UK electrical appliances in the US

[Laura+Tom 2]

Oh dear. However I bought my travel hair dryer from an American base here in the UK so it may work. I can always buy one though if not, you're both right about them being cheap. I once went to Prague and wondered why my hair dryer was sooo hot. Turns out I changed the voltage over (same travel hairdryer) and apparently in the Czech Republic you don't need to. Felt a bit of an idiot.

The GHD's automatically change voltage when I plug them in so they'll be ok.

Edited July 11, 2008 by LauraUK

[SMB x2 0]

Hair dryers seem to be especially problematic travelling either way. I brought a US one to the UK, and when I plugged it in (with the converter of course) and turned it on a flame shot out of the back of the hairdryer. And then it was toast.

So I got one from Woolie's and when I brought it back to the US and plugged it in w/ a British converter it could barely blow hot...or blow at all.

So yes...hairdryers...don't bother traveling with one!

It's the voltage thing. The one you bought in the US had a motor rated for ~110V, but it was fed 240V in the UK. Conversely, the one bought in the UK was rated for 240V so when it was plugged in to a US socket, it was spinning slower than it ought to.

Here's what you're looking for on the appliance somewhere:

My old monitor here works on either US 110V or UK 240V, with a change of cable. From what I've seen of hunting around the house, appliances are far less likely to be dual voltage. Computer equipment is more likely, and I'd bet this NEC monitor was probably on sale outside the UK so they made a single model.

Stuff which has a power adaptor (like a laptop) means you're even more in luck. Even if the power adaptor can't cope with 110V, the laptop doesn't care what ultimately feeds it power. Replace it with a US equivalent and you're away. I did this with my Nintendo DS, which is a UK model but will charge just fine with a US power adaptor.

I've got a sneaky feeling I've posted this before, but I've only just woken up so bear with me

Stu

[ginger1981 0]

Hair dryers seem to be especially problematic travelling either way. I brought a US one to the UK, and when I plugged it in (with the converter of course) and turned it on a flame shot out of the back of the hairdryer. And then it was toast.

So I got one from Woolie's and when I brought it back to the US and plugged it in w/ a British converter it could barely blow hot...or blow at all.

So yes...hairdryers...don't bother traveling with one!

It's the voltage thing. The one you bought in the US had a motor rated for ~110V, but it was fed 240V in the UK. Conversely, the one bought in the UK was rated for 240V so when it was plugged in to a US socket, it was spinning slower than it ought to.

Here's what you're looking for on the appliance somewhere:

My old monitor here works on either US 110V or UK 240V, with a change of cable. From what I've seen of hunting around the house, appliances are far less likely to be dual voltage. Computer equipment is more likely, and I'd bet this NEC monitor was probably on sale outside the UK so they made a single model.

Stuff which has a power adaptor (like a laptop) means you're even more in luck. Even if the power adaptor can't cope with 110V, the laptop doesn't care what ultimately feeds it power. Replace it with a US equivalent and you're away. I did this with my Nintendo DS, which is a UK model but will charge just fine with a US power adaptor.

I've got a sneaky feeling I've posted this before, but I've only just woken up so bear with me

Stu

Thanks for the info...but I just don't bother with the hair appliances these days. One of the advantages of very short hair!

[truebrit 4]

wow. this is an old one...but worth a bump up...(found it skipping through links in the UK wiki)

bet most of the people posting here have already found out if their toaster, hairdryers and GHD's work over there...lol

my hair dryer didn't work...

my GHD's worked fine, with a travel adaptor though.

i felt i needed to add to this, as it is a pretty descriptive thread about UK/USA power conversions and such...

for a pc to travel...maybe invest in a new power supply (approx £40/$100) rather than a new pc...mine which i have here was home built in the USA...lives now in the UK, landing here with its USA power supply unit...with a switcher on it for 110/240 this eventually went pop...i smoke...it died of passive smoking i guess...i replaced it with a new power supply which will also work fine when it returns to the USA...(if it too hasn't died an early death)

most laptops are built for travel...mine also is American (dell) works fine over here though is currently only used by my mum to play solitaire....

the one thing i was gutted about leaving, because i 'was' really so thick when it comes to electrical things...my separates stereo...i loved it...cost a fortune and i miss it dearly...it wasn't until i landed over there that i realised that each piece would plug in and work in a USA socket...no problems...i had it running in the UK on two USA 6 gang adaptors with UK plugs, it never occurred to me....someone got a bargain when i left...

anyways....just my input...

[USAUKHUNNY 0]

I brought back from the UK a hair dryer, straightener and electric razor. The straightener works great. The dryer was barely working. And, the electric razor did not even charge up enought to use! I guess it all depends on what type of electric equipment you bring over from the UK. I am keeping them for when I fly back to visit my inlaws.

[debbylyn 0]

Barry had several UK electrics such as computer, stereo, shaver, cell phone, and tools...they all work, charge nicely on US 220 circuit we had installed with UK power strips adapted for the US outlets.

[CoffeeMuse 5]

Most US houses (not apartments) that I have seen usually have in certain parts of the house wiring for 220 plugs. These are not something people generally plug things into other than what they are set up for, which are the Stove/Range in the kitchen, and sometimes cloths dryers have a plug set up for 220 where ever the laundry is set up. These options generally do not help for things like stereo's or hair appliances because of location but in some cases it might be worth looking at running a heavy duty extension cable say, to a stereo or something. More often that not it wouldn't be practical. There may be rare cases where it might be worth having an electrician run a 220 outlet in a US house if certain items are "must have's".

Another factor besides the plug sockets and voltage differnces is the alternating current frequency, which may matter for some electrical things. In the US the house power uses 60hz or 60 cycles per second alternating current, whereas in Europe it's 50 hz or cycles per second. My guess is the UK is the same as Germany for type of power (ie 50 hz). Of course German wall plugs are a different shape than the UK or US from what I've seen.

Be aware that some appliances, especially bathroom appliances like hair dryers, curlers, electric shavers etc, are often sold with the ability to change power settings for travelers. I had an electric shaver which I could flip a switch on it depending on 110 volts in the US or 220 in Germany or other countries. I simply added a plug adaptor so it would fit the wall socket and I was good to go as long as I selected the correct voltage for the country. Hair dryers often have a switch like this but you have to check when you buy them. This feature often doesn't make the hair dryer any more expensive either.

I work on computers in the US and I've noticed for desktop computers, nearly all of them have a switch on the back power supply that can be changed to 220 volts from US 110. Thus, all you need in that case is to remove the power cable that fits US sockets and replace it with one that fits UK sockets and flip the switch. For laptops, you can probably buy a different power plug that goes into it that is made for whatever voltage it will be operated. Monitors have a built in power supply so those would be a different story - and need to have a converter or be switchable.

Of course in many cases it may not be cost effective to ship over larger electrical items from the UK to the US, and many can be replaced at low cost here in the US.