excpomea

Have you tried these solutions to the region issues.

DVD Player and Blu-ray Player region codes

We changed our player to multi region with out too much trouble.

chawkins99

Thanks. I'll check that out this evening. I had previously searched for a region-free hack for my player (Samsung) but nothing worked but I'll try again with this info.

petitefrancaise

I've heard this before, how do we know what the voltage is for our dryer? Would it have to be done specially or is it standard? Can I find out? Bit late for us but might be useful info to have...
thanks
K

chawkins99

I believe all dryers sold in the US are 220V only unless they are gas although I think even gas dryers use 220V. Most laundry rooms will be pre-wired.
Connectors are standard either 3-prong or 4-prong depending if it has a separate ground (recommended):
Shop Utilitech 30-Amp Flush-Mount Dryer Appliance Electrical Outlet at Lowes.com
Shop Cooper Wiring Devices 30-Amp Flush-Mount Dryer Appliance Electrical Outlet at Lowes.com
If you want to install one, I suggest consulting a qualified electrician.

sir_eccles

There are some 110v dryers, usually quite small compact units for tiny apartments or RVs.

excpomea

Yep most need the 220 to give the dryer enough heating capacity.
110v is for lighter use.

chawkins99

I have a combination washer/dryer in my RV that runs off 120V. Takes forever to dry anything. I certainly wouldn't install it in a residence.

Pulaski

As Sir Eccles said, the plug for a standard dryer, as for a stove, is a big ****er compared to all regular US plugs ..... probably nearly as big as your fist, and with the cable connected at 90° to the plug pins. The cable itself is also nearly as fat as the hoses connected to the washing machine. ..... And again as others have said, it should have four pins, assuming your house was built since the mid 90's. Older homes/ dryers may have three pins, with the ground connected through the neutral (white) wire.

chawkins99

No luck!! It's actually a Toshiba BDK33KU. No hack on this or other sites I've searched. The Samsung is in our RV and that IS multi-region but doesn't have wireless for Netflix.


What player do you have?

DesertDubliner Reloaded

Electronics as a general rule are ok and more often than not are designed for US/Europe. I would say that if the back plate says 220V then the unit will not work on 110V because if it worked on 110V they would have gone through the hassle of declaring that on the sticker.

Anything with an AC motor will have an issue as the rpm are a function of frequency.

Now, I am bringing a washing machine from Ireland in my container for a friend. I advised him that a) he needs very powerful transformer as European WM operate heaters; b) there is a good chance the motor will not have an issue as not all WM have DC motors; c) nobody will be able to fix even the simplest fault as there are no spares and d) I don't think detergents are designed for high temperatures. But his wife has got to have it, so it is coming.

Anyone shipped over appliances such as WM?

Pulaski

I'm not sure which of the three of you is maddest.

DesertDubliner Reloaded

Yeah, I spotted a typo, '...there is a good chance the motor will not have an issue ...' actually should read '....there is a good chance the motor will have an issue....'

I agree, it's mad to bring white goods in the US from Europe.

scrubbedexpat085

most electrical items work here as we have 220 volts at 60 HZ mostly it is items that require a frequency from the mains such as clocks and timers.
i brought drills and such and all worked fine televisions and videos will work playing your own English but not American as there video standard is NTSC not PAL English.as for motors the tend not to be finicky over frequency but more voltage dependent so as long as you connect to the 220 with the right style of plug you will be OK.i have lived here for 18 plus years and brought most of my British stuff with me.
i hope this helps peter

Pulaski

The mains frequency often determines how fast motors turn, and so, as I said earlier, many things with motors, including but not confined to, fans, vacuums, hairdryers, drills, and food mixers may not run properly. This can, and often does, mean that (i) they may become a fire hazard, and (ii) the life of the appliance is sigificantly reduced.

Peter: I am pleased things worked for you, but in good conscience I cannot recommend something which could create a fire hazard.

steveq

For all the things you've cited there, with the sort of exception of the fan, the voltage is the thing which controls the speed, not the frequency. They do not present a fire hazard run at the correct voltage. All of the motors you cite (except the fan) are "universal brushed AC motors". Induction motors though are frequency dependent though, and a refrigerator for example will contain one of those.