Will our PC's work in Canada?
Apr 11th 2007, 8:46 pm
#1
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Posts: 32
Will our PC's work in Canada?
Can anybody tell me if our Dell Pc's will work in Canada?
We have windows XP
We are also trying to find out if what the electricity voltage is over there as we are bringing some machinery over
Thanks very much
We have windows XP
We are also trying to find out if what the electricity voltage is over there as we are bringing some machinery over
Thanks very much
Apr 11th 2007, 8:49 pm
#2
Banned
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: In Limbo
Posts: 15,706
Re: Will our PC's work in Canada?
Yes
Upgrade to vista (I think NOT)
110
and DO A BLOODY SEARCH
Apr 11th 2007, 8:51 pm
#3
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Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,698
Re: Will our PC's work in Canada?
Canada uses 110 volts. Well technically two 110 volt rails but it gets complicated. Basically check if the power supply on the back of the PC has a switch to change between 230 and 110. If it has then it'll work fine, if not then it's a bit trickier. You can replace the power supply but on a Dell that's unlikely to be possible.
Basically most electronics I wouldn't recommend taking over, the wrong voltages will cause problems. Machinery especially will be a bad idea unless you get expensive transformers but then you still have to put up with the difference in frequency which can be a problem for motors.
Basically laptops will be fine as their power supplies allow many voltages and frequencies as inputs, but most other items won't be.
Basically most electronics I wouldn't recommend taking over, the wrong voltages will cause problems. Machinery especially will be a bad idea unless you get expensive transformers but then you still have to put up with the difference in frequency which can be a problem for motors.
Basically laptops will be fine as their power supplies allow many voltages and frequencies as inputs, but most other items won't be.
Apr 11th 2007, 8:57 pm
#6
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 32
Re: Will our PC's work in Canada?
Canada uses 110 volts. Well technically two 110 volt rails but it gets complicated. Basically check if the power supply on the back of the PC has a switch to change between 230 and 110. If it has then it'll work fine, if not then it's a bit trickier. You can replace the power supply but on a Dell that's unlikely to be possible.
Basically most electronics I wouldn't recommend taking over, the wrong voltages will cause problems. Machinery especially will be a bad idea unless you get expensive transformers but then you still have to put up with the difference in frequency which can be a problem for motors.
Basically laptops will be fine as their power supplies allow many voltages and frequencies as inputs, but most other items won't be.
Basically most electronics I wouldn't recommend taking over, the wrong voltages will cause problems. Machinery especially will be a bad idea unless you get expensive transformers but then you still have to put up with the difference in frequency which can be a problem for motors.
Basically laptops will be fine as their power supplies allow many voltages and frequencies as inputs, but most other items won't be.
We are taking electrics like a test bench etc so will check it out
Apr 11th 2007, 9:04 pm
#8
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Re: Will our PC's work in Canada?
Canada uses 110 volts. Well technically two 110 volt rails but it gets complicated. Basically check if the power supply on the back of the PC has a switch to change between 230 and 110. If it has then it'll work fine, if not then it's a bit trickier. You can replace the power supply but on a Dell that's unlikely to be possible.
Basically most electronics I wouldn't recommend taking over, the wrong voltages will cause problems. Machinery especially will be a bad idea unless you get expensive transformers but then you still have to put up with the difference in frequency which can be a problem for motors.
Basically laptops will be fine as their power supplies allow many voltages and frequencies as inputs, but most other items won't be.
Basically most electronics I wouldn't recommend taking over, the wrong voltages will cause problems. Machinery especially will be a bad idea unless you get expensive transformers but then you still have to put up with the difference in frequency which can be a problem for motors.
Basically laptops will be fine as their power supplies allow many voltages and frequencies as inputs, but most other items won't be.
Do you happen to know if it is 415 3-phase?
Cheers
Apr 11th 2007, 9:18 pm
#9
Now on Vancouver Island
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 6,935
Re: Will our PC's work in Canada?
Shazzy, this old thread entitled Electrical Goods has some good info.
I don't know what 415 3-phase is.
