pipsi

I'm moving to Florida in August. I'm currently planning on bringing my iPhone, laptop, computer monitor, PS3, and bluray player. All operate on 100-240v and 50-60hz. I have a 52inch 3D tv which I've only had for a year. I've been told mixed things by various different people. Some say it will work others say it won't. Is really like to bring it with me, if not it'll probably go in my sister's spare room under the proviso that I get it back when I return to the UK. Has anyone taken flat screen TVs? Will mine work?

IlAlfie

Most things we left behind, dispersed among friends. Not sure now we can ask for things back...We brought over one or two items but they ended up collecting dust in a cupboard. We've thrown everything out now (after 3 years) that wasn't a laptop.

veryfunny

Got a transformer, all works fine.

Uncle_Bob

Left them behind as I only came over with just two suitcases.
The only electrical thing I brought was my battery Braun voice controlled alarm clock that I got when i was 11, its still on my nightstand today.

winston_1

The general rule is don't take TVs across the Atlantic, either way.
Can your TV run on 120 volts? If not you need a transformer or voltage converter. It certainly won't have an ASTC decoder but could work with a set top box.

Your bluray player probably won't play US disks for region coding reasons but will still play UK disks. A US player won't play UK disks so you will probably end up with 2 players. Multi region bluray players are like hens teeth.

pipsi

I would need to buy a transformer for the tv, I was more concerned as to whether it would tune into a picture which from what you've said sounds like it won't. It seems like it'll probably be easier just to leave it with my sister.

As far as DVDs and blurays go; I plan on taking my British DVDs and blurays with me, hence the plan to take the bluray player. I probably should have made that clear in my post. Also on the topic of region coding; I've noticed a lot of blurays nowadays seem to be multi regional. Probably something the film companies have decided to do to crack down on pirating. Of the 30 or so blurays I have, I'd say two thirds have the AB and C region codes on the back of the box. So even though the player is locked to region B, most discs will play in any machine. Although I can see myself buying a second machine when I get out there for single region discs and also US DVDs.

kevntrace

The TV would probably work with a set top box. The days of PAL and NTSC differences are long behind us thankfully. You can get multi-region Blu-ray players fairly easily. For some you can buy add-ons that plug into the circuit board to make them multi-region (that's what I did with my Oppo player).

But to be honest, electronics are so cheap out here, I wouldn't bother bringing stuff from the UK. Just get new stuff over here and pay attention to multi voltage and multi formats. Take a look at overseasappliances.com for some ideas.

Steve2.0

On the topic of TV, we brought our Sony TV over as well as a Sony surround amp both work perfectly running off a $70 transformer (1.5 years so far). TV is connected to a cable box as obviously it won't pick anything up on it's tuners.
Shipped over all my PC equipment some of which is running off a small (cheaper) step-up transformer, others I just bough cheap replacement 110v transformers through ebay.
Didn't bring over anything that had a 220V AC motor so no kitchen equipment, power tools etc.
For lamps we found most used the common Edison screw fitting so only needed a plug and bulb change, one nice lamp had a bayonet fitting but found a bayonet to Edison converter on ebay for a few dollars.

Steve

pipsi

My main reason for wanting to bring the tv was because it's a 52 inch 3D HD tv so wasn't cheap when I bought it. I'll likely only get half what I paid for it if I sold it before moving. With moving costs I doubt I'll be able to afford the same again once I'm stateside, even with cheaper prices.

pipsi

Can you explain the lamp situation a little more? I have a lovely old fashioned desk lamp, the sort with a green glass shade and brass stem. I really want to take it with me. I had thought (possibly foolishly) that it would simply require a UK - US adapter for it to work. The other lamps I have in the UK are of the ikea variety and will just be given away to anyone who wants them, they're easily replaced for not much money. However the green lamp has a lot of sentimental value (it's been my desk lamp throughout my degrees) and I had hoped to take it with me.

Pulaski

If you bring a lamp and plug it in to an adapter, it will only glow weakly, because it is designed for 240v and the US is 120v, assuming the impedance of the bulb is constant, it will only draw half the power. You need to replace the bulb with one designed for 120v.

The difficulty with this is that US bulbs are almost always screw-in bulbs, non the ones that are most common in the UK where you push the bulb in and make a partial turn to engage the pins. In a desk lamb there may not be room for a screw-bayonet adapter, and for such a specialist application it may not be possible to find a replacement bulb holder for the lamp, but that is where I'd start looking.

If all else fails, bring a box of bulbs and buy a smaller transformer for it- I'd recommend one rated at twice the power of the bulb, say a 200w transformer for a 100w bulb.

pipsi

Excellent explanation thank you!!

bahree

We have our stuff in storage (am currently on secondment in Asia). Instead of repatriating back to London, we heading to Seattle.

Some of the things we don't want to take and does not make sense (e.g. Plasma TV, Printer, Small Appliances (and some old furniture).

What are the rules if I want to throw them away? Do I call the council? Is there a Tip that I can go to? Can I pay someone to come and pick it up and get rid of me? Charities?

Appreciate any suggestions.

Many thanks.

DJElectricDaddy

I had a very nice Systemdek turntable and my guitar effects pedal board that I brought with me that I had to get a 220v 60hz power converter to use. But when I first got here it played records (about 200 I had shipped over) at a high pitch. Got a new belt gear drive with a smaller diameter and it plays fine now. At least it did, it sits on my floor unplugged jealously looking at my iPod. The pedal board is still in use, over 25 years old. Good old BOSS.

DJElectricDaddy

Depending where you are, you could try freecycle.org to give away your stuff without it going in a landfill.