[richsadams]

Hi All :cool

June 2005 update...I added a caution about power surges - in short, buy surge protectors or you can read the rest below. Cheerz!

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New Zealand Vs U.S. Electricity

First the basics: U.S. electricity is 110 – 120 volts alternating current (A.C.), 60 Hertz (Hz) or cycles per second. The U.S. also has 220 volts dual phase current (used for electric clothes dryers and commercial equipment). New Zealand operates on 220 – 240 volts A.C., 50Hz. U.S. equipment that requires 220 volts will not work in NZ, sorry. The reason is a bit technical (US dual phase 220 Vs NZ single phase 220) but the simple explanation is that US 220V is not the same as NZ 220V. The good news is most U.S. electronics that run on 110 – 120 volts 60 Hz will work in New Zealand with a little help or a few changes!

The difference in cycles per second or hertz (US = 60Hz, NZ = 50Hz) usually doesn't matter except in certain circumstances. U.S. 110V/60Hz clocks and items that use AC electricity to keep time won't be accurate on the NZ 50Hz system. U.S. 110V motors designed to run at 60Hz will run slightly slower and a bit hotter on 50Hz, but generally no harm done. :niceone:

Converters and Transformers

You can buy inexpensive (US$10 or so) converters for small appliances like telephones with answering machines (yes, they will work in NZ), or other low-voltage devices. They are usually adjustable for 120V or 240V and for various amps, 1 to 12. You can find them at stores like Target, Radio Shack or on line (see links below). To figure out what you need, simply look at the power cord which will usually have a small black box at the end where it plugs into the wall. It will list the voltage input and output. It might read something “AC in 110V, DC out – 12V”. That means it converts 110 volts to 12 volts. When you buy a converter to replace this particular item it will need to be able to run on 220 volts and deliver 12 volts. If you have the correct converter, whatever you’re using won’t know the difference in New Zealand. Most converters come with U.S. or European “shucko” plugs. You’ll need to buy an adapter (about US$6) to plug them into NZ outlets (or “mains” as they are called here).

Things that require more juice like stereos can be used with the aid of a voltage converter or better yet, a voltage transformer. (Transformers "regulate" voltage supplies providing better protection for your equipment!) Either will "step down" 240 volt New Zealand power to 110 volts.

To know what transformer to buy for each piece of equipment you have to know how many watts your equipment uses. This can usually be found on a sticker near where the power cord comes out of the appliance or in the owner’s manual (glad you kept it now?). If you can only find voltage (V) and amps (a) you can easily figure out the wattage by multiplying the two. For instance if a stereo listed 110 volts – 25 amps, it would be equal to 2,750 watts (110 x 25). In order to make it operate in NZ you would need a transformer that had an output of at least 2,750 watts. However, the rule of thumb is to double the watts needed. That will prolong the life of the transformer and allow for any spikes when the equipment is turned on. In the example above you should buy a transformer that can handle at least 5,000 watts. Don’t worry about the difference. A 5,000 watt transformer is only slightly more expensive than a 3,000. Plan on spending somewhere around US$75 to US$150 per transformer (plan well grasshopper).

Yes, you CAN use one transformer to run more than one item. You can plug at least two things into most transformers. Just make sure the wattage rating of the transformer is HIGHER (ideally doubled) than the total of everything plugged into it!

As with the smaller converters, the full-sized transformers will each need a plug adapter to be used in New Zealand.

Here are some sites that sell voltage converters, transformers and the like:

http://www.world-import.com

http://www.voltage-converter-transformers.com/

http://www.starkelectronic.com/franzus.htm

You can purchase all of the voltage converters and transformers in NZ if you’d like, but they are about 25% more expensive than in the U.S. The other side of the coin is that larger transformers are heavy, some upwards of 50 pounds, yikes! So there may be a trade off on shipping costs. We bought them in the U.S. from World Import (great people plus discounts if you ask) and brought them here, but again, I never calculated the advantage if there was one either way.

Computers

More good news! Almost all computers (U.S., U.K., etc.) run on both 110V 60Hz as well as 220V 50Hz. Laptop power modules switch automatically. All you would need is a U.S. to NZ style plug adaptor or you can buy a new power cord for almost any computer (laptop and desktop) from Dick Smith Electronics (the Kiwi/Oz version of Radio Shack) found in most towns. Most desktop computers have a switch either outside near the electrical plug or just inside the box on the power supply. Check with the manufacturer about your particular model, flip the switch from 110V to 220V and you're in business.

