MOVING BACK - VOLTAGE QUESTION
 

We sold our house near Toronto today and will be relocating back to a North East seaside town in March 2014. Exciting!!

Question; We have a few items that we would like to take back that are 110Volts...Treadmill, Bose system, domestic Pressure Washer and the like. If I use a step down transformer in the UK (240 v down to 110 v) will this work OK?...has anyone got experience of this?

Re: MOVING BACK - VOLTAGE QUESTION
 

No answer for you but congratulations! Please send house-selling vibes to us in Kelowna, B.C. We're leaving almost all of our electronics behind but haven't looked into it.

Re: MOVING BACK - VOLTAGE QUESTION
 

We have a step down converter in the shipping that arrives this week :fingerscrossed: so Dh will use it to run some of his garage tools. I'll let you know how it works once he gets it all set up.

Re: MOVING BACK - VOLTAGE QUESTION
 

we've successfully used step down transformers for a variety of things, including all of DH's tools, various kitchen appliances, sewing machine, cd/radio system etc.

The key is to make sure the transformer can handle the load. We have a big ugly yellow transformer that's used on building sites. We paid about £65 for it, but it can handle all the tools and about anything else. I have another little one that lives in the kitchen and powers the cd/radio in the mornings and various small appliances on an as-needed basis. It's small and good for up to 100 watts; cost was around £15 from Amazon.

I personally would not run anything continuously, as the tranny gets hot; having said that, I've heard of folks running a refrigerator on a step down transformer.

Some things (TV, external hard drives, computer, monitor) were dual voltage and just required a plug adapter or new cord with a UK plug. For the external drives, I bought a 240V universal outlet strip (http://www.amazon.com/VCT-USP600-Uni.../dp/B0036ZE6V0) that accepts plugs from about every country in the universe, and eliminated the need for an adapter. We did cut the supplied plug off and fitted the UK plug. Buy this BEFORE you leave; for whatever reason I couldn't find one in the UK, so got mine on the 1st trip back to visit family in the US.

And yes, we brought our TV, and use with an HD Freeview box; shipping cost wasn't an issue as we had a 40' container, and the Freeview box was far cheaper than the cost of buying a new TV.

A basic rule is that if it's a motor, no/few problems; things that heat up (crock pot, curling iron, hair dryer) don't do so well. The treadmill may run a bit 'off' due to the 50 cycle versus 60 cycle standard, but should be ok otherwise. Digital clocks will not be accurate.

Re: MOVING BACK - VOLTAGE QUESTION
 

Great information everyone, many thanks for your input. Treadmill and Bose definitely sound like they'll be in the container!
I'm really surprised that the TV might work in the UK...that's a bonus. Does it only work with a Freeview box, or would it work with a Sky or Virgin package? (I know I might sound ill informed, but we have been away 11 years so have lost touch with the TV 'lingo') :o

Cheers

Re: MOVING BACK - VOLTAGE QUESTION
 

Just a suggestion, but check very carefully that there definitely won't be a problem with your treadmill.

If for any reason it doesn't work, or the engine burns out, a broken treadmill could be very expensive to dispose of. Depending on the company policy, it might also cost extra to put into and take out of the container - heavy items like pianos can take several people to lift, are very difficult to manoeuvre, especially if you have to take them up stairs, and they likely won't let you or anyone you know help, because of legal liability with such a heavy item.

Re: MOVING BACK - VOLTAGE QUESTION
 

Before I emigrated over to the US, my American wife lived with me in the UK for a few years. I seem to remember we bought a couple of pretty large step down transformers from Maplins who were very helpful with their advice.

Re: MOVING BACK - VOLTAGE QUESTION
 

The TV should work with Sky or Virgin; Freeview gave us what we wanted for far less money, and now the HD boxes are even cheaper than they were in 2011.

Our TV wasn't anything special (a Vizio 32 inch), but I knew it would work as a giant monitor if all else failed. It was dual voltage, so just changed the plug. I've never regretted that decision.

Re: MOVING BACK - VOLTAGE QUESTION
 

I would take the opposite view. Unless the equipment is specifically designed to be dual voltage, it would usually be better to leave it behind. Otherwise you risk ending up with an item of junk that (as someone else says), will be expensive to dispose of. More importantly, you'll have missed an opportunity to donate it to someone else locally who might benefit from it.

Re: MOVING BACK - VOLTAGE QUESTION
 

We dumped a lot of larges stuff, including an old treadmill, but mainly because we knew we wouldn't have the space for it.

Small appliances can be expensive to replace, and those that aren't dual voltage have worked well. I first did this back in the early 90's, during my initial time in the UK, so didn't hesitate on this 2nd move.

Re: MOVING BACK - VOLTAGE QUESTION
 

It's only really worth using a step down transformer for small, expensive items that don't use a great deal of power.

For anything else the cost and hassle of transporting it, buy a suitably robust transformer and hoping it doesn't overheat/break just isn't worth it in the long run. Better to sell them off locally and use the money recouped to buy new when you get here.

Re: MOVING BACK - VOLTAGE QUESTION
 

I have a 42 inch Sony Bravia HD tv, its voltage is 110-240 will this work in the UK if I just change the plug? Its only a year old and would prefer to take it with me if it will work as I won't have a lot of extra cash once I move to buy something new.

Re: MOVING BACK - VOLTAGE QUESTION
 

If its power unit is rated for UK voltage (240v, 50hz) then all you will need to do is change the plug or use an adaptor. You will probably need to use a TV box of some description (Freeview, Virgin, Sky, etc..) as it probably won't be able to receive UK television through an aerial.

Re: MOVING BACK - VOLTAGE QUESTION
 

Watt?

Re: MOVING BACK - VOLTAGE QUESTION
 

I just checked with sony and they said it won't even work with a free view box. its not about the voltage its about the uk being a PAI format and not an NTCB (?) fomat.