Electrical appliances
Sep 23rd 2004, 2:27 am
#16
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: Electrical appliances
Originally Posted by USBound
Oh.. and regarding the power convertor/voltage changers.. you will find that they get VERY VERY hot .....
.... and often supply slightly more voltage that you require. Unless you opt for a very expensive one that is.
Sep 23rd 2004, 2:46 am
#17
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Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Electrical appliances
Originally Posted by fatman
Okay I was wondering if anyone could help me (again) despite my girlfriend trying to get me to sell my playstation before I moved, my brother begging me to just let him have it. I stubbornly held on to it and brought it here (I also need something that will play my collection of English DVD's). However getting some sort of English to American socket adapter that would let me plug it in seems to be very hard, has anyone else had this problem. perhaps they couldn't bear to part with their favourite hairdryer or something, if so what did you do?. Would you need to buy some sort of appliance that adjusts voltage or whatnot.
also, has anyone noticed that American pints are smaller than English ones?
also, has anyone noticed that American pints are smaller than English ones?
That to convert the video signal, power should be fine, get a plug adaptor...
as for pints, yeah, annoying that ain't it, and US imperial is smaller, so the pint is a lot small than the pint is anyway...
Sep 23rd 2004, 3:10 am
#18
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Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Electrical appliances
Originally Posted by Pulaski
Uh? Is that anything like a mint imperial? 
anyway, just give me a litre anyday, that doesn't change...
Sep 23rd 2004, 5:30 am
#19
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Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Chicago, Il
Posts: 1,320
Re: Electrical appliances
Originally Posted by Pulaski
It depends what you mean by "expensive", DVD Overseas will sell you a 2KW voltage stabilizing transformer for $110 plus shipping, which is a bargain compared to a good hifi, and 500W one for $45, but I'd agree it's probably not worth buying a transformer for it for a garden-variety gaming machine.
what I meant by this was... unless you get a voltage convertor that ACTUALLY handles the rate at which the power is delivered then what you actually get is roughly 20% more voltage than was intended.
so... a power supply that outputs 12V on a UK power source (240V @ 50Hz) would be getting 240V @ 60Hz here thus outputting 13.2V, I have tried 5 different units here (all the ones below $100) and they ALL do this. For most applications its not a problem... for my laptop.. it was
Sep 23rd 2004, 6:49 am
#20
The fattest member
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Joined: Jul 2004
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 496
Re: Electrical appliances
Thank's for all yer help everyone, If I had known it was going to be so complicated and expensive I'd have sold me PS2 back in blighty, oh well it gives me the excuse I need to get a gamecube, and I do need to play the new mariokart...
Sep 23rd 2004, 9:56 am
#21
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1
Re: Electrical appliances
Simple question - I am moving from UK to US. Will my TV and video work in US? i can use adaptors for power but was wondering about reception of channels ?
Sep 23rd 2004, 1:19 pm
#22
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Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Chicago, Il
Posts: 1,320
Re: Electrical appliances
Originally Posted by 6ka
Simple question - I am moving from UK to US. Will my TV and video work in US? i can use adaptors for power but was wondering about reception of channels ?
Sep 23rd 2004, 2:10 pm
#23
Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Bath, UK ---> Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 371
Re: Electrical appliances
Originally Posted by USBound
what I meant by this was... unless you get a voltage convertor that ACTUALLY handles the rate at which the power is delivered then what you actually get is roughly 20% more voltage than was intended.
so... a power supply that outputs 12V on a UK power source (240V @ 50Hz) would be getting 240V @ 60Hz here thus outputting 13.2V, I have tried 5 different units here (all the ones below $100) and they ALL do this. For most applications its not a problem... for my laptop.. it was
so... a power supply that outputs 12V on a UK power source (240V @ 50Hz) would be getting 240V @ 60Hz here thus outputting 13.2V, I have tried 5 different units here (all the ones below $100) and they ALL do this. For most applications its not a problem... for my laptop.. it was
Sep 23rd 2004, 2:17 pm
#24
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Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Chicago, Il
Posts: 1,320
Re: Electrical appliances
Originally Posted by James Box
Most European electronics are rated for 220-240V and 50-60Hz. I'm surprised that a laptop (something you'd expect to take abroad) had a problem with it.
I checked the output voltage from the power supply, it was supposed to output 19.4V (strange I know) but WAS actually outputting more like 23V. First off I thought my meter was wrong. but nope.. Verified it with other power supplies all giving off the correct values.
the laptop basically overheated in a matter of minutes
Sep 23rd 2004, 2:39 pm
#25
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Location: MA, USA
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Re: Electrical appliances
Originally Posted by fatman
Thank's for all yer help everyone, If I had known it was going to be so complicated and expensive I'd have sold me PS2 back in blighty, oh well it gives me the excuse I need to get a gamecube, and I do need to play the new mariokart...
Sep 23rd 2004, 2:40 pm
#26
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Re: Electrical appliances
Originally Posted by USBound
Buy one 10x bigger here from the proceeds.
Sep 23rd 2004, 3:26 pm
#27
Can't Wait To Get There
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: Foggy CA
Posts: 47
Re: Electrical appliances
Originally Posted by Bob
Plus the weight makes it silly...
Sep 23rd 2004, 3:49 pm
#28
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Bristol, UK and Morehead City, N Carolina
Posts: 269
Re: Electrical appliances
When I get to NC for the last time (yehaa!) next month I will be taking two Sunpower ("power you can trust") 100VA stepup transformers for my wonderful HP printer/scanner /copier and a small appliance or two. I have Sunpower's USA-UK transformer here in Bristol and have been using it for yonks with no problems at all. The transformers are £29.99 each from Maplins but my son works there so I got them 1/2 price (smug!). I have a DELL 1100 laptop I bought in the USA and the power supply is an automatic transformer so to run it in the UK all I needed was a plug/socket adapter. Again no problem even tho the Dell transformer gets quite warm.
Sep 23rd 2004, 4:41 pm
#29
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Posts: 92,170
Re: Electrical appliances
Originally Posted by pedro66
For your laptop problem try here http://ebay.xppassport.com/ look in clearence at the Juice 70 what make of laptop are you having issues with?
Sep 23rd 2004, 5:34 pm
#30
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 496
Re: Electrical appliances
Originally Posted by Bob
Wait till the summer and get the new ps3 or xbox2
Is all that coming out so soon? I've only just moved here to be with my girlfriend, I guess she won't be seeing so much of me next year....