Using UK Bedside Lights
 

Hi Guys,
After some advice on electrics. I understand most UK electrics wont work well without a transformer, but I wandered about bedside lights. If I can put a Canadian bulb into a UK light I think it should work as the bulb will be right for Canadian voltage. Question is therefore do Candian bulbs have the same bayonet fitting or screw fitting as UK ones?
Any advice much appreciated.
Cheers K

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

No. Canadian bulbs are screw in. However, it is not that difficult to adapt a light. Everything you need is at Home Depot.

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

My bedside light works but is still on a uk bulb and might be rewired when it goes.
when I turn it on I can walk all the way back around the bed and to the ceiling light switch near the bedroom door before the light starts glowing.
TBH I like it, it makes it special :o

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

i thought about bringing my laptop and xbox with me, as i'll need something to do on my downtime and i don't fancy buying new ones!

they both have transformers, is it just a case of getting the correct lead to go from the outlet to the transformer? :D

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

That's what we did. Most second hand stores, value village ect have the odd chord for sale for 1-2 $'s.

Ask for an electrical chord and not lead or cable. :o

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

:thumbsup:

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

Hard to believe that we dont sell quality bedside lights in Canada :(
Unless an heirloom why bring them? They only take up space and what is the pro rated cost of shipping these items?
I say new country, new bedside lights.

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

Agreed

But new laptops, ipads, cell phones and Xbox's ? :eek:

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

Mine is a tiffany lamp I'm quite attached to. It didn't make the container so I brought it over in my hand luggage!! :)

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

laptops have their own transformers so work fine on 110v Canadian. We've replaced the bulbs in our bedside lights ages ago and changed the plug and they work just fine.

I can't understand the "why bring it" mantra. If it's still going to work and you have room in your container, why throw it out and have to buy new again? Costs a fortune to set up a new house on a new continent without making it even more expensive. Transformers are compatatively cheap and two or three around the house will run almost anything until such time as you need/choose to replace it.

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

What is sings to you?

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

:lol:

I know, but have you tried asking for a lead ?

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

Its a cord not chord

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

:o

Thanks

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

I discovered, by accident, that most low energy light bulbs are dual voltage even though it doesn't say so on the packing. Unless you have incandescent bulbs (which will be somewhat dim but will still work), you can probably just plug them in using a socket converter.

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

Thanks Jonboy

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

Laptop, you can just get a new lead to go into the transformer, or use a travel adaptor on the UK plug (I've been doing that for nearly 2 years now).

XBOX - you'll need a new powerbrick (transformer). Check out my responses in this thread http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...ox+power+brick \

PM me if you need anything else.

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

Depending on where you are in Canada, the bedside light will turn on anywhere between 4.5 and 7 hours early.

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

3.5 - 7 hrs actually.

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

Well at least I remembered the half. ;)

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

Yandros,

We recently moved over and this is our experience.

Worked
PC and monitor (switch the power switch at the back)
Wii only on the UK telly we brought over
Laptop, phones, ipad etc Our laptop however doesnt hold the charge for long since we moved here so we just plug it in when using it. That might be peculiar to our laptop though as its been playing up.
All lamps, standard and bedside once UK plug exchanged with a Canadian one although are a bit on the dull side for my liking
Blu ray player (with UK discs)
Rechargeable Lady shaver

Didnt work
PS2 (although was surprised at that)
Bedside clock radios

Everything else like hair dryer, straighteners, dyson, iron we sold and bought new over here. We also bought 10 cheap US/Canadian adaptors from ebay for £1 each to save us constantly having to swap adaptors from Ipad charger to phone charger etc. Best tenner I spent during the whole process;)

Good luck

Lindsey

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

Be carefull, they are also energy hogs if running outside of thier operating voltage, one main reason they shouldn't be run with dimmer, the other is when they are run outside of their operating volatge they can also become a fire risk..

I'd check how warm the base section gets when its switched on

And for what they cost, I'd recomened you get new UL approved bulbs

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

No issues with overheating thus far and no obvious extra power drain that I can spot... The problem the OP has is down to bayonet fittings btw, so buying new in Canada isn't going to be an option.

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

You can actually find bayonet fittings here in specialist lighting shops. There's one near me called "Living Lighting". I don't know if it's just a Mom & Pop shop or part of a chain. I'm not interested enough to google.

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

Yep, I took my lamps into a lighting store - I was going in to ask if they can modify them for Canadian bulbs - and instead they took me to the bulb section and found me the right one for the lamp!

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

They also sell the smaller screw-in bulbs, we had them in our lamps and have had no problem getting 110v versions here.

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

cracking post my man, thanks!

the only game i play is Call Of Duty, and i renew my xbox live using cheapxboxlivecodes.com so a UK credit card isn't a necessity!

I suppose i could buy a new one in Canada, i wonder if my UK hard-drive would work in a US/Canada Xbox...i'll need to do a bit of reading!

Re: Using UK Bedside Lights
 

No problem.

I'd have thought your hard drive would work fine, but best to check out. If not you can always use a flash drive.

After Christmas they had 4gb consoles out for $129, and 4gb consoles with kinect for $199. The prices have gone up again, but I'd imagine there will be another similar offer soon.