Yes, the "paper wars" in Hungary are sometimes horrible - my wife just helped a friend with changing ownership of a house and telling all the utility providers the new bank accounts etc.
One crazy example:
Here both gas and electricity are provided by EON - but they have different offices so everything has to be done twice ...
On the other hand most people at these offices were very helpful, so it wasn't too difficult, just time consuming ...
PS:
I don't think you Brits will have problems - Hungarians like you and anyway they need all those foreigners' money.
Even in "Communist" times so some people tell me (I wasn't here then ...).
Of course you have to be careful, there are black sheep everywhere. We've built a kind of network of people that we can trust ...
Good to hear you're manageing this well!
@blackwaterman:
Yes, the "paper wars" in Hungary are sometimes horrible - my wife just helped a friend with changing ownership of a house and telling all the utility providers the new bank accounts etc.
One crazy example:
Here both gas and electricity are provided by EON - but they have different offices so everything has to be done twice ...
On the other hand most people at these offices were very helpful, so it wasn't too difficult, just time consuming ...
PS:
I don't think you Brits will have problems - Hungarians like you and anyway they need all those foreigners' money.
Even in "Communist" times so some people tell me (I wasn't here then ...).
Of course you have to be careful, there are black sheep everywhere. We've built a kind of network of people that we can trust ...
Last edited by wolfi; Nov 9th 2017 at 2:50 pm.
#34
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,094
Re: Dreaming of moving
HI, i am very interested how did you decide. we are in the same position. English husband, i am hungarian. Hw wants to go more. I am a bit scared of leaving everything, the security etc.
Did you find out anything about healthcare? Thats my biggest worry.
Ps we would move to Heves megye, Tarnamera. Would built our house.
Any advise?
Did you find out anything about healthcare? Thats my biggest worry.
Ps we would move to Heves megye, Tarnamera. Would built our house.
Any advise?
You don't say how old you are. If you are pensioner or nearly so then I would move before Brexit as there is (probably) going to be an agreement to fund the health care for existing resident UK pensioners after Brexit but for those who move after Brexit things are a lot less certain.
If you will need to work for a living then explore the possibilities before you move
Last time I was speaking to a builder about building a house he said that it would cost about 60k GBP to build a typical family house although there will be regional variations on that. (and it will depend upon the spec you want and the plot is not included). If you are going to self-build - things have tightened up in the last few years and you will need a qualified builder and BCO to oversee the works.
#35
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 2
Re: Dreaming of moving
Hi, thank you for your reply. i am 37 so still a long time till retirement and husband is 48. we have a 7 yrs old as well so need to think about his future. i have lived in England since 1998 - all of my adult life. I know this system much better than Hungary. Thats all new to me. I could get a job, dont think that would be a problem, not sure what my husband would do as he doesnt speak the language at all. Would be so much less stress if we move. We are looking to move back to the village where i have grown up and i still have family there too.
Such a hard decision to make.
Such a hard decision to make.
#36
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 561
Re: Dreaming of moving
Hi, thank you for your reply. i am 37 so still a long time till retirement and husband is 48. we have a 7 yrs old as well so need to think about his future. i have lived in England since 1998 - all of my adult life. I know this system much better than Hungary. Thats all new to me. I could get a job, dont think that would be a problem, not sure what my husband would do as he doesnt speak the language at all. Would be so much less stress if we move. We are looking to move back to the village where i have grown up and i still have family there too.
Such a hard decision to make.
Such a hard decision to make.
#37
Re: Dreaming of moving
Converter plugs are readily available here, good for small things like chargers etc.
Since I had a lot of Kitchen equipment I wanted to keep, and since what the Hungarians accepted as a kitchen was a long way short of somewhere I wanted to spend any time, I fitted UK sockets as part of the upgrade.
Since I had a lot of Kitchen equipment I wanted to keep, and since what the Hungarians accepted as a kitchen was a long way short of somewhere I wanted to spend any time, I fitted UK sockets as part of the upgrade.
#38
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 104
Re: Dreaming of moving
I dislike the European electrical socket. It is constructed of a relatively soft plastic, fastened to an even softer back box by a couple of 'teeth' that attempt to grip the two components together.
This is almost okay when it's a single socket, but if it's double, the leverage applied when removing a plug from the second socket is too much for the grippers and eventually comes loose. You need two hands to remove a plug if you want to keep the socket fixed to the wall.
UK wall sockets are physically screwed to a metal back box with two screws which are more than capable of holding the parts together. Only one hand needed for removal!
Many things in Hungary are better than in UK, but wall sockets are definitely not.
This is almost okay when it's a single socket, but if it's double, the leverage applied when removing a plug from the second socket is too much for the grippers and eventually comes loose. You need two hands to remove a plug if you want to keep the socket fixed to the wall.
UK wall sockets are physically screwed to a metal back box with two screws which are more than capable of holding the parts together. Only one hand needed for removal!
Many things in Hungary are better than in UK, but wall sockets are definitely not.
#39
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2015
Location: Near the Black Forest and near Esztergom
Posts: 923
Re: Dreaming of moving
Shotgun, you're right!
That's why we generally use extension cords for all lighter loads (computers, chargers etc) that have to be unplugged and replugged regularly - any heavy load usuall stays plugged in all the time.
PS:
And now I could start ranting that we alwys have not enough sockets - even though I told the electrician to install as many as possible ...
But of course most people couldn't foresee the explosion of electronic devices 15 or 20 years ago ...
When I told the guy two years ago that I wanted 4 sockets (plus a fixed connection for the lights and a ceiling fan) in our summer kitchen on the terrace he looked at me incredulously ...
