moving uk to usa - keep our small appliances?
Oct 14th 2002, 6:49 am
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: moving uk to usa - keep our small appliances?
"Mark Brader" wrote in message
news:Gxqq9.8121$mG5.112092302@news-
.nnrp.ca...
> C.W. Tseng:
> > > Hi, we are moving from the uk to the us.
> > > We would like to know if we can buy voltage adaptors ...
> Keith Willshaw:
> > Yes you can buy such adapters but dont even think about it.
> > The TV wont receive us programs (NTSC no PAL)
> *And* the channels are different, and the power frequency is wrong.
> > the DVD wont play region 1 discs ...
> This is worth expanding on. DVDs *are* compatible worldwide, but
> for marketing reasons they can be artificially restricted to playing
> in a particular "region" only. For this to work the DVD player has
> to know what region it's in. Presumably you're bringing disks from
> Britain and expect to buy new ones in the US as well -- for this to
> work, you might need to buy *two* American DVD players, one of which
> will be told it's in Europe. Or maybe there's a better solution.
There is , in Britain multi-region players are avaialble
and there are hacks available for the DVD Roms
fitted to computers to allow them to read multi-region
discs.
I had the opposite problem ,bringing back a lot of US
DVD's
> You need to check this out someplace where people know more than in
> a travel newsgroup.
> --
A google search on "multi-region DVD" is a good start
Keith
news:Gxqq9.8121$mG5.112092302@news-
.nnrp.ca...
> C.W. Tseng:
> > > Hi, we are moving from the uk to the us.
> > > We would like to know if we can buy voltage adaptors ...
> Keith Willshaw:
> > Yes you can buy such adapters but dont even think about it.
> > The TV wont receive us programs (NTSC no PAL)
> *And* the channels are different, and the power frequency is wrong.
> > the DVD wont play region 1 discs ...
> This is worth expanding on. DVDs *are* compatible worldwide, but
> for marketing reasons they can be artificially restricted to playing
> in a particular "region" only. For this to work the DVD player has
> to know what region it's in. Presumably you're bringing disks from
> Britain and expect to buy new ones in the US as well -- for this to
> work, you might need to buy *two* American DVD players, one of which
> will be told it's in Europe. Or maybe there's a better solution.
There is , in Britain multi-region players are avaialble
and there are hacks available for the DVD Roms
fitted to computers to allow them to read multi-region
discs.
I had the opposite problem ,bringing back a lot of US
DVD's
> You need to check this out someplace where people know more than in
> a travel newsgroup.
> --
A google search on "multi-region DVD" is a good start
Keith
Oct 14th 2002, 7:43 am
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: moving uk to usa - keep our small appliances?
"Jon Bell" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article ,
> If I understand the situation correctly, under the terms of the DVD
> technology licensing agreements, it's illegal for manufacturers to sell
> players in one region that can play discs that are not coded for that
> region (or are not coded for "all regions").
> However, some players (oddly enough, they tend to be the really cheap ones
> from China) can be coaxed into a "region-free" mode, either by pressing a
> "secret" key combination on the remote, or by replacing the firmware that
> controls the player's functions (by burning modified firmware onto a
> CD-ROM and loading it into the player, the same way that the firmware is
> normally installed or upgraded).
> Officially, of course, the manufacturers disavow any support for such
> modifications, and performing them voids your warranty (unless you can
> undo them before submitting the player for warranty service!).
> One example that I'm familiar with is the Sampo family of DVD players,
> which can all be made region-free by various means. Not only that, all of
> them can play either PAL or NTSC discs, and convert the signal to the
> other format, depending on what your TV wants. See
> for details. I bought a Sampo player
> specifically so I could buy opera DVDs and the like from Britain,
> Australia, etc., which aren't available in the USA.
A high number of DVD players in Europe are capable of playing disks from any region
out of the box.
