liam.mccaffrey
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| posted on 30/7/08 at 09:53 PM |
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USA to UK electricity
Well I'm being sent home from the states soon and I'm wondering what electrical kit is worth bringing and what I should leave behind. I
presume I can use some kind of transformers/converter but won't the frequency difference affect some things and not others?
If possible I want to bring it all back because everything was so bloody cheap over here and I already own all the kit.
Also there is the NTSC/PAL thing as well, anyone know anything about that?
I have
Big CHEAP awesome quality LCD tv
American PS3
Giant American Fridge with all the ice making and stuff
Awesome dryer and washer set (which I think will run off 240, but will the freq make a difference??)
Then theres all my tools, mostly corded DeWalt stuff.
Pilar Drill
Lathe
Lincoln Mig, which I think will run off 240 too, but will the freq make a difference??)
Standalone Aircon Unit
Could I take a single phase and run a 115 circuit round my garage or does it not work like that???
Any help greatly appreciated
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Ben_Copeland
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| posted on 30/7/08 at 10:08 PM |
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You can buy 240v to 110v transforms cheap enough now. 3Kva or 5Kva.
PS3 is no problem... just change the plug to UK. Transformer is universal. I have US PS3 in UK.
I think as long as its all 240v then it should be ok! I've not tried LCDs fom US tho
Ben
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Macbeast
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| posted on 30/7/08 at 10:12 PM |
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Generally, the frequency shouldn't make much difference, if any. For your tools you could get one of the 110V safety isolating transformers as
used on building sites.
Difficult to say about the TV - assuming it has AV inputs you could run it off a Freeview box to get over the different transmission standards but the
PAL / NTSC thing might pose a problem unless you have RGB in. I know that in UK a PAL set can often accept an NTSC signal, but I doubt if a (cheap 
) set bought in the States would do that in reverse.
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blakep82
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| posted on 30/7/08 at 10:12 PM |
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we've got a fair bit of US stuff, never noticed any problems with frequency
________________________
IVA manual link http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1081997083
don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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Volvorsport
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| posted on 30/7/08 at 11:09 PM |
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i 'thought' you were going to say you can import electricity from the states because of the recent price hike !
www.dbsmotorsport.co.uk
getting dirty under a bus
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WanchaiWarrior
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| posted on 31/7/08 at 12:38 AM |
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quote:
PS3 is no problem... just change the plug to UK. Transformer is universal. I have US PS3 in UK.
PS3 games are region free, however blue ray movies are region locked. So depends if you watch many blue rays or not.
[Edited on 31-7-2008 by WanchaiWarrior]
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Ben_Copeland
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| posted on 31/7/08 at 06:00 AM |
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Some blu-rays aren't locked. plus it's still cheaper to buy blu-rays from america and have them shipped over!
There are lists of blu-rays that are region free.
Plus seeing as he's already got a ps3 financially theres no reason to buy a UK one.
Ben
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andyharding
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| posted on 31/7/08 at 06:49 AM |
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High end electronics that use a switch mode power supply can usually just be plugged in and will work fine i.e. computers. Check the label on the
inlet (all devices must have them by law) it will say something like Input 80-300v 50-60Hz in which case it can be run on either. For stuff you
can't run on 240v you can as mentioned get a 110v transformer. The only problem will be with things that use the input frequency as an expected
constant i.e. cheap clocks and AC electric motors. The Clocks will lose their accuracy and be useless. The motors in theory should just spin slower
but still work ok.
Are you a Mac user or a retard?
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mr henderson
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| posted on 31/7/08 at 07:29 AM |
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Series motors (those with brushes) will be ok at any mains frequency, some even at DC. So power tolls will mostly be OK.
Induction motors, those that don't have brushes, these are larger for a given power output than series motors but run a lot quieter. They
attempt to run at the mains frequency but are unable to, the speed they achieve will depend on the load.
In the UK 50Hz these run at just under 3000 rpm for two pole and just under 1500 for four pole motors they are often found in fridges (because of the
noise and because the fridge motor is enclosed) and larger versions of machines such as sawbenches etc
If the induction motor is designed to run on 60Hz as in the USA, then obviously they are going to run correspondingly slower over here and that may or
may not be OK.With a fridge it won't be
John
[Edited on 31/7/08 by mr henderson]
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eznfrank
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| posted on 31/7/08 at 08:01 AM |
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Aside from all that won't the actual cost of getting it here outweight the savings? I can't imagine it's particularly cheap?
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liam.mccaffrey
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| posted on 31/7/08 at 02:05 PM |
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i thought some one would bring that up,
I am having a shipping container which thankfully im not paying for
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Fred W B
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| posted on 31/7/08 at 02:40 PM |
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I take it you are looking at stocking up on
aluminium radiators
Wilwood brake parts
Plastic fuel cells
Aeroquip style fittings and hose
etc
etc
Look as the "summit racing" website
http://store.summitracing.com/
Cheers
Fred W B
[Edited on 31/7/08 by Fred W B]
You can do it quickly. You can do it cheap. You can do it right. – Pick any two.
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scootz
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| posted on 31/7/08 at 02:57 PM |
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Are you taking orders Liam? 
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liam.mccaffrey
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| posted on 31/7/08 at 05:01 PM |
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unfortunately I have already been inundated with requests for all manner of things. so much so that I have had to tell everyone that I will not be
able to take ANY orders for anything
sorry guys its just easier that way
@Fred
I regularly spend my salary many times over in my mind on the summit website
[Edited on 31/7/08 by liam.mccaffrey]
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