Your computer monitor will work without a worry in New Zealand. Our Dell, IBM and Viewsonic are purring along just fine (both CRT and flat panel). All they needed was an outlet adapter. All of ours were designed to run on 120V 60Hz or 220V 50Hz. Most are, but even if not you can use a transformer to step down 220V to 120V.

My Compaq PDA works on 110V or 220V as well, again, with an electrical adapter.

Most computer printers also switch automatically (check the label on or near the power cord). You might want to stock up on ink though, it's fairly expensive here.

You can get various forms of Internet access in NZ, but not all of the same things are available everywhere. Unfortunately no one is offering cable modem style Internet. Most populated areas have ADSL broadband available. Download speed is around 250 mbps and up is about 150 mbps. That pretty much eliminates streaming video, etc. You can get regular dial-up almost everywhere and there are some odd wi-fi offerings in the “big cities”, but it’s a “line-of-sight” concept and kind of sporadic. Costs are about on par with the U.S. There are major battles going on between Internet providers as well as within the government as to how to properly deliver services. By the looks of things it will be a patch-work mess for quite a while. The ADSL speed is okay, but I do miss my cable hook-up (brought our cable modem just in case!)


Advise that you order service as soon as you can as it takes folks a while to get you up and running (took Telecom/Xtra about 2 weeks to get it all sorted for us). And there are still places here where you cannot get a high-speed connection...a whole other story. :uhoh Here are some links to local ISP's

http://www.ihug.co.nz/

http://www.clear.net.nz/

http://xtramsn.co.nz/home/

In the meantime, there are still a lot of Cyber/Internet cafes available...if you can squeeze in between the fish-eyed kids playing video games for a few minutes! :laugh

Televisions

Time to sell yours and find something new. We had a big wide-screen we had to part with , but we found a replacement here. They have most of the modern sets…they just cost a bit more is all. TV signals broadcast in the U.S. comply with NTSC (National Television System Committee). In NZ they are PAL B. You cannot use your U.S. TV in NZ unless you buy a signal converter.

This company sells some signal (NTSC to PAL/PAL to NTSC) converters as well as multi-system TV’s, etc.

http://www.world-import.com

You’ll probably want to skip the converter issues and simply buy a new television when you arrive. The NZ $ is going up against the Japanese Yen so the price of electronic equipment is coming down. Make sure you buy a 100 Hz model (now replacing the 50 Hz sets which had a bad “flicker” you had to put up with.) A plus is that PAL television pictures are better than NTSC – more lines of resolution. But some (including me) would say the minus is NZ TV programming…yuck! (It gives you a good excuse to go outside and have some fun anyway.)

If you think you’ll be moving back to the U.S. or anywhere else, you might want to consider buying a multi-system T.V. and shipping it though. A multi-system TV will accept and play PAL/ NTSC signals and can use 120V/220V power. You can get a nice 29 inch flat-screen multi-system TV for about US$550 now.

Kiwis often use a combination of signal reception including antennas, cable and/or satellite. SKY offers both cable and satellite service. We have SKY digital satellite and it’s fairly decent…if only they’d spend a few dollars on some good television shows (you can only watch so many episodes of the Simpsons, Who’s the Boss and National Geographic!) Here’s the SKY TV link:

http://www.skytv.co.nz/

VCR's

Sell or donate yours (if anyone will take it!). VCR’s sold in NZ are usually NTSC/PAL compatible. The DVD explosion hasn’t fully arrived yet, so VCR’s are still a bit expensive (about US$150 for a good one). You can bring all of your tapes with you (after all, what would the kids do if they couldn’t watch the one where Barney finds a new friend for the 116th time?). You’ll still have to find someone to program the clock though.

DVD’s

Your U.S. DVD’s will work in NZ! Best bet is to sell your DVD player though and buy new here (even the good ones are fairly cheap…about $US150, but they start around US$50).

