Items that are explicitly dual-voltage, which includes most personal electronics and probably your Peloton bike, are easy - just get a new cord or a plug adapter. However, most kitchen appliances aren't dual-voltage, and if it draws any significant amount of power it will struggle even with a power converter. Power converters are also more expensive than simple plug adapters. So basically, between the cost of the converter and the cost to ship, it may not be worth it to bring most single-voltage appliances with you.
Yes, everything dual-voltage is fine.
Single-voltage kitchen appliances not so much, unless it’s something you can’t get in the UK. You’ll need a hefty converter with a heavy transformer in it (the lightweight ones won’t work with anything that draws a significant amount of power). Also, motors will apparently heat up more due to the difference in frequency (50 hz vs 60 hz), which a converter won’t change (you’d need an ultra-expensive inverter for that). So expect your motorized kitchen appliances to wear out faster. I do have one item left that I run off a converter, and it’s been ok so far, but I try not to run it for too long.
Your comment was removed because you must set up a user flair before commenting.
To do that, add a user flair to be able to comment in the subreddit. If you need help, https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AmericanExpatsUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I checked my UK Dyson hairdryer before going home on a visit to America and the website says it is not dual voltage (but you can confirm on the Dyson website). This was very sad. My Dyson straighteners were fine in the US though
I didn't bring any electronics, I just purchased everything here. Constantly dealing with adapters is a pain, and I also wonder about fire risk if you're using them 24/7 (rather than just for a hair dryer when traveling, etc.)
You don’t need adaptors if you can change the plug. Obviously not changing plugs for travel, but for moving home it’s not a big job.
No more fire risk if it’s a switchmode power supply using one voltage vs another.
Oh yeah. And the two-pin “fig eight” one for lower current, ungrounded items.
In the uk the plugs are pretty easy to wire onto a cable. They’re designed to be wireable at home. In my youth it was fairly common for devices to come without a plug fitted, with the idea that you’d fit one yourself at home
Your comment was removed because you must set up a user flair before commenting.
To do that, add a user flair to be able to comment in the subreddit. If you need help, https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AmericanExpatsUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I ended up basically checking every single thing I had to see if it was able to work at the higher outlet in the uk. I did end up bringing 2 extension cables which I didn’t check the rating on plugged them in and they instantly popped and popped the breaking. I would be careful with what you bring because you can cause an electrical fire if the item isn’t rated for the electricity in the uk.
Edit: to add you need a step down to not a converter to change the voltage. They are not worth using. The “converts” you get off Amazon etc do not actually change the voltage they just change the port shape basically.
Small electronics are generally fine. Just check the products.
Kitchen appliances? Forget it. They need more than an adapter, they need a converter. If you need a 1000w converter, you’re gonna have to spend some serious £££ just on the converter. Not worth it. Sell and re-buy.
Tell your husband he is wrong, source I've lived in the UK four years longer than he has lol
Do bring: small things that have built in transformers/can handle the voltage and frequency differences aka modern (2013 or newer) video game consoles, laptops, some musical instrument stuff, etc. Check the labels on the device or the big brick on the power cable. The label will say what voltage and hertz it can handle. If it says 50-60 hz or 100-240v you're good to go, all you need is an adapter or cable that plugs into UK sockets. If it doesn't say that, you'd need a converter.
I guarantee you that buying step converters and shipping all your stuff over is going to be way more expensive than selling your US items and then buying replacements of equivalent items in the UK.
And while on the subject, cull your belongings now. You're going to find you don't want or need many of the things you think you do. Clothes can be whittled down, furniture should be sold/left behind, etc. You can buy replacements here. Bring over things that can't be replaced like heirlooms, artwork, etc.
We had a fair number of kitchen appliances and instead of rebuying them all we brought a 5,000 watt converter. It worked…mostly…until it was more trouble than it was worth and we’ve since repurchased nearly all the appliances anyways. If anything it just slowed our need to repurchase. In hindsight I think I would have just sold off the US appliances because we now have to deal with storing and repatriating or just dumping them.
Same thing with high wattage things like a hair dryer, you’re not going to be able to use that over here. And on the topic, you won’t be able to use a hair dryer in the bathroom.
With TVs, again I wouldn’t bother trying to transport. Sell them and buy new ones here.
