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Revision as of 21:43, 17 March 2022

This page describes how you can use 120V rated US devices in the UK, where the mais is 240V.

Summary

People moving from US or Canada to the UK or Europe sometimes bring portable appliances with them which they would like to use in their new country of residence. Some devices are universal but this is very often not the case and you could need a transformer that could cost more than the device is worth. This page should enable you to determine what you need, if anything.

Safety

Simply plugging a North American device into a European mains socket, perhaps via a simple adapter may well destroy the device and may create a fire hazard.

Main section

You need to look at the ratings plate, usually on the back of the device. There are 2 key ratings to look at: (a) The voltage (electrical pressure) it's designed to work with. US devices will normally say 110V whereas in the UK, the mains is 240V, which will kill a 110V device. However, some TVs and audio/visual devices may say 110-240V, in which case all you have to do is replace the mains plug with a UK one. Some older devices may have a switch on the back to convert between 110 and 240V (probably need a screwdriver to switch the switch). (b) If it's a 110V only device you need to look at the wattage. It'll say something like 40W, or 750W (or any other number of watts). In this case you need a transformer to convert 240V to 110V, rated for the number of watts of your device. (Note that a transformer may be rated in VA, not Watts. The difference is technical and needn't concern you.) For anything rated much over 100W the transformer will probably cost more than the device is worth, but for small audio/visual equipment, hair straighteners (but not hair dryers), lamps etc something like this should do (though I don't see a CE mark - slightly concerning): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313914115501?hash=item4916bd45ad:g:BPYAAOSwhDBiMAz2 A builder's transformer such as this will drive higher power devices (with an adapter on the output), but not cheap!: https://www.screwfix.com/.../carroll-meynell-3000va.../84144

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-This is a prototype page for the Restart Wiki. This first paragraph should be a brief description of the page, which will pop up on hovering over a link to the page.
+This page describes how you can use 120V rated US devices in the UK, where the mais is 240V.
 ==Summary==
-All pages should start with a summary, to enable the reader to see at a glance what the page is about and whether it is likely to give the information required. This is subtly different from the description of the page's purpose, given above.
+People moving from US or Canada to the UK or Europe sometimes bring portable appliances with them which they would like to use in their new country of residence. Some devices are universal but this is very often not the case and you could need a transformer that could cost more than the device is worth. This page should enable you to determine what you need, if anything.
-Retaining the basic structure, replace all the text of this page with your own content.
 ===Safety===
 [[File:Warning03.png|30px|left]]
-::Consider whether your page should include a specific section on safety.
+::Simply plugging a North American device into a European mains socket, perhaps via a simple adapter may well destroy the device and may create a fire hazard.
-::*if for example it deals with mains-powered equipment or high voltages
-::*or if special care is required in handling hot or sharp tools
-::*or hazardous substances.
-[[File:Warning03.png|30px|left]]
-::A second icon can be used for a second unrelated warning. Check it doesn't steal left margin from the next section header.
 ==Main section==

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Using appliances from North America in Europe: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:43, 17 March 2022

Summary

Safety

Main section