To allow film makers to control distribution throughout the world DVD players are generally coded to play in the country where they are sold. There are six region codes; 1 through 6. U.S. DVD’s are coded “Region 1” New Zealand DVD’s are coded “Region 4”. However DVD players sold in New Zealand are generally “region free” so they will play your US DVD’s as well as anything from anywhere else.

If you really want to dig into some deep DVD information, here's a great site called "DVD Demystified"...

http://www.dvddemystified.com/

CD's

Your U.S. CD player will work fine in NZ with the proper transformer. CD's are not coded and all will play in all machines. (Pack a few extras in your suitcase, they are a little more expensive here and you won't want to be without your "tunes"!)

Lights

Floor and table lamps that use incandescent bulbs will work in NZ. You’ll simply need to buy US to NZ plug adapters and new light bulbs once you get here!

Refrigerators

Your U.S. fridge will work in NZ with the proper transformer. One BIG caveat however is that most homes in NZ are designed for much smaller refrigerators (and other appliances) than in the U.S. Side-by-sides are right out unless you’re buying or building a new home. We brought an almost new refrigerator with us and it now sits in our garage because the space for it in our kitchen is too small (narrow)…it works, but sadly we had to buy a new one here…and they are not cheap! So we wished we had sold ours to have some money to put towards a new one here, but you live and learn. We'll fill the one in the garage with Tui Beer and live happily ever after. (Insert the old beer drinking smiley faces here.)

Washers and Dryers

Sorry to say that U.S. washers and dryers will not work in New Zealand. U.S. washers use 60 Hz technology to keep time and their motors also require 60 Hz to run properly. The same goes for dryers except they need 220 dual phase 60 Hz electricity to work…so it’s time to part with them. Be prepared to pay more for less in NZ. As mentioned, all appliances are small here. When we first saw some front-load washers we thought they were toys! Most average about half the load size U.S. folks are used to. Clothes lines are still the norm here but clothes dryers are starting to catch on…again…small and expensive. A good washer and dryer will likely set you back about US$1500 – US$2500.

Telephones

Standard U.S. telephones will work in NZ! And good thing because phones here are fairly expensive. You will need to buy adapters as the phone plugs (mains...get used to it ) are slightly different here. U.S. telephone technology uses RJ11 connectors. NZ uses "BT" connectors. Keep your RJ11 phone cables too as you'll be able to use them as extensions, to connect to ADSL routers/modems and if needed you can buy adapters to use them to connect to NZ phone jacks as well.

Telephone adapters cost about US$6. Cordless phones, phones w/answering machines, etc. will also need one of the small voltage converters (US$10 or so). We don't have caller I.D. but they do offer it here. I can't be sure if your U.S. caller I.D. will work here though.

Your cell phone will not work here unless you have a SIM model (new to the U.S.). If you have a SIM phone, you will only need to buy a new SIM card. Telecom and Vodaphone offer mobile phone service in NZ.

TiVo

TiVo is not offered in NZ. However, a local band of TiVo die-hards have cobbled together their own emulator service based on a system developed in Australia (no TiVo there either). There are about 50 people using it now. TiVo’s run on both 110V and 220V so all you’d need is a plug adapter to run it but you’ll need to be adept at hacking because a new image will need to be put on the TiVo hard drive to record and playback PAL T.V. And mind you, it only works on Series 1 TiVo’s. (They’re still fooling around with Series 2 TiVo’s and will likely conquer it in the future.) I’m about to dig into my TiVo to see if I can get it up and running here. I’ll keep you posted.

Digital Cameras and Camcorders

Our Sony digital camera and video camera work fine as their electrical adapters (battery chargers) are designed to run on 110V or 220V. Just needed an electrical adapter to plug them in. Not sure about other brands, but I'd assume most Japanese makes are the same.

If you're thinking about purchasing a digital camera or camcorder, you might want to do it before you get here, they are about 20% higher in NZ than in the states.

Treadmills

A little update that I've been meaning to post for a while now...sorry for the delay.

We brought a Precor treadmill...pretty nice one that would normally be used in a professional gym. The motor is rated at 1500 watts but draws some heavy amps when you're starting up, etc. So we bought a 5000 watt electrical step-down transformer and it works like a charm! Even the digital readouts are accurate! (The transformer weighs more than the QEII's boat anchor, but it's stationary thank goodness.)