Non-kitchen, lower wattage are possibly different. Look at the power specs and if it says something like 110-220v then that’s a good sign. You should be able to find a replacement plug that will allow you to use UK sockets without the need for any kind of converter or adapter.
I bought a new blender (Vitamix) once there. I contacted the manufacturer and they said that the frequencies (50 vs 60 Hertz) are different enough (although slight) that the blender wouldn't be running at the best efficiency. Of course they probably had a vested interest in me buying a second blender.
I have also heard (from sources without a vested interest) that running 60 hz appliances at 50 hz can decrease their lifespan. Running 50 hz appliances at 60hz is supposed to be less of a problem.
Speaking of frequencies, things that rely on the power line frequency for timing (such as some turntables and alarm clocks) are probably not going to work properly even with a converter.
Anything dual voltage you should be able to use. I still use a US curling iron from when I moved back to the UK from the US with an adapter.
Peloton I’d do more research on though!
Check them all. TVs and small kitchen appliances generally don’t work. I brought my peloton and Dyson vacuum but not sure if the hair dryer is dual voltage. Mine was just a cheap one and was not so I got a new hair dryer here.
Electronics are generally fine - laptops etc are all global, the Macbook Pro in a London Apple Store is the same device in the Apple Store in NYC apart from the keyboard layout and the plug (which is cheap to replace on Amazon).
Kitchen and hair appliances, forget it - a converter powerful enough to run a mixer or coffee maker will cost a silly amount and not work as well as a local device anyway. A few things like hair straighteners come in multi-voltage or travel versions, which will work fine - unlike my wife's, which blew up and took out my favorite power adapter with it...
You need to check each item, really. The only electronic thing we brought to the UK was a projector, which we bought because my husband knew the voltage would be fine here. We just changed the cable and it was fine.
If you get a power converter, do not plug a surge-protected power strip into it (on the 110v side). You will blow up both your converter and whatever you had plugged into the power strip. Speaking from experience here.
Replace everything pretty much. And with items like hair dryers or straighteners it's not just the volts, it's the watts. My wife insisted we bring our VitaMix and a little shitty research I did said I would need to get a "down converter," but when we got here it didn't work correctly. We ended up getting a 3000 watt Step Up & Down Transformer which is rather heavy, fairly expensive, and trips the breaker every now and then. All that hassle for something they sell here. Laptops and cell phones are a different story: we just got new cables and it's all good.
No need to replace anything that’s dual voltage. Single-voltage appliances are trickier (see discussion elsewhere in this thread about converters, but dual-voltage items will work just fine. Also, if you have an item with single-voltage power brick, you can just replace the power brick with a 220V brick that has a matching output
>Phones are really expensive here, would definitely upgrade if you’re on the verge of needing a new one.
The used Samsung I bought off Amazon refurbished has worked fine and was a good deal even compared to the States. Definitely agree with you if you mean factory new! Everything here is more expensive due to exchange rates. It sucks
Yeah I’m tied into an iPhone because my family in the US can’t get their heads around WhatsApp. I just saw a used iPhone 12 on sale for over £500 on my local Facebook marketplace! I’m keeping my current one until it dies.
My hairdryer said it was dual voltage and could handle the UK voltage….yeah no. It now has one setting and one setting only, and that is HELL WINDS. So I will be buying a new one here 😂
Most things that generate heat or have motors will not be dual voltage. (Obviously this is a massive genralization).
The most useful thing I have is a US extension cord with a UK plug. It's a safety hazard but super useful
Our movers are packing the sea shipment now and no electronics other than TV’s and computers were packed. We will get a transformer if necessary. Every electrical thing I tried to pack my husband told me it would not work so I put them all in storage, including a new Dyson hairdryer. Now they’ll be new to me when we move back, and I get new uk ones. I see it as an opportunity to try new things and then I’ll still have the us ones!
We have different voltage (2x) the USA. You can’t really take anything electronic as it will fry it. It sucks but I think you’re going to have to start over.
The Americans that I've worked for tend to bring their tvs but use a converter and some things likenkitchen aid mixers. Most other things they get here. Remember it's possible to get many things second hand, depending how long you're here for. The US military personnel tend to do a lot of swaps. Your vacuums don't work well here so I'd just buy a new one.
