Bringing electronics to Canada?
 

I am currently in Canada, but have electronics such as a computer, playstation, stereo etc in the UK which I would like to bring over here. Does anyone know if they would work in Canada, or should I just sell them and buy new ones over here?

Re: Bringing electronics to Canada?
 

Computer should be fine - just check the power supply is not set to the 220 setting for the U.K. Anything that outputs a TV signal could be a problem as is anything that plays DVD's. TV's in Canada use NTSC but in the UK it's PAL (anyone who knows more feel free to correct me). Unless your DVD player is regionless you probably won't be able to play DVD's you buy in Canada either (my brother though bought some DVD's here that were'nt available in the UK and got a regionless kit for his PS2 and plays DVD's fine on his UK TV)

You can go to Radio Shack and buy a mains converter that will plug into your 110 socket and give you 220 - I bought one to try and use my UK VCR and it powers it fine - just can't get the video to play on the TV's

You'll find Canada behind the UK in terms of multi-format VCR and TV's (oh no - I've probably started a flame war here). You can go into any Dixons/Curry's in the UK and buy a multiformat VCR/TV with no bother but in North America it's as if PAL doesn't exist, things are changing slowly though.

Hope this helps.

There are places in TO and Vancouver you can get multiformat stuff but as the other poster says it's like re-inventing the wheel here......I got a multiformat VCR for my Dad and it cost me over $700Can. I was choked I can tell you!:rolleyes:

Thank you both for your help! I'll see what I can get sorted out once it comes to moving the BF over next year.

Re: Bringing electronics to Canada?
 

Explain to me Iv'e been in Canada since 1963.
Why would I need a multiformat VCR or TV?

To play video's from Europe in North America without having to convert them.

Apart from recent immigrants to North America, not too many people would buy these units.

With VCR's being rapidly replaced by DVD players and hopefully cheaper DVD player/recorders, will the same problem exist, ie NTSC/PAL?

I should probably ask my teenager but I am sure there is a problem with DVD's from Europe being used over here - they don't work for some reason. No doubt someone knows!

DVD's are restricted by their $$$ hungry Hollywood companies to only play in the region they are sold.

This is to prevent people from importing (grey market) DVD's sold in low currency conversion countries (such as Asia) to the North American market.

The market is split up into regions. The DVD player manufacturers have to license the decoding algorithm from these $$$ grabbers and agree to sell players that are 'crippled' to play only the DVD's sold in the same region the player is sold.

Of course there are ways around this.

DVD's are also format encoded (PAL/NTSC) as well as region encoded, so a UK region 2 DVD is PAL and a North American Region 1 DVD will be NTSC.

So even if you have a multi region UK DVD player you also need to see wether it is multi-format.

There are two basic kinds, the cheaper ones will output what you put in so if you put in an NTSC disc is will output NTSC and if you put in a PAL one it will chuck out PAL. So one of these in North America is still annoying as all yoru region 2 PAL discs will play but only come out in PAL which is no good unless you have a mulit-format TV wich can undertand both NTSC and PAL.

More expensive ones will convert the output to either so you can have all your discs wether PAL or NTSC come out only in PAL or only in NTSC which is better as you can use it anywhere, but you pay the price for the extra conversion electronics.

It's the same deal with VCR's , most of the Multi Format VCR's you see in the UK will play NTSC tapes but only in NTSC format so if your TV isn't multiformat all you will see is fuzzy black and white. However this sin't much of a problem as most new TV's are multiformat so that the manufacturers just use teh same circuits etc everywhere.

We had this problem with a housemates DVD player at university, it would play any region discs but when you played a region 1 NTSC disc it came out in NTSC which was fairly useless as the TV was too old to handle it. His solution was to buy the discs from Australia because they were just as cheap as the US but in PAL.

The main reason for buying a DVD in a region other than your own is either price or release. Price is pretty ireelevant in north america as they are cheapest there, but in the UK you can save a fortune buying discs online from the USA.
Buying out of region is desirable for obscure things and differeing release dates, like the DVD boxed sets of friends and the simpsons and buffy the vampire slayer etc that my friend got all came out in the UK way before the USA and some came out first in Australia so he boguht fromwherever was first and cheapest.

Drew

The discs themselves
 

A simple question on the same subject.