Even leading manufacturers like Philips allow you to do this by chaning the service
menu options
with a couple of button presses via the remote control.
Those that don't are usually easily 'chipped'.
Loz
news:[email protected]...
> In article ,
> If I understand the situation correctly, under the terms of the DVD
> technology licensing agreements, it's illegal for manufacturers to sell
> players in one region that can play discs that are not coded for that
> region (or are not coded for "all regions").
> However, some players (oddly enough, they tend to be the really cheap ones
> from China) can be coaxed into a "region-free" mode, either by pressing a
> "secret" key combination on the remote, or by replacing the firmware that
> controls the player's functions (by burning modified firmware onto a
> CD-ROM and loading it into the player, the same way that the firmware is
> normally installed or upgraded).
> Officially, of course, the manufacturers disavow any support for such
> modifications, and performing them voids your warranty (unless you can
> undo them before submitting the player for warranty service!).
> One example that I'm familiar with is the Sampo family of DVD players,
> which can all be made region-free by various means. Not only that, all of
> them can play either PAL or NTSC discs, and convert the signal to the
> other format, depending on what your TV wants. See
> for details. I bought a Sampo player
> specifically so I could buy opera DVDs and the like from Britain,
> Australia, etc., which aren't available in the USA.
A high number of DVD players in Europe are capable of playing disks from any region
out of the box.
Even leading manufacturers like Philips allow you to do this by chaning the service
menu options
with a couple of button presses via the remote control.
Those that don't are usually easily 'chipped'.
Loz
Oct 14th 2002, 4:25 pm
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: moving uk to usa - keep our small appliances?
Dump them and buy new here.
"cwtseng" wrote in message
news:442207.1034502113@britishexpats-
.com...
> Hi, we are moving from the uk to the us.
> We would like to know if we can buy voltage adaptors so that our small
> appliances (coffee maker, toaster, DVD player, TV, electric toothbrush,
> etc) which all run on 220-240v 50hz can be used in the us 120v 60hz. If
> so, up to how many watts, etc. Does anyone have any experience with
> this? Thanks very much!
> --
> Posted via http://britishexpats.com
"cwtseng" wrote in message
news:442207.1034502113@britishexpats-
.com...
> Hi, we are moving from the uk to the us.
> We would like to know if we can buy voltage adaptors so that our small
> appliances (coffee maker, toaster, DVD player, TV, electric toothbrush,
> etc) which all run on 220-240v 50hz can be used in the us 120v 60hz. If
> so, up to how many watts, etc. Does anyone have any experience with
> this? Thanks very much!
> --
> Posted via http://britishexpats.com
Oct 15th 2002, 2:50 am
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: moving uk to usa - keep our small appliances?
HI
Came from Liverpool to Canada
leave you electrical goods behind not worth shiping costs
TV diferant format digital DVD diferent
you have 50cycle we have 60 cycle power for the cost you will not get
you moneys worth
donot scimp on insurance cost I had $10000 damages and paid $4000 on
insurance try to get direct pack into a sea container
bye
cwtseng wrote:
> Hi, we are moving from the uk to the us.
> We would like to know if we can buy voltage adaptors so that our small
> appliances (coffee maker, toaster, DVD player, TV, electric toothbrush,
> etc) which all run on 220-240v 50hz can be used in the us 120v 60hz. If
> so, up to how many watts, etc. Does anyone have any experience with
> this? Thanks very much!
> --
> Posted via http://britishexpats.com
--
Remember to Smile it tells us you are happy
I respond to new posts mainly and rarly fallow up after
Therefor you must start a new thread for new questions
THANK YOU
Came from Liverpool to Canada
leave you electrical goods behind not worth shiping costs
TV diferant format digital DVD diferent
you have 50cycle we have 60 cycle power for the cost you will not get
you moneys worth
donot scimp on insurance cost I had $10000 damages and paid $4000 on
insurance try to get direct pack into a sea container
bye
cwtseng wrote:
> Hi, we are moving from the uk to the us.