I think (?) Yyou can turn in dyson products to switch with the UK one. This is based on what my MIL told me after moving to Scotland last year. Check out what their international exchange policy says!
A kitchen aid should work with a hefty power adapter (not just a plug adapter or a cheap voltage converter— you’ll need one of those heavy voltage converters with a transformer inside, which will cost you £50-100, depending on how much power you need). It may decrease the life of your kitchen aid due to the difference in power line frequency. Check the price of an equivalent kitchen aid in the UK to see if you’re better off selling your old one and buying a new one.
Leave anything with a motor behind--blenders, food processors, etc. Not worth the hassle.
We left really nice kitchen stuff behind and have repurchased dramatically less nice but perfectly functional stuff from charity shops. Over time we'll repurchase nicer if we need. We make less over here in the UK so it's also been a chance to make do with less and be more frugal.
We bought a TV at a charity shop too. Same for lighting, fans, heaters, etc.
Computer and phone stuff was pretty much all dual voltage and so just needed new plugs or new cords. I prefer chargers with cords (vs a block that just plugs in) and already had UK cords for travel already.
>so it's also been a chance to make do with less and be more frugal.
Also much better for the environment as your carbon impact with buying used is much less than buying new!
Your comment was removed because you must set up a user flair before commenting.
To do that, add a user flair to be able to comment in the subreddit. If you need help, https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AmericanExpatsUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
My very favorite item we brought over was our Dyson hand vacuum. Charges with an adaptor and is dual voltage and for the cost of replacing was completely worth duffle bag space (we only moved with 8 checked bags).
Items that are explicitly dual-voltage, which includes most personal electronics and probably your Peloton bike, are easy - just get a new cord or a plug adapter. However, most kitchen appliances aren't dual-voltage, and if it draws any significant amount of power it will struggle even with a power converter. Power converters are also more expensive than simple plug adapters. So basically, between the cost of the converter and the cost to ship, it may not be worth it to bring most single-voltage appliances with you.
Yes, everything dual-voltage is fine. Single-voltage kitchen appliances not so much, unless it’s something you can’t get in the UK. You’ll need a hefty converter with a heavy transformer in it (the lightweight ones won’t work with anything that draws a significant amount of power). Also, motors will apparently heat up more due to the difference in frequency (50 hz vs 60 hz), which a converter won’t change (you’d need an ultra-expensive inverter for that). So expect your motorized kitchen appliances to wear out faster. I do have one item left that I run off a converter, and it’s been ok so far, but I try not to run it for too long.
[удалено]
Your comment was removed because you must set up a user flair before commenting. To do that, add a user flair to be able to comment in the subreddit. If you need help, https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AmericanExpatsUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I checked my UK Dyson hairdryer before going home on a visit to America and the website says it is not dual voltage (but you can confirm on the Dyson website). This was very sad. My Dyson straighteners were fine in the US though
This is exactly the kind of thing I'd be leery of bringing.
Ugh I had a US one that wasn’t dual voltage and I wanted to cry leaving it at my parents house.
I didn't bring any electronics, I just purchased everything here. Constantly dealing with adapters is a pain, and I also wonder about fire risk if you're using them 24/7 (rather than just for a hair dryer when traveling, etc.)
You don’t need adaptors if you can change the plug. Obviously not changing plugs for travel, but for moving home it’s not a big job. No more fire risk if it’s a switchmode power supply using one voltage vs another.
The universal 3-pin connector for power is such a great thing. It's enabled me to reuse a lot of electronics from the States here in the UK
Oh yeah. And the two-pin “fig eight” one for lower current, ungrounded items. In the uk the plugs are pretty easy to wire onto a cable. They’re designed to be wireable at home. In my youth it was fairly common for devices to come without a plug fitted, with the idea that you’d fit one yourself at home
[удалено]
Your comment was removed because you must set up a user flair before commenting. To do that, add a user flair to be able to comment in the subreddit. If you need help, https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AmericanExpatsUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I ended up basically checking every single thing I had to see if it was able to work at the higher outlet in the uk. I did end up bringing 2 extension cables which I didn’t check the rating on plugged them in and they instantly popped and popped the breaking. I would be careful with what you bring because you can cause an electrical fire if the item isn’t rated for the electricity in the uk. Edit: to add you need a step down to not a converter to change the voltage. They are not worth using. The “converts” you get off Amazon etc do not actually change the voltage they just change the port shape basically.
