wasss

I'm just wondering if anyone else in Canada is having problems with things not charging properly or at all with adaptors?

My laptop and iphone charge fine, but my electric toothbrush and electric shaver don't charge at all.

quiltman

Laptop/phone chargers are almost all universal - 110-240V 50/60Hz but funnily enough toothbrushes and some shavers are fixed at the voltage/frequency of the country you bought them in!Look carefully on the label of the item for the voltage requirements. So, trying to charge a 240v unit on 110v will not work. Try getting a local charger that fits , or buy a cheap step UP transformer to convert the 110v to 240v. I have two Philips electric shavers - one is now probably 15 years old and only works on 240v. The other is about 4 years old and came with a universal charger.

Hurlabrick

Having no problems at all with my Braun S3 shaver....

Allie73

We haven't had any problems with adapters, but I'm pretty sure my hair straightener doesn't get as hot as it did in the UK. It still works well though. I bought this to use with my sewing machine. It's $80 now, but I only paid about $30. I'd shop around.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Snowy560

I brought several things like a shredder and hair dryer. The both operated quite slowly as to be pretty useless. So I just bought Canadian ones in the end.

OttawaMan

The voltage is written on every electric device. An adapter is just that. It adapts the plug to fit the right slot. It does not convert the voltage. That's called a converter. Bigger electronics like computers, phones etc...are typically dual-voltage...what I call 'dumb' electronics (ie: no circuitry to adjust for you) like hair irons and tooth brushes are generally single voltage and need a converter to function.

suzeandmatt

I bought a dual voltage hair dryer & straightener before I moved out here because I had my last ones for years and figured it makes sense for travelling to other countries etc- I can always take them with me & just use a different plug adaptor.
As others have said- items designed for travel, like phones/laptops/cameras will have a fuel voltage plug anyway- so all you'll need is the adaptor to fit it into the socket. (Or as must things require a USB charger port these days just buy a few wall/USB chargers cheep enough)
I waited until I was in Canada to buy any other electronics like electric toothbrush, vacuum cleaner etc etc.

Going from a 240v in the UK to a 110v in Canada just means things will be next to useless. Hair straighteners for example just won't get as hot, and a hairdryer will feel like someone is just blowing on your head. Haha

Snowy560

Yes I totally agree. You think you're saving a few $$$ £££ but you're not!!!

SchnookoLoly

Yep, chiming in on this as well. Larger electronics will convert the power input just fine... but really in North America you're only putting in half the juice, so things like toothbrushes and hair appliances won't get as hot or as powerful as they are meant to.

On the flipside, if you bought a hair straightener here and then plugged it in in the UK using a normal adapter, you'd fry it as it's getting twice as much power as it's supposed to. I nearly melted my electric toothbrush doing this before I realized.

Generally speaking, anything with a motor or heating element you should just buy in the appropriate country, else pay for a step-up or step-down conversion unit.

As others have said, each appliance has it written on its power adapter what the appropriate input is and whether it can be used for either voltage.

Snowy560

Dear all please could anyone else kindly provide a link to something that is purchasable in Canada that would enable my husband's UK stereo to work?

The product linked to by Allie does not seem to be available. We went to Rona to get something we thought was the right thing (looked like it on the website) but it turned out only for if you are a Canadian traveller (none of the adaptors looked as if they would take a UK plug).

Thank you.

Former Lancastrian

Whats a stereo

Do you mean something that plays vinyl records?
A cheap DVD or blu-ray will play cd's.
Are you still using cassette tapes? Sorry for those under 30 who probably don't know what a cassette tape is.

Snowy560

Hello

Ha ha

To clarify: I am looking for an adaptor so that something made for the UK (that plays CDs) will work properly here. It is a Tivoli system. When husband tried to put the CD in today (1st time he tried it here) it goes in but will not do anything or come out. I think it is a voltage issue.

Yes I know what a reel to reel is and what a cassette tape is (not sure my kids do!!). I have had vinyl records in my time but don't have any now. I see in London Drugs LPs seem to be very popular these days!!

Thank you

scilly

I still have stored away a blow dryer bought in England and another one bought in Australia .......... past experience showed me that dual voltage dryers bought here did not work efficiently in the other countries.

So it was cheaper to buy over there.


Mind you, it did cause a little consternation when flying out of Vancouver to England 3 days after 9/11, travelling light with only a carry-on bag each ........ security was super high but with some gaps

A man at security scurried around plugging my English dryer into every socket he could find as I kept shouting "it's an English dryer".

He finally gave up, and handed it back to me!

Siouxie

This may be of help

Do I need a step up or step down converter? How to get from 110 to 220 and from 220 to 110

Snowy560

Thank you!