Good practice on any treadmill is to start it up while you are standing on the side rails and then step onto the belt after it’s up to about half the speed you intend. It will save the life of the motor plus keep the amperage draw low so you don’t blow any circuit breakers!

So if you have some electrical gym equipment…feel free to bring it along!

Surge Protectors

About 80% of the power generated in NZ is via renewable sources...another great thing about this country! However, the power isn't always as reliable as one would like. We lose electricity about once or twice a month on average...worse when the weather turns nasty.

To that end we recommend using surge protectors or power strips with surge protection on any valuable electrical equipment. Certainly on computers and audio/visual equipment. But also on appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, etc. Power spikes are not uncommon and can really cost $$$ if you haven't planned ahead. Stores like Dick Smith and Mitre 10 sell the individual protectors as well as protected power strips.

Customs Inspection - Taxes and Duty Charges

Customs requires that items you import to have been used by you for at least 12 months prior to moving. Otherwise they can charge you import duty and GST on all new items (totalling about 19%!). We haven't heard of that happening to anyone moving here, but just to be safe, make sure you've removed tags, taken the shrink wrap off and put some fingerprints on things!

Also be aware that if you order anything from overseas valued at more than NZ$150 it will also be subject to duty and GST.

Internet Sales

Here's a great NZ site selling all kinds of electronics and other items so you can get an idea of local pricing. We've never used them, but they've been around since before we moved here (June '04).
Take care and hang in there...it's worth it! :nice1


http://www.acquire.co.nz/acquire/default.asp?


Hope that all helps. “Talk” to you soon! :cheers

[justin.g.s]

RE the washer and dryer, would it not be possible to bring over the set and swap out the motors with kiwi ones? WE spent alot of time recently looking at the home appliances, and they were pretty pathetic. THe top of the line models all seemed like rickety plactic toy knock offs.

I'll bring my fridge, if you want a fridge with an ice maker you are looking at 3k+ and @4k for a fridge with an indoor water and ice dispenser. It will go in the garage for the time being, they really don't seem to allow space for appliances.

One alternative to the dryer issue that we are looking into is the fact that whirlpool is starting to make washers for sale in N.Z built in the U.S, I have not contacted them yet, but hoping that we can get one made over here and brought over.

We have been doing alot of time researching products that we will need over, I met an American that was building a house over there, he returned to America and brought back EVERYTHING from nails to copper pipes, and saved a bundle.

[veronica]

Hiya, reading the last post about a dryer, what part of NZ are you headed for, cos if its Chch you probably won't need a dryer. I know its terribly old fashioned but washing lines work really well down here in the south island and the weather is usually good enough to dry stuff quickly. Much better for the environment than the elecrical sort.

[justin.g.s]

Auckland, most likely north shore, we have two babies(duh) with food mishaps ect.. we go through alot of laudry. But when in rome.... we'll see what the better half thinks :uhoh

[richsadams]

Hi All :cool

Just a quick note about the U.S. washer and dryer situation. We went down every avenue we could think of to save our Whirlpool HT washer and dryer pair to no avail. :wah Switching out parts isn't really an option as all parts (for almost everything) have to be imported from the manufacturer...and the manufacturer doesn't make but one version of their product so you're in a catch 22 of sorts. The only parts that could be imported would be for the specific item...you're back to square one. There are no "interchangeable" (110V 60Hz Vs 230V 50Hz) parts as there might be with cars, etc. Nice thought though.

As an FYI, Fisher & Paykel own Whirlpool down under (Australia) which is where their brand of washers and dryers in NZ come from. They are nice products, but they don't offer anything like Whirlpool in the U.S.

Much as we hated to, we had to buy new ones here...getting less and paying more. :no But, as suggested, I've actually learned how to hang out a few clothes on the trusty clothes line now and then! My wife is amazed! :laugh You just have to keep an eye on the skies is all (or your neighbours burning their trash :eek ). It saves electricity too so you can pat yourself on the back for being environmentally conscious!! :nice1

[MelissaLG]

Rich,

Any word on whether a US-purchased XBox will run okay on 50 Hz? We thought it would since it is essentially a computer, but Microsoft is giving us the run-around, suggesting that it won't work, but not really telling us yes or no.