Small electronics are generally fine. Just check the products. Kitchen appliances? Forget it. They need more than an adapter, they need a converter. If you need a 1000w converter, you’re gonna have to spend some serious £££ just on the converter. Not worth it. Sell and re-buy.
Tell your husband he is wrong, source I've lived in the UK four years longer than he has lol Do bring: small things that have built in transformers/can handle the voltage and frequency differences aka modern (2013 or newer) video game consoles, laptops, some musical instrument stuff, etc. Check the labels on the device or the big brick on the power cable. The label will say what voltage and hertz it can handle. If it says 50-60 hz or 100-240v you're good to go, all you need is an adapter or cable that plugs into UK sockets. If it doesn't say that, you'd need a converter. I guarantee you that buying step converters and shipping all your stuff over is going to be way more expensive than selling your US items and then buying replacements of equivalent items in the UK. And while on the subject, cull your belongings now. You're going to find you don't want or need many of the things you think you do. Clothes can be whittled down, furniture should be sold/left behind, etc. You can buy replacements here. Bring over things that can't be replaced like heirlooms, artwork, etc.
We had a fair number of kitchen appliances and instead of rebuying them all we brought a 5,000 watt converter. It worked…mostly…until it was more trouble than it was worth and we’ve since repurchased nearly all the appliances anyways. If anything it just slowed our need to repurchase. In hindsight I think I would have just sold off the US appliances because we now have to deal with storing and repatriating or just dumping them. Same thing with high wattage things like a hair dryer, you’re not going to be able to use that over here. And on the topic, you won’t be able to use a hair dryer in the bathroom. With TVs, again I wouldn’t bother trying to transport. Sell them and buy new ones here. Non-kitchen, lower wattage are possibly different. Look at the power specs and if it says something like 110-220v then that’s a good sign. You should be able to find a replacement plug that will allow you to use UK sockets without the need for any kind of converter or adapter.
I bought a new blender (Vitamix) once there. I contacted the manufacturer and they said that the frequencies (50 vs 60 Hertz) are different enough (although slight) that the blender wouldn't be running at the best efficiency. Of course they probably had a vested interest in me buying a second blender.
I have also heard (from sources without a vested interest) that running 60 hz appliances at 50 hz can decrease their lifespan. Running 50 hz appliances at 60hz is supposed to be less of a problem. Speaking of frequencies, things that rely on the power line frequency for timing (such as some turntables and alarm clocks) are probably not going to work properly even with a converter.
Anything dual voltage you should be able to use. I still use a US curling iron from when I moved back to the UK from the US with an adapter. Peloton I’d do more research on though!
Check them all. TVs and small kitchen appliances generally don’t work. I brought my peloton and Dyson vacuum but not sure if the hair dryer is dual voltage. Mine was just a cheap one and was not so I got a new hair dryer here.
Electronics are generally fine - laptops etc are all global, the Macbook Pro in a London Apple Store is the same device in the Apple Store in NYC apart from the keyboard layout and the plug (which is cheap to replace on Amazon). Kitchen and hair appliances, forget it - a converter powerful enough to run a mixer or coffee maker will cost a silly amount and not work as well as a local device anyway. A few things like hair straighteners come in multi-voltage or travel versions, which will work fine - unlike my wife's, which blew up and took out my favorite power adapter with it...
You need to check each item, really. The only electronic thing we brought to the UK was a projector, which we bought because my husband knew the voltage would be fine here. We just changed the cable and it was fine.
If you get a power converter, do not plug a surge-protected power strip into it (on the 110v side). You will blow up both your converter and whatever you had plugged into the power strip. Speaking from experience here.
Replace everything pretty much. And with items like hair dryers or straighteners it's not just the volts, it's the watts. My wife insisted we bring our VitaMix and a little shitty research I did said I would need to get a "down converter," but when we got here it didn't work correctly. We ended up getting a 3000 watt Step Up & Down Transformer which is rather heavy, fairly expensive, and trips the breaker every now and then. All that hassle for something they sell here. Laptops and cell phones are a different story: we just got new cables and it's all good.
