Voltage and power and other things I don't understand!!

Hey everyone and anyone

having had some discussion about hair straightners and the like, does anyone know what the deal is with power over there?? I don't understand any of it, other than if we try to use some electrical equipment over there that's UK bought, it might not work, or be slow, or blow up!! yikes!! I read something about a voltage adapter but can you buy these in the UK??

and also, my dad reckons that voltage has now changed over there so we could use our electrics with no problems, but can anyone verify this??

Ellen xx

 

Hey Ellen , not sure what the votlage is over there think someone mentioned it b4, but i once took my c.d player and non of the c.s's would turn the power was not strong enough.

Helen x

 

The voltage over there is still 110 or whaterver it is, and ours is 220 or 230 I think, so you can't use it over there unless u buy an adapter, you can most likely buy them in the UK, you can in Norway, I've also had the possibility to buy the on flights to America.
But, even though the voltage system was the same, you would have to buy the adapter, because the outlets are different then ours, we have two holes, and they have three, so the cord wouldn't fit...

being slow or blowing up, I don't know anything about, but if you use an adapter, all should work fine

 

ok...so plug adapters and voltage adapter to add to my list of the many things I need to purchase!!

Thanks!

Ellen x

 

hairdryers and straighteners are really cheap in WalMart.... i have one from a couple of years ago, which still works great, so taking that with me. Hope my straighteners work, cause i'm just getting the hang of how to use them (not very coordinated!!!) ;D

 

That would be a converter for the watts, I think. The item you're bringing still has to be able to function on a 110 voltage. That info will be on the item itself or on the plug. It will state the voltage it takes... if it doesn't take a 110 volt, the item won't function properly... My cell and iPod chargers worked fine over there, but my epilator wouldn't...

 

Pics

If your item you want to plug in has one of these

and it says on it that it will do between 110-220(240) all you need is one of these...

(don't know if its the exact right one)
now if you item does not have the power pack like the first pickture you will need one of these...

the big thing will be the thing that changes to power to American 110 and the little plug things will make it so you can plug your things into American power outlets.

hope this helps
-Jim

 

Exactly...read the manuals or on the unit themselves for the voltage that they work on. I was worried about taking my digital camera battery charger and my charger for my video camera over to the UK when I went but on both of them it said 110v-220v, so all I need was the plug adapter to make it fit in your odd plugs. So if your things say that too, then you'll just need the plug adapter for North America to make your odd plugs fit into our little ones. If you are totally confused...take the things with you to the electronics shop and ask somebody...or even a travel agent might be able to help you out.

Shan

 

Thanks Shan, that's really helpful!! BTW, did you find taking a video camera a good idea?? I have one I'd like to take to record all my memories, but keep thinking I'll get so worried about it getting damaged that I'll never take it out!! Is it worth it??

Jim, you confused me even more, but thank you for trying to help!!

Ellen x

 

I loved having mine!!! I didn't take it everywhere...like I never took it to PI...but I took it to a few Commons parties where I wasn't planning on going on a big bender...to Canadian Girls vs. No Maam Drinking Olympics...throw-ins...mine and my friends Throw-Outs...graduations. Two of my best friends took it for two days and made my leaving entry a video one. It's wicked...but wrong on so many levels!!! I can't show a lot of the tapes to too many people!!!! The one time I forgot to take it but wish I had was the day we went skydiving. It would have been nice to have one of my friends on the ground keep it, but I bought the video there anyways, so no biggie. I was too terrified of going splat that I never thought about it really!!!!!

Shan

 

hehe!! well, as long as I can sort out some insurance for it (it's my precious baby...can't let anything happen to it!!), I'll be taking mine with me!

Ellen xxx

 

Oppps. Sorry lol just forget I said anything then.

 

cheers Jim that clears a lot up!

 

Hey,

Have got a laptop and digi cam that has the adaptor in the pic, but would it not be ok to just buy a couple of travel adaptors and use them? They work wen i have used chargers on the continent and in Canada and are only about £3.

 

thanks for the help guys

my laptop power supply says 100-240 v so i should b fine, as does my digi camera charger, so all good to go. i have my travel adapters as well (tip for those from the UK boots are selling them for £2 i think) sorted!

xxx

 

I got some power adaptors from whsmith for about 90p each!! they were in a sale! thanks to my mum for finding them for me!

 

ooooooh get u craig and ur cheap adapters lol. i saw some in poundland last week, may get a few more, the weirdest places seem to sell these adapters, all good though!

xxx

 

How do you know where to look to see what voltage the [electrical thingy] uses??

I'm such a girl with things like this!! :

Ellen xx

 

look for something like this....

 

lol ellen bless ur cottons hun, but yeah as Jim said in terms of laptops this is on the powerpack usually, in terms of other electrical equipment it should be somewhere on it, if not it should b in the instruction manuals or packaging

xxx