UK/US voltage?

[alisonbestford]

Now, in my enthusiasm to take advantage of a 'Disneydirect' code posted on the site, I bought loads of Kim Possible stuff for DD (6), along with a bedside lamp .
It wasn't until we returned home from WDW and I collected the parcel from the depot, that I realised it would have a US plug, voltage etc! Duhhh!
Now, at the moment DD is quite happy just looking at her lamp but can anyone advise how I might be able to make the lamp useable?
DH will have nothing to do with anything electrical so he's of little help and our next door neighbour is an electrician but I'd like to think I had an idea of what I was talking about before I asked him
Thank you.
Alison

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

If this is just a standard table lamp type light, you should be able to get it 'rewired' quite easily! I bought an old lamp from a charity shop that I loved but that someone had cut the flex from (why I DON'T know! ). My sister's neighbour is an electrician and he rewired it for the cost of the flex (which you can buy in any DIY shop - ours came from Wilkos!) and it took him about 10 mins tops!!!!!

 

[alisonbestford]

You reckon?
That would me fantastic .
I'll be banging on next door's door before the school run....
Alison

 

[patdavies]

I bought an old lamp from a charity shop that I loved but that someone had cut the flex from (why I DON'T know! ).

Because they are unqualified/don't have the budget to undertake electrical safety checks and thus by making the electical apparatus unusable relieve themselves of any subsequent responsibilty for electrical safety - you take on this responsibilty by fitting a plug.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

You don't even need to replace the wire. Simply snip the 2 pin plug and put a UK plug on it.

The bulb (if one is supplied) is useless though, it will be a 110V bulb, so bin it.

You may find that you struggle to find a uk bulb to fit it though, from memory they don't use bayonett fittings like we do, its screw thread I think, I had problems getting a bulb for a halloween pumpkin lamp I got, where I swapped the plug.

best bet is to take the bulb you removed to an electrical shop and ask for a UK equivilent fitting bulb.

One thing of note is that the US lamp is unlikely to be earthed, like a UK model probably would be. This isnt too much of an issue, but it does mean that a fault on it would not trip an RCD based fusebox.....but you would still have the fuse in the plug (make that 3amp).

 

[disney13]

Or you could buy a voltage convertor. Here's a link to the Maplin website. These things work a treat!

<a href="http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?Criteria=voltage%20convertor&doy=1m3">Maplin Website</a>

Andy

 

[alisonbestford]

Thank you. I'll have a proper look at all the suggestions.
Obviously I don't want to do anything that's not safe. I was thinking along the lines of a convertor - like we take over to the US for our electrical stuff but backwards (if that makes sense ) I'm somewhat dubious about just changing the plug as I should be mortified if we were putting DD - or anyone else for that matter! - in danger.
There wasn't a bulb with it but I know Ikea do quite a range of screw thread bulbs so they might be worth a look.
Thanks for your help.
Alison

 

[alisonbestford]

Just had a look and the convertors on the Maplin site look like just what we need. DH has an airbrush compressor from the US that he's been muttering about buying a convertor for for ages so we'll be killing 2 birds with 1 stone - and the best bit is there's a Maplin branch at the bottom of the road

Thanks Andy.

Alison

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Thank you. I'll have a proper look at all the suggestions.
I'm somewhat dubious about just changing the plug as I should be mortified if we were putting DD - or anyone else for that matter! - in danger.

Alison...if it helps re-assure you, I am a professionaly qualified Electronics Engineer....I would'nt have been advising you to change the plug if it wasnt going to be safe !!!!

With regards to a convertor, your lamp would work fine, but firstly you would have to get a 110V bulbs for it, which might be even more difficult to obtain in the UK.....secondly, your normal 2 pin US plug on the lamp would plug into the adaptor, which means that using that method would also mean the lamp wasnt earthed. This method would end up costing you more, and would give you no safety gain whatsoever.

The lack of appliance earth isnt really a problem, think of it this way...these things are designed sold and operated in the USA without an earth, and it doesnt worry them !

Trust me.....all you need is a UK plug.

 

[alisonbestford]

Well, why didn't you say so?
Fantastic, now let the light bulb search commence
Don't suppose DH's airbrush compressor will be so simple to remedy....?
Thanks.
Alison

 

[Tron[ADS]]

No, the compressor will be a different matter. You are only able to just change the plug on this because you are changing the light bulb at the same time, you are effectivley making it a uk spec product because theres nothing else in there to consider. You will be best getting a transformer from Maplins for that. Take note of the power consumption the device requries, as the cheapest convertors from Maplins may not be able to supply enough "grunt".

One thought about the lamp thats just occurred to me.....make sure its not got any kind of in-line dimmer switch....ive seen US lamps with inline rotary dimmer switches, which would be worth getting rid of because they have components in there designed for half the voltage. If its a simple on.off switch in-line, thats fine, but if its a dimmer, get rid and re-cable right up to the bulb holder.

 

[alisonbestford]

Thank you so much for the advice
The switch is a simple pull string, on/off switch.
Apparently the compressor is 110/115 volt, 60 HZ so we'll have a trip to Maplin and see what they can offer.
Alison

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Apparently the compressor is 110/115 volt, 60 HZ
Alison

Thats not going to give you enough information to chose the right convertor/transformer. You need to look for the consumption figure in Watts, or if its not there, look for the current drawn in Amps and multiply it by 110, for example if its 2 Amps, you would have to get a convertor that can supply 220Watts.

As an example, looking at Maplins site, their cheap convertor is £15.99, but it can only supply 45 Watts, meaning your appliance cannot draw more than about half an Amp (500mA). The next model up is £19.99 that does 100W, which will allow roughly 1 Amp to be drawn. I would doubt a compressor would be more than that.

 

[alisonbestford]

Ok, I'll get the calculator out ;-)
Went into town and found loads of large screw fitting 40 watt bulbs but they're all 250 volt.
The lamp says 40 watt, 120 volt bulb.
I have a number to ring an electrical supplier so maybe they can help.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Ok, I'll get the calculator out ;-)
Went into town and found loads of large screw fitting 40 watt bulbs but they're all 250 volt.
The lamp says 40 watt, 120 volt bulb.
I have a number to ring an electrical supplier so maybe they can help.

No, No....It will say 120V, because thats what it used to be (before you converted to uk plug)
40W 220-250V is exactly what you need to buy for it now. As long as the screw thread matches, your laughing.

You would get a bulb like you describe if you were to use an adaptor, but once you put your uk plug on it, its effectivley a uk appliance from now on and any reference to 110V should be ignored.

 

[alisonbestford]

Tron, you are an absolute star
Thank you.
Thank goodness I'm a nurse and not an electrician!!
I got there eventually
Alison