UK electronics
 

Hi all,

I'm sure this has probably been asked many times before, but what is the deal with using UK DVD players/computers/stereos etc? I've got pretty high end gear bought over here in sunny England, and really don't want to have to fork out again to replace everything when we get over to Canada.

Any advise would be gratefully received :thumbup:

Re: UK electronics
 

Hi, we just use travel adapters here, have done since last June. T.v, laptops the lot!
Hth

Glynis

Re: UK electronics
 

Laptops etc. are fine with adapters. I really don't know how you'd go about with bringing something like one of those 4-way plugs and just plugging it into a wall socket with a North American Adapter though; that might have some voltage issues.

Re: UK electronics
 

there's a reasonably comprehensive Wiki article here http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Compat...f_Goods-Canada

In short (and with one or two exceptions), if it's got a motor or a heater, don't bother; if it's dual voltage just change the plug and go; if it's somewhere in between then buy a transformer.

Re: UK electronics
 

If you have an electric turntable you'll need a new knob, otherwise your records will play in metric. Wind up gramophones are unaffected.

Re: UK electronics
 

Wind up posts aren't either.

Re: UK electronics
 

I had to get a new knob. Before that Tom Waits was unbearably shrill and squeaky, afterwards he was listenable. The reverse was true for Rush, of course.

Re: UK electronics
 

Tom Waits is one of my all time favourites, I think I have all his albums (at least up until 1990). Luckily my turntable has a clever little thumb wheel and a small stroboscopic device which allows me to either change between 50 and 60 Hz or to play silly buggers with the pitch of the music.

Re: UK electronics
 

Aren't we lah-di-dah! A stroboscopic knob adjuster. That's another world, mate.

Re: UK electronics
 

We brought over 6-way Belkin surge protectors and just pugged those into a socket with an adapter and then plug in all our UK stuff into that. But it's mainly laptops, any charges (phones, cameras, kindle, etc.), PS3, PS2.
My hairstraighteners work, but don't heat up as much as in the UK. My epilator works much slower.

Re: UK electronics
 

I suppose your wind up still has a needle rather than a lah-de-dah stylus?

I wouldn't stoop to anything less the a Shure hyper-elliptical.

Re: UK electronics
 

V15 Mk IV on the powered one, iirc. Rusty needle on the wind up one. I have a pack of new ones but I'm saving them for a special occasion.

Re: UK electronics
 

Using an appropriate sized transformer I haven't found anything yet that won't work - motor, heater or otherwise. For our old UK stereo (which was also reasonably good quality), I use a small transformer which is just switched on when needed. With time things will inevitably be replaced with North American equivalents, but it seems crazy to throw perfectly good kit out before you even get here.

If it's not nailed down - bring it!

Re: UK electronics
 

Couldn't agree more with rivingtonpike. Bring the lot! :thumbsup:
You'll save a mint on replacing everything as soon as you arrive and will have most of it running in short order for little outlay. aka the cost of a few transformers.

We now have a couple of step up/down transformers. One 2000W for the kitchen (food mixers/processors, Nespresso coffee machine etc) and a 3000w for my workshop, drills, jig saw, wood plane, grinder etc.. Some smaller ones will no doubt follow for different areas in the house.

A lot of power supplies (with integrated plug pins) for smaller items.. house phones, shaver/phone/camera chargers etc will run on 100-240VAC 50/60Hz. (should be printed on the power supply as a rule) so bring them too along with a few 4 Gang extension units with UK 3 pin sockets. Cut the UK plug off the lead, stick a North American plug on, plug it into the wall, plug your UK three pin small power supplies (that'll work on 110VAC) in and you are good to go!

As per rivingtonpike... we'll run our stuff until it dies and gradually then replace with North American 110VAC kit as needed. Modern UK digital TV's might not tune into any Canadian terrestrial channels (not missing much there anyway) but will plug in and run (via SCART for example) a Shaw digital Cable TV box the same way you would use a SKY box.

Re: UK electronics
 

You don't have to throw it out. Donate it to a family in need, or alternatively, the Salvation Army, etc. (who will sell it cheaply to someone who needs it).

Unless electrical equipment is specifically dual voltage, it is usually much better not to take it to Canada.