Is it worth me bringing my UK discs to Canada (Montreal) or should I just save the baggage space and money and give them away?

depends what DVD player you are going to get. If you know you want to play your UK DVD's in N America then all you need to do is spend a bit of time before you purchase to make sure you get a region free DVD player. Have a look on the web and you can find which models are easiest to convert.

With some it's as easy as typing in a specific code into the remote control to access a software mode that lets you set the ergion. Others require chipping but thats easily done at many audio/visual stores.

Another idea is if you have a PC. Most older PC dvd drives are region free and if you get a newer one you can get ones that can be set region free, that way you can watch any DVD on your PC and if you have a reasonably modern graphics card it probably has a TV-Out socket so you can line out the display to your TV and watch the DVD on the TV. Also the advantage there is pc's aren't specifcly formatted so you can outputin NTSC or PAL or SECAM or whatever you like so a mulit format TV isn't an issue. In fact if you buy a video capture TV card you can probably line out your VCR through your PC and change the output to NTSC using the computers graphics card to save buying a multiformat TV.

Personally i just brought my computer with me. I sold my stereo and i left my portable tv and VCR at my parents. I might bring them over one day when i have spare space and cash and set up a closed PAL system to watch all my PAL videos. Depends.

Drew

Re: Bringing electronics to Canada?
 

It's glad to know there is hope!! Only problem is I recently checked the RadioShack website and they do have the product that was mentioned by Steve, unfortunately there appears to be a probelm for in that it is only for use with 40W electrics my amplifier is 70W any suhhections anyone?


:confused:

I got my voltage transformer from here:
http://www.voltageconverters.com/vol...onverters.html

I got the 200W one as I wasn't planning on using anything with a higher power. Works fine for my guitar amplifier which is only 80W and cost a fraction of the ones from radio shack etc, even getting it from the US.

Drew

Niceone,
You know the really anoying thing is that I went into home hardware and they told me that I couldn't get anything and I might as well throw away my amp and CD player, it's great to know that I didn't get them shipped here for nothing!

Thanks again

Ben:)

This is a topic close to my heart as well. I've spent over a thousand quid over the last two years buying decent AV stuff, and now my GF tells me she wants us to go back to her home in Ontario!!:rolleyes:

Unless I'm going to bother buying a transformer (I've heard these are pretty noisy - can anyone confirm this?) then most of it is going to have to be sold at ridiculous bargain prices.

So far my DVD player is the only item that I know will work - I'd advise anybody to check what power theirs needs. Mine can take 110-240v/50-60Hz. I also de-regionalised it through a code from the internet (got some discs from Canada and the US) and on the menu settings it can be set for NTSC output. It would be worth anybody fretting about their DVD players ability to function in Canada to check these things.

My VCR, TV, AV amp, Hi-Fi amp, CD player, tape-deck, turntable and AV subwoofer, unless somebody tells me that transformers are the dog's, will be sold.

Don't forget though - speakers are okay, right?

ok my dvd plazer is 110v/230v so i can plug it straight in the wall. it is multi region soit playsall disks.
now problem is when we bought the new tv it comes on the screen black and white not colour, can anyone help.

Are you in Canada?

Check your DVD's manual or look in the on screen menu options. On mine there's the option of changing the output to NTSC. Otherwise, your TV might need a bit of tweaking, tuning-wise or with its AV input menu options or simply swap the SCART socket the player's plugged into. Did it work fine on the TV you had before? If so, it could be that this is the problem. Here in the UK if I unplug the SCART plugs at the back of the TV and then put them back in but not as they were before (eg-the VCR SCART into AV1, DVD into AV2 instead of the other way round) I get a black and white picture on one or the other for some reason.

If that still doesn't work then afraid to say, your DVD player might just not be NTSC compatible... :(

In Toronto, don't even bother going to Radio Shack for a step up transformer. You will have better selection and price at electronics stores run by Pakistanis or Indians at the malls in Brampton, maybe even Etobicoke. Many of these store owners know all about 110/220, whereas Radio Shack employees generally know only what the box says.

Most of these electronic stores will also have multisystem tv sets, dvd players, vcr, etc. On note of caution though: Although most multisystem tv sets have multi-system tuners, the majority of VCRs-although they can output in multi-system can record in only one system and the tuners are usually only for a single system!