> We would like to know if we can buy voltage adaptors so that our small
> appliances (coffee maker, toaster, DVD player, TV, electric toothbrush,
> etc) which all run on 220-240v 50hz can be used in the us 120v 60hz. If
> so, up to how many watts, etc. Does anyone have any experience with
> this? Thanks very much!
> --
> Posted via http://britishexpats.com
--
Remember to Smile it tells us you are happy
I respond to new posts mainly and rarly fallow up after
Therefor you must start a new thread for new questions
THANK YOU
Oct 15th 2002, 4:10 pm
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: moving uk to usa - keep our small appliances?
On Sun, 13 Oct 2002 09:41:53 +0000, cwtseng
wrote:
>Hi, we are moving from the uk to the us.
>We would like to know if we can buy voltage adaptors so that our small
>appliances (coffee maker, toaster, DVD player, TV, electric toothbrush,
>etc) which all run on 220-240v 50hz can be used in the us 120v 60hz. If
>so, up to how many watts, etc. Does anyone have any experience with
>this? Thanks very much!
My advice seems to be contrary to everyone else. I had a large number
of PAL VHS videos so I took the VCR to play them with. I did not bring
a TV but wish I had. Most small appliances are not worth bringing as
they can be easily replaced. An exception would be a kettle! the
underpowered things over here take twice as long to boil :-)
North American power systems are not single voltage like those in the
UK. Almost every house will have both 110V and 220V power supplies.
The frequency is wrong but I have not found anything modern which is
impacted yet - even clocks still keep time. We have UK-style socket
outlets at various locations around the house - no need for voltage
converters.
wrote:
>Hi, we are moving from the uk to the us.
>We would like to know if we can buy voltage adaptors so that our small
>appliances (coffee maker, toaster, DVD player, TV, electric toothbrush,
>etc) which all run on 220-240v 50hz can be used in the us 120v 60hz. If
>so, up to how many watts, etc. Does anyone have any experience with
>this? Thanks very much!
My advice seems to be contrary to everyone else. I had a large number
of PAL VHS videos so I took the VCR to play them with. I did not bring
a TV but wish I had. Most small appliances are not worth bringing as
they can be easily replaced. An exception would be a kettle! the
underpowered things over here take twice as long to boil :-)
North American power systems are not single voltage like those in the
UK. Almost every house will have both 110V and 220V power supplies.
The frequency is wrong but I have not found anything modern which is
impacted yet - even clocks still keep time. We have UK-style socket
outlets at various locations around the house - no need for voltage
converters.
Oct 15th 2002, 6:37 pm
#21
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: moving uk to usa - keep our small appliances?
Julian Robinson writes:
> North American power systems are not single voltage like those in the
> UK. Almost every house will have both 110V and 220V power supplies.
Nominally 120 and 240 V, actually. But some large buildings have 120 V
and 208 V instead.
> We have UK-style socket outlets at various locations around the house
> - no need for voltage converters.
Then special wiring must have been needed instead (thus, only possible
if you own the place). Normally 240 V is used only for a few appliances
(three in my house: dryer, stove, central air conditioner) and 240 V
wiring is provided only to the locations where those appliances go.
There is also a safety issue, though usually minor: your British ap-
pliance will be designed for one live 240 V wire and one neutral return
wire, not two live wires of opposite polarity making a total of 240 V.
In the event of a short-circuit, it might be possible for you to get a
shock that would not happen with the intended power supply.
--
Mark Brader "I like to think of [this] as self-explanatory."
Toronto "I hope *I* think of [it] that way."
[email protected] -- Donald Westlake: "Trust Me On This"
My text in this article is in the public domain.
> North American power systems are not single voltage like those in the
> UK. Almost every house will have both 110V and 220V power supplies.
Nominally 120 and 240 V, actually. But some large buildings have 120 V
and 208 V instead.
