Another, possibly daft, question about electrical goods
#1
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Another, possibly daft, question about electrical goods
Hi,
What is the situation with taking electronic items from the UK to Canada?
I'm thinking kettle, toaster, slow cooker, washing machine, tv.
We have a full container booked with some space left so it won't increase our costs according to the shippers but don't want to take if they simply won't work/will be a fire risk/cost a fortune to convert.
Thanks again!
What is the situation with taking electronic items from the UK to Canada?
I'm thinking kettle, toaster, slow cooker, washing machine, tv.
We have a full container booked with some space left so it won't increase our costs according to the shippers but don't want to take if they simply won't work/will be a fire risk/cost a fortune to convert.
Thanks again!
#2
Re: Another, possibly daft, question about electrical goods
I wouldn't do it, but check the labels on the device or the instruction book and see what the voltage / current / frequency / etc tolerances are.
Read this - it's for the US but should still apply:
Can you plug a 230V 50Hz appliance into a 240V 60Hz outlet
The part about the higher breaker current cut-off is interesting.
Read this - it's for the US but should still apply:
Can you plug a 230V 50Hz appliance into a 240V 60Hz outlet
The part about the higher breaker current cut-off is interesting.
#3
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Location: Maple Ridge, Super Natural British Columbia
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Re: Another, possibly daft, question about electrical goods
TV is the only one on that list worth bringing. Even then, only just. The 'Freeview' functionality won't work (you won't be able to receive terrestrial TV in Canada), so it is effectively just a monitor for a tv box such as Telus Optik, Shaw, Rogers etc.
High powered equipment such as kettles and toasters will not work unless you get a high capacity voltage transformer (would need to be over 3KW per appliance).
No point at all in bringing a UK washing machine.
High powered equipment such as kettles and toasters will not work unless you get a high capacity voltage transformer (would need to be over 3KW per appliance).
No point at all in bringing a UK washing machine.
Last edited by withabix; Jul 16th 2016 at 1:56 pm.
#4
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Location: A Briton, married to a Canadian, now in Fredericton.
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Re: Another, possibly daft, question about electrical goods
Nothing's daft on questions about moving....most of us were only 'semi-sane' when we got to the packers arriving bit of the adventure!
Someone on here told me not to bring any electrical item that has a motor. We did bring a few electrical bits and a converter and they all worked, and continue to work, like an electric slicing machine and a few seldom used kitchen things (that with hindsight I could have lived without ). My husband brought electric tools, but has replaced most of them now. A washing machine might be an item too far though?
Someone on here told me not to bring any electrical item that has a motor. We did bring a few electrical bits and a converter and they all worked, and continue to work, like an electric slicing machine and a few seldom used kitchen things (that with hindsight I could have lived without ). My husband brought electric tools, but has replaced most of them now. A washing machine might be an item too far though?
#5
Re: Another, possibly daft, question about electrical goods
Bear in mind you'll need to buy transformers, which should be capable of supporting 50% more power (watts) than the appliance you plug into it e.g. a 1500w transformer for a 1000w appliance, and you may find that you'll pay as much or more for transformers than replacement appliances would cost.
That said I brought an electric drill and a Vax vacuum when I moved 15 years ago. I never used them and they are still in a box somewhere in the basement.
That said I brought an electric drill and a Vax vacuum when I moved 15 years ago. I never used them and they are still in a box somewhere in the basement.
#7
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Location: BC, Canada
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Re: Another, possibly daft, question about electrical goods
why spend the money to bring over items that you will not be able to use over here unless you pay out more money to obtain transformers?
#8
Re: Another, possibly daft, question about electrical goods
However, the OP did say it wasn't going to cost anything.
We have a full container booked with some space left so it won't increase our costs
#9
Re: Another, possibly daft, question about electrical goods
I can't quite get round to taking it to the recycling as it is in perfect nick... Anyhow...I digress
#11
Re: Another, possibly daft, question about electrical goods
I had researched what was needed to be able to play my VHS tapes - it wasn't cheap - and something always got in the way of doing something about it.
Then I found I could replace a lot by buying used 'over here' format tapes dirt cheap off Amazon - I got the entire series of I Clavdivs for about $12 for example - and then used DVDs. Then, in time, loads of stuff became available via streaming and youtube.
There might be very little on all my VHS tapes that I can't source replacements for. I'm pretty sure all the original Spitting Images are available and I've already downloaded the Beiderbecke Trilogy.
I even managed to get Tales Of Sherwood Forest (Pete Postlethwaite) if anyone remembers that.
#12
Re: Another, possibly daft, question about electrical goods
Well, ok, they said that I could be K9.. I suppose it is more appropriate.. Oi you, I was trying to rerail this thread
#13
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Re: Another, possibly daft, question about electrical goods
Thanks guys. I will probably have even more daft questions over the next few weeks and months!
#15
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Re: Another, possibly daft, question about electrical goods
We left the UK about ten days after we got married so we had hardly any household goods, and most of those were wedding presents .... one friend had given us a large Kenwood Mixer with all the gongs and whistles, English voltage.
We didn't use it for 2 years, then lent it to an Australian visitor when their twins were born .......... they had brought some Australian equipment with them and had set themselves up with a transformer. They left the transformer with us when they returned to Australia, along with the Kenwood.
We used that Kenwood for several years, but the transformer took up as much space on the kitchen counter as the mixer itself did.
I eventually tossed it, and bought one of equal quality for much cheaper than would have been paid ..... and much more convenient to use
We didn't use it for 2 years, then lent it to an Australian visitor when their twins were born .......... they had brought some Australian equipment with them and had set themselves up with a transformer. They left the transformer with us when they returned to Australia, along with the Kenwood.
We used that Kenwood for several years, but the transformer took up as much space on the kitchen counter as the mixer itself did.
I eventually tossed it, and bought one of equal quality for much cheaper than would have been paid ..... and much more convenient to use