I have a friend from Europe who runs a stereo system, a 450 litre chest freezer, and a 160 litre upright refrigerator/ freezer on a single 400 W step up transformer which cost 90CAD. That was about 6 years ago and several electricians had told him that because the appliances all were designed for 50Hz, that the motors would not last more than a couple of weeks. The store owner in Brampton told him that was rubbish and he would have no problems.

I'm presuming that sockets on the transformers are designed for two-pin plugs? Would it be a case of cutting off the UK 3 pin plug from the appliance and just sticking on a US/Canadian spec plug?
Is your mate's transformer noisy?

I have a 100W Step-up transformer for my UK stuff and it's dead quiet. Mind you this is just a transformer by itself which I wired up myself. If you buy the all-in-one transformers with the surge protection, fuses, etc they might be louder.

The only thing that you might have problem with is the HI-FI stuff if there is a lot of electronics in it cause the different electricity cycles can mess things up with LED displays, etc. Anything that depends on motors running at a certain speed can be messed up too, but its not always the case either. We have a CD player from OZ that works fine here in Canada.

yeah, have you seen how much 'BBC America' charges for British programs on dvd over here!!!

I guess they want to empty the pockets of north american fans rather than us brits who are just trying to watch our shows!!!!

actually on the same point:
why do they 'Americanize' every British show? Coupling for one!!

regards

This particular transformer has two output sockets. Each is a three-prong American style. The unit is quiet. He has it located in a storage room and runs two hidden extension cords to his appliances. The cords he brought from Europe but put American 3-prong plug on the other end. He has another transformer which is a step up and step down but it has only two prong so he uses just the one.

Ha ha!! :D
Precisely why I'd be after bringing my video collection over with me, if I can get a multiformat VCR!

I could make myself popular with "Mr Lee's Comedy Soireés". Bring some beer and watch all your favourite British Sitcoms on video at my house! What a great social event it would be for expats!! :)

I bought some 500w transformers from Voltage Converters They are quiet when on and are relatively cheap. They are shipped free (orders over US$100) from Montreal so no taxes to pay only the exchange to C$.
I have one on a UK spec Sony TV, a Bose Lifestyle music system and a couple of other things. Anything without a high power motore works fine. The TV is linked to a satellite system and the cables have to use the front jacks, other than that its perfect.
You need to put a North American plug on but that is cheap and easy.

Help please
 

If anyone could give me any contacts for these electgrical transforms, got a tv and a few games consoles to run.
Would like the Canadaina contacts, possibly Brampton.
I live in Winnipeg and dont want to pay the customs charge, which is incedently stupid.
So if you guys can help please.
CHeers

Re: Help please
 

Voltage Convertors (mentioned above) is quite a good place but I'm sure your local phone book would be the best source of little electronics dealers. Just ask for a step-up transformer. You will probably need a high wattage one to run the tv so you need to look at the tv specs and see how much wattage it needs, add it to the games console wattage and then add about 20% on top of that for safety overhead.

If it tells you how many amps it uses you need to use a forumula to convert it to watts. Click here for an online version -> http://www.voltageconverters.com/faq.htm#2

Hope that helps.

I know about voltGE CONVERTERS BUT WOULD LIKE NOT TO HAVE TO PAY THE EXTRA IMPORT TAX. CAN ANYONE PASS ME ON SOME TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR THE OTHER SHOPS SO ICAN PHONE PLEASE. CANT FIND ANY ON INTERNET AND CUASE BASED IN WINNIPEG GOT NO WAY OF USING DIRECTORY INQUIRES BECAUSE DONT KNOW ANY NAMES ETC. NEED YOUR HELP URGENT GUYS. CHEERS

... Sorry for hijacking this thread, but you guys seem to know what you're talking about... :D

Is there anything wrong with me bringing over my PS2 and UK TV so that I can use it purely for playing my UK DVDs and UK PS2 games? (Not for watching Canada TV etc)... Obviously I'd get a power converter... but that would work wouldn't it?

Cheers!

Wendy

;)

Hi
A very good option, but you will need to get games for it from uk. if you want the latest. So eventually you will need to convert . And the game prices are cheaper. Also TV very heavy and fragile. Would look at cost to ship and search for cost of new and weigh up options over new, warranty. when I was there I found elctronic goods better priced than uk.
Canada Girl

yes you`ll be ok. i brought over a playstation1 with games, a tv, video and all the kids video tapes and camcorder tapes of the kids growing up. i bought a transformer `tc 500a`for about $90 and they work fine. i also brought a teac hifi system which i put on a transformer and that also works with no problem.
for what it costs to bring them over with your other belongings it is well worth it. to bring them over seperately would cost you a fortune.

dean

Cheers CG!