> We have UK-style socket outlets at various locations around the house
> - no need for voltage converters.
Then special wiring must have been needed instead (thus, only possible
if you own the place). Normally 240 V is used only for a few appliances
(three in my house: dryer, stove, central air conditioner) and 240 V
wiring is provided only to the locations where those appliances go.
There is also a safety issue, though usually minor: your British ap-
pliance will be designed for one live 240 V wire and one neutral return
wire, not two live wires of opposite polarity making a total of 240 V.
In the event of a short-circuit, it might be possible for you to get a
shock that would not happen with the intended power supply.
--
Mark Brader "I like to think of [this] as self-explanatory."
Toronto "I hope *I* think of [it] that way."
[email protected] -- Donald Westlake: "Trust Me On This"
My text in this article is in the public domain.
Oct 15th 2002, 6:37 pm
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: moving uk to usa - keep our small appliances?
On Tue, 15 Oct 2002 16:10:04 GMT, Julian Robinson
wrote:
>On Sun, 13 Oct 2002 09:41:53 +0000, cwtseng
>wrote:
>>Hi, we are moving from the uk to the us.
>>We would like to know if we can buy voltage adaptors so that our small
>>appliances (coffee maker, toaster, DVD player, TV, electric toothbrush,
>>etc) which all run on 220-240v 50hz can be used in the us 120v 60hz. If
>>so, up to how many watts, etc. Does anyone have any experience with
>>this? Thanks very much!
>My advice seems to be contrary to everyone else. I had a large number
>of PAL VHS videos so I took the VCR to play them with. I did not bring
>a TV but wish I had. Most small appliances are not worth bringing as
>they can be easily replaced. An exception would be a kettle! the
>underpowered things over here take twice as long to boil :-)
>North American power systems are not single voltage like those in the
>UK. Almost every house will have both 110V and 220V power supplies.
>The frequency is wrong but I have not found anything modern which is
>impacted yet - even clocks still keep time. We have UK-style socket
>outlets at various locations around the house - no need for voltage
>converters.
There was 220v available around the house? That would be rather
unusual. In general, only stove and clothes dryer outlets will be
220v.
(American mains voltage actually varies a bit, between 110v and 120v,
with 115v very common; this would put the full line at 230v, or aas
much as 240v.)
American electricity is distributed locally at 220v (230v, 240v)with a
center line so that 110v is obtained to either side of the center
line; typical house wiring will use one or the other side of this 220v
line for the 110v used in the house, prefgerably balancee with some
lines using one side and some the other typically.
I certanly wouldn't count on 220v being available in just any house.
Not without hiring an electrician, anyway.
************ DAVE HATUNEN ([email protected]) ***********
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
******* My typos are intentional copyright traps ******
wrote:
>On Sun, 13 Oct 2002 09:41:53 +0000, cwtseng
>wrote:
>>Hi, we are moving from the uk to the us.
>>We would like to know if we can buy voltage adaptors so that our small
>>appliances (coffee maker, toaster, DVD player, TV, electric toothbrush,
>>etc) which all run on 220-240v 50hz can be used in the us 120v 60hz. If
>>so, up to how many watts, etc. Does anyone have any experience with
>>this? Thanks very much!
>My advice seems to be contrary to everyone else. I had a large number
>of PAL VHS videos so I took the VCR to play them with. I did not bring
>a TV but wish I had. Most small appliances are not worth bringing as
>they can be easily replaced. An exception would be a kettle! the
>underpowered things over here take twice as long to boil :-)
>North American power systems are not single voltage like those in the
>UK. Almost every house will have both 110V and 220V power supplies.
>The frequency is wrong but I have not found anything modern which is
>impacted yet - even clocks still keep time. We have UK-style socket
>outlets at various locations around the house - no need for voltage
>converters.
There was 220v available around the house? That would be rather
unusual. In general, only stove and clothes dryer outlets will be
220v.
