UK Electrics in Canada
 

Just arrived with the usual assortment of UK 240v gadgets.
Nearly everything works on 110v, except the Brothers sewing machine.
The TV picture is also a bit smaller than it should be but we will get the Rogers man back on Monday. Could be the 60Hz thing?

I have used a couple of travel plugs and a couple of UK multi-socket extension cords to plug things in. The items are TV, computer, monitor, printer, mouse, and keyboard. Also a Panasonic mini HiFi set.

Nothing with a large power requirement, but it all works.

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

What? No explosions and fires yet? You should probably alert the local fire station as to what you've done.:p:p:p

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

TV won't be the 60hz thing, just have a good look in the settings for both TV and Set top box on aspect ratio type stuff
The sewing machine is quite probably just not enough voltage at 110v to get the motor going, that'll need either e new 100v motor or a step up transformer

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

Yep electronics are nearly all fine these days, anything with a motor like the sewing machine won't work and you will burn the motor out if you're insanely persistent.

I'm kind of impressed that you carried a sewing machine over with you though...

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

I brought my sewing machine(s) over. The electric one is still working fine with a transformer :). The treadle one is a bit idle these days ...;). The hand-driven is mostly decorative, but still sews a fine seam.

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

Motors won't like the change from 50HZ to 60HZ and will probably self destruct eventually.

I had an expensive laser printer that wouldn't work on a step-up transformer at all - it displayed an error message about the frequency and halted its 'boot up'.

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

Used the Aspect ratio button on the Rogers remote and everything fine now, a good full sized picture Thanks Mike UK.

No explosions or fires so far.

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

FWIW A 50hz motor will run on 60hz... yes it'll spin faster, but so will its cooling fan and the end result is a motor that most of the time survives OKGoing the other way results in a slower motor with insufficient cooling and eventually or in some cases rapid burn out depending on load

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

If you have a next gen games console i.e. ps4/xbox one from the UK DO NOT USE the UK power brick. There have been countless reports of the additional current required to achieve the same power (P=VI etc.) blowing the internal fuses. You need to order a new power brick but the console will be fine.

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

Thanks to everyone.

One question ! What size transformer is required with a sewing machine which quotes 42W output ?

Also, anyone able to recommend a source---eg; shop or internet

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

I get that sort of gubbins from House of 220 in Little India. That's not handy, of course, if you're in Winnipeg.

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

For motors I'd Double the rating to ensure its not pushing the transformer too hard#
so for 42W I'd look for a 100w transformer

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

Just ordered a 200w one from Amazon for $25.99.
Will see if it works next week.

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

It will. "Almost" anything seems to work with the appropriate sized transformer (not sure about white goods - big ones). I bought a range of sizes right up to a 3000w on to run the Dyson and power tools until they were eventually replaced. Step up transformer about $100, Dyson alone, close to $500.

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

Yep. Works perfectly and easy to set up.

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

A sin off question - will a TV or related unit cope with the different transmission system in use in Canada?

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

The Rogers man said " if the TV is powered up " , it will work.
The PVR box provided by the TV company receives the signal and the HDMI lead sends it to the TV --simple !
However ,I am not so sure aboutDVD's.

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

UK DVDs are a different region to us ones so unlikely to play on a US DVD player. Either have 2 players or track down a multi region one. This is what we did.

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

Normally not, so assume it won't work via aerial or cable connection
They use ATSM and we use DVB for over the air or cable
so you'll need a set top box to convert so its get to HDMI

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

Frequency doesn't always affect motor performance. If the motor is DC then the power frequency has no effect on how fast the motor spins - it's only the voltage that matters. Obviously the motor in question here may be AC, just thought I'd mention it in case...

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

we brought our tv etc with us when we moved 9 years ago and we got invertors(I think that is what they are called) from a shop called the source, our tv which we brought with us only clapped out a couple of years ago probably due to old age :)
we were told we couldn't bring any tools etc cos they wouldn't work so we sold a lot of stuff which we found out when we got here we could have brought them with us fuming, hubby has to build up his tools again.

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

Not being picky.........BUT!!!..............................
if its a ~50hz motor.... its a frequency dependant motor............

and if its DC then we have some form of regulation in place :blink:

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

I'm hoping you only plugged in stuff that says on it that it's ok for 110. Even some of the stuff I had that said it was ok for 110 stopped working after a while.

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

Except that people sometimes incorrectly assume that if their device/equipment says 50Hz on it and it also has a motor in it, then it means the motor is a 50Hz motor....which is not always the case. I only pointed it out for those people...of which I was one a few months ago.

Re: UK Electrics in Canada
 

A lot of devices without motors say 110-240V 50/60Hz. My mobile charger for one. all it means is that the power supply can handle that range of inputs.(Called a switching power supply). 50Hz motors generally run OK on same voltage 60Hz but about 8/10% faster - here we're 220v60Hz and all the items we brought from UK work fine. It's not the same going from 60Hz to 50Hz. Motors run slower but get hotter due to eddy currents.A few motors are 50/60Hz which just means they will work , albeit at slightly different speeds. Things like irons, kettles don't care what the frequency is as they are resistance heated where voltage is what matters.