It's a wee portable TV (about 14 inch) that we're taking, and it's the only "large" piece we'll be taking.
I'd rather we took our time to replace our "toys" rather than shell out a fortune for new PS2 and to replace the 50+ games (PS1 and PS2) that we have (plus 20+ DVDs) as soon as we arrive...
So as long as it'll work - it'll do me in the interim.

Thanks again!

Wendy

Cheers Dean!
:D
Thanks, Wendy

Check your appliance is compatible with 60hz mains..

If not it'll not work, in my first visit to canada I fried a tuner on my hifi the rest was OK

TV's are at risk here as well, some I gather work other don't.

one solution is to by localy a powerfull 12volt power supply (enough to ahndle the surge current on your TV) an dthen step back up using an inverter to 240v 50Hz.

I'm currently running a 100hz scan sony TV this way no problem, (other than the surge on switch on blew my first inverter)

P.S. my dyson works connected directly to the 120v 60hz at about 60% eff

Working my way down the system this time...

i've been scouring ebay.ca looking to see if hifi is traded there or not.. it seems that high end equipment isnt as readily traded as in the UK.

i'm wondering what the costs would be of shipping my AV system from the UK to Vancouver, approximately. I have 3 power amps (33kg), multiregion DVD player (2kg), processor (5kg), VCR and speakers (45kg). Plus cabling, say 100KG of AV kit. I don't have much in the way of furniture to ship. Much of this AV kit I could buy again, but its high-end stuff.. and it doesn't seem to be on ebay regularly enough (I bought most of it secondhand to start with). Some of it I would struggle to get at the prices I paid in the UK.

What might be a rough idea of the costs to ship that much weight over? Can anyone recommend a good shipper? Are there other secondhand online marketplaces in Canada that are more popular than ebay, specifically for hifi? I am quite happy to buy a big transformer but if its cheaper to sell what I have rather than ship it, then I can do that, provided I can find it again in Canada.

Apologies if this is over the top..or obvious..

Some DVD players just need unlocking to become multi region and most modern ones you can select PAL or NTSC. My DVD payer was just a simple sequence on the remote and hey presto it was multi regoin - there's stacks of info on the web about this.

It's also worth noting that most notebook PCs have switchable power supplies that will work off either 115 or 240 - the little black box you plug into will read something like 115~250v AC.

And make sure your 115-240v transformer is powerful enough otherwise it could become a fire hazard if it gets too hot and melts ..eeek

Hi
this seems to be a site where you can get just about anything.
http://www.220-electronics.com/.
mike

Not all Radio Shacks are the same.

I wanted a 1500W step up transformer - enough to handle our pricey Siemens toaster, our Italian coffee machine, my power drill etc.

I tried a couple of Nanaimo Radio Shacks and the staff were clueless. I live on Vancouver Island. Ladysmith (30kms south) RS had a 1000W one priced at C$179 plus tax.

I phoned our local electronics shop and they ordered a 1500W one for me (same make as the RS one)...for C$117 plus taxes.

This one has a switch on the back which allows it to be step-up (operate 230v appliances here in Canada) or step-down (operate 115v appliances in the UK).

Works like a charm and is quiet as a mouse.

It only gets switched on when I need to use it. After that it is switched off.

My two multisystem TVs work perfectly over here (no need to adjust voltage). So does my multisystem VCR. Hifis all work fine - they have a voltage switch on the back.

Computer works fine as well. HP G85 printer too.

Had to buy a new kettle though. Wattage too high (at 2000W) for transformer to handle.

Name of product:

Voltage Converter TC-1500A

made in China (where else)

(Yeah...I know...it's a really ingenious name...but that's what it's called)

excellent responses... just what I need. and some useful tips!

one thing i am still hoping someone might help me with is shipping... i dont have any furniture - hifi, computers, media (CDs, DVDs) and clothes are the bulk of our belongings. what would it cost to ship a couple of hundred kilos of kit across the water to Vancouver, either by plane or boat?

thx

Chris