Re: Using british electricals in Canada
 

Surprised a transformer was needed for those. I have a number of these items bought in both Canada and the UK and they are generally happy with either voltage.

It is also possible to get a new power supply for some items. I have some decent hifi equipment and their Canadian agents/supplier will fit the 120V power supply.

Re: Using british electricals in Canada
 

We have a transformer we bought off eBay before we came here that we use for the laptops, everything else like phone chargers work with just the little plug adapter. As for straighteners just buy new ones, I got some $20 ones from Walmart that work fine, I didn't bring my GHD's because I have heard of them breaking the transformers and I remember them not working with just the plug adapter when I was in America. I brought an old cheap pair of straighteners I had with me to Canada which I knew worked with the plug adapter but they broke pretty soon.

Re: Using british electricals in Canada
 

echoing lmartin above, I'm very surprised you need a transformer for your laptop. They are expressly designed to be mobile, which almost always means they'll have an auto-sensing power supply that works on 100-250V at 50 or 60Hz. I'd have a look at your power supply, if I were you: it makes no sense at all to run something through a transformer if you don't need to, as they are "lossy" devices (that's why they get warm in use - it's the wasted energy that heats them up).

Since a typical laptop needs somewhere around 5A at about 15V or so, it's much more efficient to convert this in the computer's own power supply at 120V than to put an extra transformer in the chain and go from 120 to 240 and back to 15V.

Re: Using british electricals in Canada
 

We tried to plug them in using just the plug adapter a couple of times but there was like blue sparks from the socket in the wall so we didn't bother trying again! :lol:

Re: Using british electricals in Canada
 

to be fair I do have both UK and cdn plug ins for my laptop and my mobile, so I don't need to use the upstepper. BUT the things you put on the ends to plug in did not work, won't even power my mobile.
We are returning back to Canada shortly so we are taking tv, and other appliances, so been checking into it, and we will need a BIG up stepper..

Re: Using british electricals in Canada
 

You been in my closet? :frown:

Re: Using british electricals in Canada
 

Oh. It seems I've wasted my life learning about physics.

Re: Using british electricals in Canada
 

Everytime I plug my Canadian laptop plug into a UK socket with an adaptor I get a flash of light, scary for the first few times then you get used to it :)
Seriously it will be ok though if the power supply says so, just look at the order in which you plug things in to avoid the flash!

Re: Using british electricals in Canada
 

Try banging your head against that brick wall ;)

Re: Using british electricals in Canada
 

You were likely too busy studying to fully appreciate the term "ignorance is bliss"...

Re: Using british electricals in Canada
 

Maybe, did you look for me in your closet tonight?























(The reference, I should point out, may be twisted, but it's straight.)

Re: Using british electricals in Canada
 

My mobile phones, computer, Bose ipod docking bay all work with a simple travel adaptor because they are all dual voltage.

I bought a power converter in the UK for my GHDs which only lasted around 1 year. I bought another converter off eBay and it blew really quickly. I never did throw out my GHDs and took them back to the UK last month - they worked perfectly. It was only the converters that blew :) The newest version GHDs are dual voltage.

Re: Using british electricals in Canada
 

Your point is?:p;):rofl:

Re: Using british electricals in Canada
 

I'm trying to think of a smart reply to that remark......

Self respect?

Re: Using british electricals in Canada
 

Hi
we brought a few uk four way extension leads and put on a canadian plug, worked ok for phones, ds's, etc,:thumbup:
even worked on a few non 110v chargers, ( i.e. 240V only) it just took longer to charge them..
my boy plugged his '240 v only scalextric' in the other day, works great on the canadian 110v.
got a couple of transformers of e bay for the TV and wifes ghd's.
almost three years on and the stuff still works.
cheers jerry