Bringing back electricals

[MazdaUK]

What do you do? I know stuff is cheaper out there, but how do you cope with the different voltage? Is there an adaptor you can buy? I'm thinking of things like PSP, portable DVD players etc.

Any help most welcome!

 

[mushumadness]

I bought my nephew a psp back from florida for xmas he just uses an adapter and it works fine, plus the games from the states and the uk work on it and the films

 

[lawlesslovewdw]

We got a HD DVD player and use a step down transformer thing for the voltage, our tv will allow nstc??? and pal input so it works great. The only downside is that it will only play region 1 HD dvds - but seeing as you cant get them over here yet not to much of an issue.

hth

 

[disneycymru]

Unless the product you are buying is non-region specific e.g. camera's it is unlikely to be much of a saving over buying on-line or in major electrical retailers in the UK. Another added benefit of buying products here is you can often get multi-region products at littel extra cost.

That being said mp3 players (usb charging), camera's, DVD's(region 1),CD's etc. are all often cheaper and they getting them sooner, although the time differential is reducing. You can also often get "handset hacks" for some US DVD players to allow them to become all region. This can make some portable or rechargable products worthwhile buying if them came with multivoltage chargers / power supplies which may do these days. If you look at many electrical products these days you will see the input voltage is 100 - 250v to allow for multi-region use and fluctuations in voltage.

Hope the info helps and when comparing prices remember to add the tax and cost of any transformers if needed.

 

[patdavies]

You can also often get "handset hacks" for some US DVD players to allow them to become all region.

You can get hacks for most DVD players to make them multi-region. So it becomes worth buying the cheaper US (region1) DVDs. We find the boxed sets much, much cheaper in places like Best Buy.

Try www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks.php

 

[castanea1985]

I bought a mini ipod a couple of years ago, and it works fine. Its great to have a US plug, when we revisit!!
Do your homework on prices though - websites like ebuyer have really good prices over here, and to be honest there are very little savings on electrical goods these days.
Tracy

 

[rpbert1]

www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk for hacks

 

[MazdaUK]

Thanks all! This is really helpful. Did you buy the transofrmers there or back in the UK, and did they add a lot to the price?

 

[lawlesslovewdw]

Got the transformer on ebay! was cheapest price.

Our hd dvd player has not got any hacks to make it multi region but since hd dvds are only availible in us no probs there.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Got the transformer on ebay! was cheapest price.

Our hd dvd player has not got any hacks to make it multi region but since hd dvds are only availible in us no probs there.

That reminds me of when I brought back my first DVD player, prior to them being sold in the likes of Curry's etc.
It was something like $400 so I was petrified of it getting damaged in transit and arriving a worthless peice of junk.