(American mains voltage actually varies a bit, between 110v and 120v,
with 115v very common; this would put the full line at 230v, or aas
much as 240v.)
American electricity is distributed locally at 220v (230v, 240v)with a
center line so that 110v is obtained to either side of the center
line; typical house wiring will use one or the other side of this 220v
line for the 110v used in the house, prefgerably balancee with some
lines using one side and some the other typically.
I certanly wouldn't count on 220v being available in just any house.
Not without hiring an electrician, anyway.
************ DAVE HATUNEN ([email protected]) ***********
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
******* My typos are intentional copyright traps ******
Oct 17th 2002, 4:15 am
#23
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: moving uk to usa - keep our small appliances?
> There was 220v available around the
> house? That would be rather unusual.
> In general, only stove and clothes
> dryer outlets will be 220v.
If you have an electric clothes dryer, you probably have an electric
water heater as well, which would be 220V.
Larger window air conditioners are typically 200V. Newer construction
is more likely to have central air, as opposed to window units.
If the house has a shop, there would be 220V to the arc welder. This is
more common in suburbia or in rural places than in the central city.
--
http://paulding.net Many useful utilities
Some people don't believe in violence,
but I've actually *seen* it....
> house? That would be rather unusual.
> In general, only stove and clothes
> dryer outlets will be 220v.
If you have an electric clothes dryer, you probably have an electric
water heater as well, which would be 220V.
Larger window air conditioners are typically 200V. Newer construction
is more likely to have central air, as opposed to window units.
If the house has a shop, there would be 220V to the arc welder. This is
more common in suburbia or in rural places than in the central city.
--
http://paulding.net Many useful utilities
Some people don't believe in violence,
but I've actually *seen* it....
Oct 22nd 2002, 11:13 pm
#24
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 114
Re: moving uk to usa - keep our small appliances?
Dump all your small electrical apps. and buy them at Target or WalMart stores...they're the least expensive. Aloha!
Oct 23rd 2002, 2:24 pm
#25
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: moving uk to usa - keep our small appliances?
That's good advice. Here are some prices at out
local Walmart in McKinney, Texas :
13 " Color TV $69 USD
Toaster, iron, coffeemaker about $11 USD each
19" Color TV $100- $120 USD depending on brand
VCR $40USD - $70 USD depending on brand
DVD $59 USD
I don't know the prices in the UK, but electronic stuff
here is very reasonable by US standards....... Lots of
variety and lots of discount electronic stores....
Good luck,
Andy
"Stacy Shinsel" wrote in message
news:452049.1035328393@britishexpats-
.com...
> Dump all your small electrical apps. and buy them at Target or WalMart
> stores...they're the least expensive. Aloha!
> --
local Walmart in McKinney, Texas :
13 " Color TV $69 USD
Toaster, iron, coffeemaker about $11 USD each
19" Color TV $100- $120 USD depending on brand
VCR $40USD - $70 USD depending on brand
DVD $59 USD
I don't know the prices in the UK, but electronic stuff
here is very reasonable by US standards....... Lots of
variety and lots of discount electronic stores....
Good luck,
Andy
"Stacy Shinsel" wrote in message
news:452049.1035328393@britishexpats-
.com...
> Dump all your small electrical apps. and buy them at Target or WalMart
> stores...they're the least expensive. Aloha!
> --
Oct 23rd 2002, 7:09 pm
#26
Corpsicle
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 648
Re: moving uk to usa - keep our small appliances?
Some DVD players have multiregion compatibility, either via their on screen display menu, or through a series of keypresses carried out on the remote. Do a search on Google.com with your player model name, and multiregion. Failing that, there are places that can chip the player to make it region free.
You're best off just buying new electronics when you get here though, they are very cheap, DVD players go for as little as $70.
You're best off just buying new electronics when you get here though, they are very cheap, DVD players go for as little as $70.