That's why we generally use extension cords for all lighter loads (computers, chargers etc) that have to be unplugged and replugged regularly - any heavy load usuall stays plugged in all the time.
PS:
And now I could start ranting that we alwys have not enough sockets - even though I told the electrician to install as many as possible ...
But of course most people couldn't foresee the explosion of electronic devices 15 or 20 years ago ...
When I told the guy two years ago that I wanted 4 sockets (plus a fixed connection for the lights and a ceiling fan) in our summer kitchen on the terrace he looked at me incredulously ...
#40
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,094
Re: Dreaming of moving
I dislike the European electrical socket. It is constructed of a relatively soft plastic, fastened to an even softer back box by a couple of 'teeth' that attempt to grip the two components together.
This is almost okay when it's a single socket, but if it's double, the leverage applied when removing a plug from the second socket is too much for the grippers and eventually comes loose. You need two hands to remove a plug if you want to keep the socket fixed to the wall.
UK wall sockets are physically screwed to a metal back box with two screws which are more than capable of holding the parts together. Only one hand needed for removal!
Many things in Hungary are better than in UK, but wall sockets are definitely not.
This is almost okay when it's a single socket, but if it's double, the leverage applied when removing a plug from the second socket is too much for the grippers and eventually comes loose. You need two hands to remove a plug if you want to keep the socket fixed to the wall.
UK wall sockets are physically screwed to a metal back box with two screws which are more than capable of holding the parts together. Only one hand needed for removal!
Many things in Hungary are better than in UK, but wall sockets are definitely not.
#41
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Zala County
Posts: 289
Re: Dreaming of moving
I suspect that when I can eventually afford to move over permanently and start renovations, bringing UK wall sockets - lots of them - may be a good plan as I suspect it will need rewiring anyway, along with new plumbing etc etc !! At present, I have one non working socket in the main bedroom, one working socket in the second bedroom (which will become a bathroom) and one working socket in the kitchen (which will become a living room) !! I guess electrical goods were a rarity in 1950s Hungary !
I do know that, being an ex farmhouse, it has a three phase supply, not sure if that will complicate things.
I am also wondering….is there any practical reason to have the wall sockets located at head height on the walls rather than at floor level as in the UK ? Other than having to bend down, of course!
I do know that, being an ex farmhouse, it has a three phase supply, not sure if that will complicate things.
I am also wondering….is there any practical reason to have the wall sockets located at head height on the walls rather than at floor level as in the UK ? Other than having to bend down, of course!
#42
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Joined: May 2015
Location: Near the Black Forest and near Esztergom
Posts: 923
Re: Dreaming of moving
We have our Schuko-sockets partially in combination with the light switches at a "reachable" height, partially just above the floor ...
And in the bathrooms and kitchens just above the "work-surface" - the more the merrier!
And in the bathrooms and kitchens just above the "work-surface" - the more the merrier!
#43
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,094
Re: Dreaming of moving
I do know that, being an ex farmhouse, it has a three phase supply, not sure if that will complicate things.
I am also wondering….is there any practical reason to have the wall sockets located at head height on the walls rather than at floor level as in the UK ? Other than having to bend down, of course!
I am also wondering….is there any practical reason to have the wall sockets located at head height on the walls rather than at floor level as in the UK ? Other than having to bend down, of course!
One reason for having the plugs at head height (actually light switch height) is because the Hungarian wiring is radial without separating the power and the lighting (so no ring mains like the UK) The wiring generally is 30cm down from the ceiling and run around the room and dropped down where needed. You will often find a light switch with a socket adjacent because this reduces the amount of wire needed and reduces the chasing out of the wall (as do high level sockets)
#44
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Zala County
Posts: 289
Re: Dreaming of moving
Having 3PH. may not complicate things - but look to see how many amps/phase. Sometimes you get 3PH but only 15A / phase which may make things a bit complicated. e.g. a washing machine could use 13 of the available 15A of the phase so you finish up having to be careful how you wire up the house to spread the potential load across the 3 phases. (Also I don't like 3PH in houses as people tend to forget that you can get a 400v belt if you are unfortunate enough to get a shock phase to phase).
One reason for having the plugs at head height (actually light switch height) is because the Hungarian wiring is radial without separating the power and the lighting (so no ring mains like the UK) The wiring generally is 30cm down from the ceiling and run around the room and dropped down where needed. You will often find a light switch with a socket adjacent because this reduces the amount of wire needed and reduces the chasing out of the wall (as do high level sockets)
One reason for having the plugs at head height (actually light switch height) is because the Hungarian wiring is radial without separating the power and the lighting (so no ring mains like the UK) The wiring generally is 30cm down from the ceiling and run around the room and dropped down where needed. You will often find a light switch with a socket adjacent because this reduces the amount of wire needed and reduces the chasing out of the wall (as do high level sockets)
I see what you mean about the light switch and the socket being side by side and that is the case in some of my rooms but not others where the two are separate and at different ends of the room ! Again, I will have to see what advice the electrician gives as I would like to have multiple UK sockets at floor level if that can be done !
#45
Re: Dreaming of moving
Many thanks, I will have to get an electrician to have a look at the make up of the phase and get advice.
I see what you mean about the light switch and the socket being side by side and that is the case in some of my rooms but not others where the two are separate and at different ends of the room ! Again, I will have to see what advice the electrician gives as I would like to have multiple UK sockets at floor level if that can be done !
I see what you mean about the light switch and the socket being side by side and that is the case in some of my rooms but not others where the two are separate and at different ends of the room ! Again, I will have to see what advice the electrician gives as I would like to have multiple UK sockets at floor level if that can be done !
so plan for a complete (copper) re-wire, and ditch the old radial system.