The voltage in the US

by 10 replies
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Hey guys,

A couple of years back I got two monitors from the US (I'm Dutch) and if I recal correct I just needed to change the output cable to a Dutch connection and it worked perfectly.

Now I wanted to order a new HD camera in the US but I can't find any specs about the power. My m8 says that the US has 110V, is this correct?

Could anyone fill me in one this?

Cheers

Vincent
#off topic forum
  • 110V is correct
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • 110 NOMINAL. It can vary up or down by say 10 volts. ******HOWEVER****** Realize that our regular standard for TVs has typically been NTSC! Only a few countries use that, and I don't think ANY are in europe!

    I am not familiar with the HD standard, but I wanted to let you know. HECK, OBAMA gave some videos to the Queen of the UK, and THEY weren't compatible!

    Barack Obama's gift for the Queen: an iPod, your Majesty – Telegraph Blogs

    Steve
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • 110.... hmmm maybe I can just arrange something with a different adapter. This sucks, ordering in the US would save me over $200 and this is a nice difference. I think I'll give them a call on Monday to see what the options are.

    @steve, I'm not sure how it went with the monitors, they we're a gift by a large multi-national and maybe they send me a 'special european' version, but it's unlikely since I still needed to change the cords. Strange.

    Thanks guys!! Appreciate the quick assistance.
    • [1] reply
    • Ken thompson IS right about the frequency, but USUALLY that isn't a big deal with solid state. It usually rectifies the power to DC, and has large capacitors to ride out noise. ALSO, the US standard is SINEWAVE, but that too is USUALLY not important. SOME hardware uses the line frequency to derive clock signals, but I bet that is RARE now on solid state equipment, ESPECIALLY if it can run on batteries. And some hardware that uses the frequency DOES care about the type of wave.

      I don't know WHERE monitors came into the picture. The NTSC use in computer monitors, for computers, vanished around 1980 when IBM created EGA, and they haven't gone back. Of course, an RCA input(the jacks look like those often used in stereo for audio), almost certainly takes an NTSC input or puts out NTSC, at least on US monitors. CDs and, for compatibility sake DVD can NOT save audio or video files because CD standards existed BEFORE any computer audio video standards, that it could use, were developed. The CDs and most DVDs made in that fashion store RAW SIGNAL, and THAT is why you must specify NTSC, PAL, SECAM, etc.... Of course, most of a disk used for a computer system and some similar devices use a newer format to support the files just as some newer players can play MP3 audio. AND, like I said, I can speak to HD.

      For Americans that might counter that with "I NEVER CARED!". It is like CURRENCY! In the US we DON'T mention USD, it is a GIVEN! On the internet we use US centric companies which DEFAULT to USD. And I specify USD because the term dollar is WORTHLESS on the internet. Canada, Australia, Taiwan, and OTHERS ALL have currency called DOLLARS! One new taiwan dollar is worth about 3.25 US Cents! So, obviously, it is IMPORTANT to make it clear.

      Steve
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Vincent,

    It's not just voltage, it's frequency too. We run on 60 Hz AC while Europe
    runs on 50 Hz AC. Don't forget that.

    You mentioned a camera. So I'm guessing you just need a power adapter
    for charging purposes?

    If so, a lot of adapters can switch between the two different standards.

    But, smart thing to do would be to check with the manufacturer or the
    place you're ordering it from.


    Ken
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • @Ken - Yes, it's a nice difference so it's worth the call, I'll do this first thing tomorrow.

    @Steve - I didn't write it correct but in regard to "I don't know WHERE monitors came into the picture" - I meant the 110 - 220 difference, my mistake.

    Anyway, thank for the clarification guys.
  • BTW I SHOULD have mentioned it, but SOME wall transformers(the big box type plug, or brick like thing between the plug and appliance) and some appliances(IF they plug in using a cord with no transformer), actually have a little switch to handle the 110-220 conversion. It is USUALLY a VERY simple change with the primary coil on the transformer made for 220 and taped midway for 110. 99% of the time, outside of the plug of course, EVERYTHING ELSE is IDENTICAL.

    Yeah, it is amazing all the things you have to consider going to another country to get hardware/appliances, huh? I thought about buying a BMW in switzerland. The salesman was great. NOT ONLY did he tell me it was illegal to buy a car(They have a law that only cars older than 6mo can be bought for export, and I was only allowed to stay there 3mo), but that the speedometer, and exhaust system would have to be converted. I knew about that, but didn't really think, since the cost was SO low.

    Steve
  • I haven't contacted them yet, but maybe when it's needed they can supply the right adapter too, if not I can probably get it here somewhere. I'm not sure if it would justify the price difference if I get the adapter here but we'll see.

    Yes I agree, it would have been great if there will ever be a global standard or something but I doubt if we would see it in our lifetime.

    6 months... wauw, I didn't knew that. Do you know if this is something that only goes for switserland or for all countries in Europe? The Dutch import a lot of cars from Germany but I doubt if they are all older than 6 months.
  • Vincent,

    I meant for private people, from switzerland. Obviously, companies export cars as they are made to local dealers. The ACTUAL deal is that they can't sell a new car to a foreigner, at least not an American, and they aren't considered used unless they were purchased 6 months or more ago. The 3 months is the maximum time an American can stay without a visa or whatever. At least those WERE the rules in 1989.

    It's a pity. Volkswagen had a deal where, as I recall, you could get a car in germany, tour europe in it, and they would ship it to the US for you. I believe that was around the mid 1980s. I THINK it was a contest, though I might be wrong there.

    Steve
  • Hey Steve,

    I meant private people too.

    The volkswagen deal is pretty sweat, it's definitly a nice extra when you're in the market for buying a new car.

    Cheers Vincent
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