This past weekend I was doing some research on Canadian electricity. What I read stated that the power supply that travelled from the edge of your property to the distribution box in your house consisted of 2 wires that were 120 volts each. They were offset (or some word that was similar to offset) from each other by 180 something or other (180 degrees?), resulting in a power supply of 240 volts. The third wire was the ground.
The 240 volts is used to power stoves and clothes dryers in Canadian houses. However, the rest of the wiring in a Canadian house is 110 volts, as has been stated in this thread. I guess the 110 volt supply is achieved by splitting those wires that come into the distribution box.
But, even if you think your British 240 volt stove and clothes dryer will work in Canada, I recommend against bringing them. First of all, a Canadian house almost always is sold with a stove already in it. Secondly, if you regularly operate a household appliance, such as a clothes dryer, that is not CSA (Canadian Standards Association) approved, it most likely will render your home owners or renters insurance policy null and void.
Originally Posted by Shazzy101
Hello again,
Do you happen to know if it is 415 3-phase?
Cheers
Do you happen to know if it is 415 3-phase?
Cheers
This past weekend I was doing some research on Canadian electricity. What I read stated that the power supply that travelled from the edge of your property to the distribution box in your house consisted of 2 wires that were 120 volts each. They were offset (or some word that was similar to offset) from each other by 180 something or other (180 degrees?), resulting in a power supply of 240 volts. The third wire was the ground.
The 240 volts is used to power stoves and clothes dryers in Canadian houses. However, the rest of the wiring in a Canadian house is 110 volts, as has been stated in this thread. I guess the 110 volt supply is achieved by splitting those wires that come into the distribution box.
But, even if you think your British 240 volt stove and clothes dryer will work in Canada, I recommend against bringing them. First of all, a Canadian house almost always is sold with a stove already in it. Secondly, if you regularly operate a household appliance, such as a clothes dryer, that is not CSA (Canadian Standards Association) approved, it most likely will render your home owners or renters insurance policy null and void.
Apr 11th 2007, 9:49 pm
#10
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Re: Will our PC's work in Canada?
Hello Judy
Thanks for all of the helpful info - the Wiki is really good.
Best regards
Sharon
Thanks for all of the helpful info - the Wiki is really good.
Best regards
Sharon
Apr 12th 2007, 12:20 am
#11
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Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Guelph, Canada
Posts: 170
Re: Will our PC's work in Canada?
We brought over some electrical things last year:
My ceramic hair straighteners are fine with a travel plug because they have an adjustable thermostat thingy on them. (GHD's tend not to work here too well.)
Our PC is still running fine here - the same one we had at home. (Think hubby tweaked something on it though....... I think the switch for voltage and changed the power cable.) Cheaper than buying another computer.
Our laptop came to and it is going well.
Our music system did not like the change and although we could still get music it would not show the graphics etc on the front, so we are going to get one here.
Fibre Optic Xmas tree - yes I brought it - well I knew they did not really have the selection here which I was right about so we used it at Xmas with a transformer. (Imagine a bushy green tree with only tiny little white lights on it..... nice a simple............ when it comes to Xmas, Canadians don't tend to go for nice and simple!)
My ceramic hair straighteners are fine with a travel plug because they have an adjustable thermostat thingy on them. (GHD's tend not to work here too well.)
Our PC is still running fine here - the same one we had at home. (Think hubby tweaked something on it though....... I think the switch for voltage and changed the power cable.) Cheaper than buying another computer.
Our laptop came to and it is going well.
Our music system did not like the change and although we could still get music it would not show the graphics etc on the front, so we are going to get one here.
Fibre Optic Xmas tree - yes I brought it - well I knew they did not really have the selection here which I was right about so we used it at Xmas with a transformer. (Imagine a bushy green tree with only tiny little white lights on it..... nice a simple............ when it comes to Xmas, Canadians don't tend to go for nice and simple!)
Apr 12th 2007, 12:29 am
#12
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: Will our PC's work in Canada?
We brought over some electrical things last year:
My ceramic hair straighteners are fine with a travel plug because they have an adjustable thermostat thingy on them. (GHD's tend not to work here too well.)
Our PC is still running fine here - the same one we had at home. (Think hubby tweaked something on it though....... I think the switch for voltage and changed the power cable.) Cheaper than buying another computer.
Our laptop came to and it is going well.
