My understanding is that it's perfectly fine to use US appliances here with an adaptor, because our voltages are very similar. Can someone please just confirm whether this is the case please? And if so, is there much difference in quality between the adaptors that are out there?
Using US Appliances Here
Geewhizz on 03/02/2015 - 10:57
Comments
May I message you the item and get your opinion please greenpossum?
Unfortunately as I PMed, not likely as is, it has a heating element so you'd need a step down transformer.
My understanding is that it's perfectly fine to use US appliances here with an adaptor, because our voltages are very similar.
Your understanding is completely incorrect.
You will kill electronics from the US unless they have an Autosensing mutivoltage power supply.Greenpossum sums up the situation nicely.
The devices with AC motors will need a transformer to increase voltage from 110 to 240V but will still run slower due to the frequency difference that a transformer can't rectify (50Hz here versus 60Hz there).
Yup, be VERY careful with US appliances. Do your research. Some things will be ok, others will get totally fried. Remember the warranty is usually voided as well if you use a US machine here in Oz through any converter instrument. Most of the time it's just not worth it.
Many thanks to you both.
OK then tell me this clever clogs's (needless to say I know nothing about electricity); WHY is there a difference? Is one 'better' than the other? Safer for example, or less likely to kill appliances in the event of a short-circuit, or a power surge?
It's historical like which side of the road to drive on and very hard if not impossible to change once adopted. Best that you check up the references. There are even countries with different local standards like in parts of Japan.
But TL;DR lower voltage less dangerous but conductors carry more current for the same power so more metal used.
1 Name… Edison
Well, in 2009 Samoa changed from driving on the right, to driving on the left. ERGO, the US (and everywhere else, for that matter) should be able to (actually, should be forced to) adopt OUR electricity mains specs. It would be better for everyone in the long-run.
And our plugs. And the metric system. And instead of saying the pledge of allegiance each morning they should pledge their allegiance to Vegemite.
"… they should pledge their allegiance to Vegemite."
Scratch that one; unfortunately the yanks now own vegemite.
I know you were TiC but Samoa is a small country. AFAIK the largest country that has made a driving side change is Sweden.
Jesus g-poss, would it kill ya to actually write words out in full? I mean, 'AFAIK' (FFS) ? Using that quaint wee acronym may have saved you about 2.3 seconds, but it took me about two minutes to google it to find out what it meant (slow internet here). So what you're really saying is you're better than me.
Well, YCGFYYSUDB. How about them apples? How do they taste? Maybe like medicine? Like YOUR OWN medicine?Unless of course you're doing it in an effort to save wear-n-tear on your keyboard, i.e. as a money-saving endeavor. If that is the case, then I understand completely… (saving) cash is king.
;P
AFAICT your age is showing. Even my mobile keyboard knows about AFAIK. :P
I have a few US appliances (blender, food processor, KitchenAid mixer) from living overseas and got some transformers from TorTech and they have been working fine (been almost two years now). Things that didn't need a transformer (laptops, toothbrush, hair straightener) I bought a bunch of cheap adapters on eBay from China (about $1 each) and they have been working fine too.
You have to read the plug. If the input says 110v input, you're out of luck. If it says 110-240v, then that's okay
Hardly, they are using 110V @ 60Hz, we are using 230V @ 50Hz. However many electronics appliances like laptops use universal adaptors. It depends on what you are trying to import.
Things with AC to DC adaptors (wall wart or separate pack), generally ok, but double check the adaptor and plug type.
Things with heating elements, no unless it has a dual voltage setting.
Things with AC motors, no will run at 5/6ths the speed.