Be grateful for some help with a problem that I/we have. My daughter is off
to the US soon and she wants to take some of her electrical appliances with
her - laptop, hairdryer, etc - and we have no idea of what will work over
there. Am I right in my belief that the supply is 120 Vac at 60Hz? The
laptop power supply states that it will cope with any input from 100V to
240Vac, so that will probably be ok, but I was wondering about the rest -
and also about the appliance plugs, are the UK/US ones compatible, and if
not what sort of adaptor is required? Any advice/information on this topic
would be ver much appreciated.

On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 11:03:33 +0100, "Barney"
wrote:

Be grateful for some help with a problem that I/we have. My daughter is off
to the US soon and she wants to take some of her electrical appliances with
her - laptop, hairdryer, etc - and we have no idea of what will work over
there. Am I right in my belief that the supply is 120 Vac at 60Hz? The
laptop power supply states that it will cope with any input from 100V to
240Vac, so that will probably be ok, but I was wondering about the rest -
and also about the appliance plugs, are the UK/US ones compatible, and if
not what sort of adaptor is required? Any advice/information on this topic
would be ver much appreciated.


The items which can accept 110-250VAC 50-60Hz will work, but
you will need a plug adaptor. See a travel or electronics
store - they aren't expensive. A quick google found
http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/s/880...s+11690p1.html
but I'm sure you'll find better ones locally.

Unless they are labelled as such, leave them at home. It's
unlikely that high-current devices, like hairdryers,
electric jugs, electric cooking appliances will be suitable.

It's cheaper - and safer - to buy new ones in the States.


Cheers, Alan, Australia

In article ,
Barney wrote:
Be grateful for some help with a problem that I/we have. My daughter is
off to the US soon and she wants to take some of her electrical
appliances with her - laptop, hairdryer, etc - and we have no idea of
what will work over there. Am I right in my belief that the supply is
120 Vac at 60Hz? The laptop power supply states that it will cope with
any input from 100V to 240Vac, so that will probably be ok, but I was
wondering about the rest - and also about the appliance plugs, are the
UK/US ones compatible, and if not what sort of adaptor is required? Any
advice/information on this topic would be ver much appreciated.

Many things you might travel with - laptop, hairdrier, toothbrush, etc may
already be multi-voltage. Check the label.

Other appliances will need a step-up transformer to work from 110v, and
these would be expensive for a moderate current appliance, so best to
leave at home and replace in the US.

--
*Two wrongs are only the beginning *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Barney" wrote in message
...
Be grateful for some help with a problem that I/we have. My daughter is
off
to the US soon and she wants to take some of her electrical appliances
with
her - laptop, hairdryer, etc - and we have no idea of what will work over
there. Am I right in my belief that the supply is 120 Vac at 60Hz?

Fundamentally, yes. Actually it's a split 220 volt supply, but the outlets
look different and supply 120 VAC. Radio Shack (Tandy to you) have adaptors
for plugs. Most things she wants (hairdryer etc) can be bought new for $10
each.
--
N

"NSM" wrote in message
news:8pT6e.30148$jR3.26964@edtnps84...

"Barney" wrote in message
...
Be grateful for some help with a problem that I/we have. My daughter is
off
to the US soon and she wants to take some of her electrical appliances
with
her - laptop, hairdryer, etc - and we have no idea of what will work
over
there. Am I right in my belief that the supply is 120 Vac at 60Hz?

Fundamentally, yes. Actually it's a split 220 volt supply, but the outlets
look different and supply 120 VAC. Radio Shack (Tandy to you) have
adaptors
for plugs. Most things she wants (hairdryer etc) can be bought new for $10
each.
--
N

Thanks for that - and also to everyone else for their help and advice.

"Barney" wrote in message
...

Thanks for that - and also to everyone else for their help and advice.

To look up sample prices online see http://www.riteaid.com/ or
http://www.walmart.com/ as good starting points.
--
N

"Barney" wrote in message
...
Be grateful for some help with a problem that I/we have. My daughter is
off
to the US soon and she wants to take some of her electrical appliances
with
her - laptop, hairdryer, etc - and we have no idea of what will work over
there. Am I right in my belief that the supply is 120 Vac at 60Hz? The
laptop power supply states that it will cope with any input from 100V to
240Vac, so that will probably be ok, but I was wondering about the rest -
and also about the appliance plugs, are the UK/US ones compatible, and if
not what sort of adaptor is required? Any advice/information on this topic
would be ver much appreciated.



The laptop will work just fine, the hairdryer it would definitly be easier
to just buy a cheap one over here. We have 120v 60Hz and the plugs are
*very* different than UK plugs. You can get transformers to run low powered
stuff but most things are easier to just buy over here and sell or give away
when she goes home, electronics tend to be quite a lot cheaper here than in
the UK anyway.

Most US houses do have 240V 60Hz available but it's usually not in the most
convenient of locations. Behind the electric stove, clothes dryer, and
occasionally out in the garage.

On Tue, 12 Apr 2005 11:03:33 +0100, "Barney"
wrote:

Be grateful for some help with a problem that I/we have. My daughter is off
to the US soon and she wants to take some of her electrical appliances with
her - laptop, hairdryer, etc - and we have no idea of what will work over
there. Am I right in my belief that the supply is 120 Vac at 60Hz? The
laptop power supply states that it will cope with any input from 100V to
240Vac, so that will probably be ok, but I was wondering about the rest -
and also about the appliance plugs, are the UK/US ones compatible, and if
not what sort of adaptor is required? Any advice/information on this topic
would be ver much appreciated.


I did something similar, moved from NZ to the USA for about 5 yrs.
Some items (with SMPSs) will work with 90-260vac so that's no problem
other than changing the connector or using an adapter. It may be
prudent to teach here how to rewire up a plug and equip her with a few
tools. (She may already know this, so sorry if she does, I don't mean
to patronise anybody!)

I also took a small 250va transformer, but only used it with one bit
of test equipment. Most small appliances like hairdryers and kitchen
gadgets are so cheap in the US, that it's easier to get new ones in
WalMart. You can also pick them up in tag or yard sales (UK
parlance=car boot sale, roughly) for almost nothing.

Barry Lennox