Our music system did not like the change and although we could still get music it would not show the graphics etc on the front, so we are going to get one here.
Fibre Optic Xmas tree - yes I brought it - well I knew they did not really have the selection here which I was right about so we used it at Xmas with a transformer. (Imagine a bushy green tree with only tiny little white lights on it..... nice a simple............ when it comes to Xmas, Canadians don't tend to go for nice and simple!)
My ceramic hair straighteners are fine with a travel plug because they have an adjustable thermostat thingy on them. (GHD's tend not to work here too well.)
Our PC is still running fine here - the same one we had at home. (Think hubby tweaked something on it though....... I think the switch for voltage and changed the power cable.) Cheaper than buying another computer.
Our laptop came to and it is going well.
Our music system did not like the change and although we could still get music it would not show the graphics etc on the front, so we are going to get one here.
Fibre Optic Xmas tree - yes I brought it - well I knew they did not really have the selection here which I was right about so we used it at Xmas with a transformer. (Imagine a bushy green tree with only tiny little white lights on it..... nice a simple............ when it comes to Xmas, Canadians don't tend to go for nice and simple!)
Oh, for gods sake, not more electrical idiocy. Judy, if you need any help on your wiki article givussa shout.
(Sorry MrsMM, this is not directed at you, but rather the OP who clearly owns a PC but doesn't have a clue about either how it works or what you can use it for.)
Apr 12th 2007, 11:05 am
#13
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 32
Re: Will our PC's work in Canada?
Oh, for gods sake, not more electrical idiocy. Judy, if you need any help on your wiki article givussa shout.
(Sorry MrsMM, this is not directed at you, but rather the OP who clearly owns a PC but doesn't have a clue about either how it works or what you can use it for.)
(Sorry MrsMM, this is not directed at you, but rather the OP who clearly owns a PC but doesn't have a clue about either how it works or what you can use it for.)
Thought that this forum was for asking such questions, that there would be helpful people on here.
Obviously I was wrong.
Apr 12th 2007, 11:07 am
#14
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 32
Re: Will our PC's work in Canada?
We brought over some electrical things last year:
My ceramic hair straighteners are fine with a travel plug because they have an adjustable thermostat thingy on them. (GHD's tend not to work here too well.)
Our PC is still running fine here - the same one we had at home. (Think hubby tweaked something on it though....... I think the switch for voltage and changed the power cable.) Cheaper than buying another computer.
Our laptop came to and it is going well.
Our music system did not like the change and although we could still get music it would not show the graphics etc on the front, so we are going to get one here.
Fibre Optic Xmas tree - yes I brought it - well I knew they did not really have the selection here which I was right about so we used it at Xmas with a transformer. (Imagine a bushy green tree with only tiny little white lights on it..... nice a simple............ when it comes to Xmas, Canadians don't tend to go for nice and simple!)
My ceramic hair straighteners are fine with a travel plug because they have an adjustable thermostat thingy on them. (GHD's tend not to work here too well.)
Our PC is still running fine here - the same one we had at home. (Think hubby tweaked something on it though....... I think the switch for voltage and changed the power cable.) Cheaper than buying another computer.
Our laptop came to and it is going well.
Our music system did not like the change and although we could still get music it would not show the graphics etc on the front, so we are going to get one here.
Fibre Optic Xmas tree - yes I brought it - well I knew they did not really have the selection here which I was right about so we used it at Xmas with a transformer. (Imagine a bushy green tree with only tiny little white lights on it..... nice a simple............ when it comes to Xmas, Canadians don't tend to go for nice and simple!)
Very useful info, we have a fibre optic xmas tree as well! Luckily i dont need straighteners as I have curly hair !
Thank you for your time again
Apr 12th 2007, 12:04 pm
#15
Analyst for hire
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,698
Re: Will our PC's work in Canada?
Oh, for gods sake, not more electrical idiocy. Judy, if you need any help on your wiki article givussa shout.
(Sorry MrsMM, this is not directed at you, but rather the OP who clearly owns a PC but doesn't have a clue about either how it works or what you can use it for.)
(Sorry MrsMM, this is not directed at you, but rather the OP who clearly owns a PC but doesn't have a clue about either how it works or what you can use it for.)