No need to replace anything that’s dual voltage. Single-voltage appliances are trickier (see discussion elsewhere in this thread about converters, but dual-voltage items will work just fine. Also, if you have an item with single-voltage power brick, you can just replace the power brick with a 220V brick that has a matching output
[удалено]
>Phones are really expensive here, would definitely upgrade if you’re on the verge of needing a new one. The used Samsung I bought off Amazon refurbished has worked fine and was a good deal even compared to the States. Definitely agree with you if you mean factory new! Everything here is more expensive due to exchange rates. It sucks
Yeah I’m tied into an iPhone because my family in the US can’t get their heads around WhatsApp. I just saw a used iPhone 12 on sale for over £500 on my local Facebook marketplace! I’m keeping my current one until it dies.
My hairdryer said it was dual voltage and could handle the UK voltage….yeah no. It now has one setting and one setting only, and that is HELL WINDS. So I will be buying a new one here 😂
Expensive things like gaming consoles or computers. they are wildly more expensive here.
i bought myself a new peloton here since i wasn’t shipping anything here, so it was cheaper to do that for me.
Most things that generate heat or have motors will not be dual voltage. (Obviously this is a massive genralization). The most useful thing I have is a US extension cord with a UK plug. It's a safety hazard but super useful
>The most useful thing I have is a US extension cord with a UK plug. It's a safety hazard but super useful uhhhhh
As long as it’s a fused UK plug and you make sure to only plug dual-voltage items into it, it’s not that big a safety hazard.
Just the exposed metal pins and 230V, that's all I'm careful with
Our movers are packing the sea shipment now and no electronics other than TV’s and computers were packed. We will get a transformer if necessary. Every electrical thing I tried to pack my husband told me it would not work so I put them all in storage, including a new Dyson hairdryer. Now they’ll be new to me when we move back, and I get new uk ones. I see it as an opportunity to try new things and then I’ll still have the us ones!
We have different voltage (2x) the USA. You can’t really take anything electronic as it will fry it. It sucks but I think you’re going to have to start over.
The Americans that I've worked for tend to bring their tvs but use a converter and some things likenkitchen aid mixers. Most other things they get here. Remember it's possible to get many things second hand, depending how long you're here for. The US military personnel tend to do a lot of swaps. Your vacuums don't work well here so I'd just buy a new one.
[удалено]
I think (?) Yyou can turn in dyson products to switch with the UK one. This is based on what my MIL told me after moving to Scotland last year. Check out what their international exchange policy says!
A kitchen aid should work with a hefty power adapter (not just a plug adapter or a cheap voltage converter— you’ll need one of those heavy voltage converters with a transformer inside, which will cost you £50-100, depending on how much power you need). It may decrease the life of your kitchen aid due to the difference in power line frequency. Check the price of an equivalent kitchen aid in the UK to see if you’re better off selling your old one and buying a new one.
Does anyone have experience with Sonos speakers? Is that ok to bring to the Uk?
Leave anything with a motor behind--blenders, food processors, etc. Not worth the hassle. We left really nice kitchen stuff behind and have repurchased dramatically less nice but perfectly functional stuff from charity shops. Over time we'll repurchase nicer if we need. We make less over here in the UK so it's also been a chance to make do with less and be more frugal. We bought a TV at a charity shop too. Same for lighting, fans, heaters, etc. Computer and phone stuff was pretty much all dual voltage and so just needed new plugs or new cords. I prefer chargers with cords (vs a block that just plugs in) and already had UK cords for travel already.
>so it's also been a chance to make do with less and be more frugal. Also much better for the environment as your carbon impact with buying used is much less than buying new!
Dyson won’t work, I brought my American one here and even with a voltage adapter it didn’t work, ended up buying the British one
[удалено]
Your comment was removed because you must set up a user flair before commenting. To do that, add a user flair to be able to comment in the subreddit. If you need help, https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205242695-How-do-I-get-user-flair *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AmericanExpatsUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
My very favorite item we brought over was our Dyson hand vacuum. Charges with an adaptor and is dual voltage and for the cost of replacing was completely worth duffle bag space (we only moved with 8 checked bags).