cybersecretary

thanks for the tip Bob, will get husband onto that task. I am still learning how to get the DVD player to work!

Irn-bru

You will need one for the TV etc we had a transformer - for going from the UK to the US you need a STEP-UP transformer from (UK 240 - US 110) (if you look at the back of all your appliances and says 240/110 volts you don't need a transformer but as UK TVs aren't meant to be run here I very much doubt that it will say that) we bought a stepup and step down transformer combined as you can then take some US appliances back to the UK in the future.
Just remember to bring all the connections - scart leads etc with you.

If you look at the back of your TV you may get a wattage (power out) sticker on the back of your TV but if you want to have video and DVD/playstation going as well you have to factor that in...a 1000 wattage one should do you (covering TV and DVD) but if want to play extra safe a 2000 wattage one would easily cover you. Which would run a microwave, TV aren't that powerful regarding wattage output.

The other thing you should know is that our combined transformer when arrived was a universal one meaning it didn't have a socket on it for a UK plug so you will need to get an adapter plug to plug into the transformer, which you can get here in any travel shop. You will also need a multi plug strip for your TV and DVD etc to plug in.

You can get a transformer from about $50- $100.

It sounds complicated but honestly its not..if I can do it you can

PS Don't ask me why you need a step - up transformer when coming to the US from the UK as looking at it logically you would think you would need a step- down transformer as the US voltage is 110 and the UK voltage runs on 240 but you do!!

Bob

These days, you don't, most are dual voltage, it's the same electrics that are used for stuff sold in mainland europe which is mostly 110V as well.

conisby

Seems logical to me, its the power coming out of the wall socket that needs lifting from 110 to 240.

Ray

I just brought my slippers in a tescos' bag ..

I left behind a house full of old crap
10 years later I have another house full of newer crap ...

Irn-bru

not for TVs as I was talking about.

But as I said she might be lucky if she checks her back of her TV and DVD etc but still doubt it not many TV's can run on both 110 and 240v. Though it would depend on how old her TV is etc, but I know our very modern one wouldn't run here without a transformer.

But for computers and other stuff usually not a problem.

Irn-bru

just my non logical brain then

AshesUK

Can't you just get a multi-region dvd player and NTSC/PAL video recorder? We always had a NTSC/PAL video recorder when I was a kid as we were US Military so we had videos from all over!

Bob

yes, about $30...so it's probably just easier to buy over here anyway. VHS getting ntsc/pal is expensive though.

AshesUK

my husband has a large collection of UK tv shows on video so we'll have to invest in the expensive VHS recorder!

Big Vern

I'll put in a good word for EuroUSA as well -- they were superb. Packed everything for us with zero fuss, loaded up the container and off it went. Painless.

Everything went great, even though we'd originally asked them to send it to NC and we ended up in WA (a long story), they had no problems rerouting the container and didn't even charge us extra!

Not a single thing was damaged, and the unloaded team in Seattle were great as well. Every box was numbered and I got to check them off as they came out of the container. They put everything where we asked and even reassembled the beds for us. All we had to do was open the boxes and we were done.

I'd recommend them anytime.

SecretGarden

Hi again,
I'll try to keep it brief since I took up so much of your thread with our story.

Since the press they were moving was the first thing being put in the truck, nothing actually got loaded or moved that day. His business partner made sure to lock everything else up securely until we could figure out what to do and when he would need to get things shipped.

It ended up that he ended up flying about four weeks later with just some suitcases. When he got here he couldn't work right away because of his injuries and because of no work authorization anyway. We eventually had Excess Baggage ship his things (equipment included) about six months later. His business partner and his parents handled the on-site arrangements with them and they were really good.

Everything arrived just fine. That was three years ago and we're going strong!

~SG

Irn-bru

Like Bob said I'd buy it here. We had a multi-region DVD and multi region VHS recorder combined (was expensive) which we bought in the UK.

But found when moved here (we could have known sooner ) that ours only had a scart lead output which of course you can't plug into a US TV as they use component.
And of course as I said before this time we didn't bring our TV so my Dad got a good present!

But if you buy a multi-region player in the US they seem to have multi outlets, scart and component.

But you could, if your company is paying for the move, just bring your TV and DVD stuff over and view all your UK stuff on your UK TV..more awkward but cheaper.

AshesUK

We're not moving with a company, doing it all ourselves, so it's very much weight and size of transporting vs cost of replacing when we get there.

Great opportunity to dump all the stuff we don't really like/need and have a good clear out!

Paul S

most electronics designed these days will normally (although some still don't) have a switch mode power supply that will operated from around 85V ac right up to about 264V ac