Melissa

[richsadams]

Hi Mellisa :cool

I can't be sure about X-box or Playstation. No kids! :nice1 I mean :no

They are computers but if the power rating on the box is only 120V 60Hz, they might have some kind of issue even with the proper transformer.

MS X-Box is selling for $299 NZD and Sony Playstations around $249 NZD in the stores right now. Games are between $39 NZD and $99 NZD.

Instead of buying a transformer to take up even more space when the kids are playing I'd recommend selling yours (Christmas special!!) and getting one here. Or you could bring it and if it doesn't work your kids would have a really cool looking doorstop! :laugh

Wish I could be of more help. I'd post the question in the General thread and see if any new-Kiwis brought theirs.

[MelissaLG]

Thanks Rich, we might have to go with the "doorstop" suggestion as our (read my boyfriend's) XBox has already been packed up and sent with the shippers. We should have thought of this earlier, but there was just so much to do and think about prior to the shippers arrival, and only so much time and brain capacity to sort it all out! Oh well, we will figure it out when we get to NZ! Cheers! :cheers

[richsadams]

Hi Melissa :cool

The important thing is...you're on your way!! :clap

Travel safe and lots of good wishes! :nice1

[MB]

Bringing this superb thread back to the top to ask one, 'just-making-sure' question:

if we don't take our 5-year-old Dell desktop, but instead take a cheap 80GB external hard drive full of old data PLUS a brand new (mid-range) desktop or laptop purchased via a regular US outlet (such as Office Depot, Dell or Best Buy) will this hook up to NZ plugs electrically speaking and ASDL-wise without much more expense than, say, a cheap Dick Smith adapter?

Cheers,
Matt.

[Arlevien]

Hi MB,

As mentioned, here in NZ its 220V and in the US its 110V. Check if your computers power supply has a voltage input switch ( 220-110) which is usually at the back near the power plug.

If you just gonna bring your HD. Its easy to get a PC here. Dell has presence in NZ and you can order on-line.

Being from the US myself I brought along some stuff but the ones we can only carry. Getting a step up transformer here is no sweat. The only thing is they have a different male power plug. I have to buy a bunch of adapters to have my stuff plug in the wall sockets.

Bringing this superb thread back to the top to ask one, 'just-making-sure' question:

if we don't take our 5-year-old Dell desktop, but instead take a cheap 80GB external hard drive full of old data PLUS a brand new (mid-range) desktop or laptop purchased via a regular US outlet (such as Office Depot, Dell or Best Buy) will this hook up to NZ plugs electrically speaking and ASDL-wise without much more expense than, say, a cheap Dick Smith adapter?

Cheers,
Matt.

[clg]

A US laptop will work fine, the power supplies will work with multiple voltages you will just need an adapter for the plug. Most US desktops are multi voltage as well, just look at the back fo the PC and it will list the voltages it takes by the plug.

[richsadams]

Hi Matt and All :cool

if we don't take our 5-year-old Dell desktop, but instead take a cheap 80GB external hard drive full of old data PLUS a brand new (mid-range) desktop or laptop purchased via a regular US outlet (such as Office Depot, Dell or Best Buy) will this hook up to NZ plugs electrically speaking and ASDL-wise without much more expense than, say, a cheap Dick Smith adapter?

As CLG states, all of today's computers are designed to run on 110V 60Hz/220V 50Hz. All you will need is a mains (electrical plug) adapter or Dick Smith sells power cords with the correct plugs on both ends.

DO NOT wait to buy your computer in NZ. With the poor performance of the U.S. dollar and the excellent performance of the NZ dollar, all brands are a good deal more expensive here than in the U.S. and come with less power, memory, etc. :no Best bet is to buy a good laptop and simply bring it with you or a desk top and ship it with your belongings (be sure to open it up, unpack it, etc. so it doesn't appear to be brand new). If you do bring a desk top, be sure to switch the voltage from 110V to 220V before you plug it in! :eek The switch is usually on the back of the CPU (or might be inside on the power supply for older models).

All sorts of ADSL modems and routers are available at Dick Smith and elsewhere. We purchased a U.S. Robotics ADSL router/wireless modem for NZ$399 when we arrived about a year ago. I see now that they are NZ$299 :wah That's life!

As an FYI transformers are a more expensive here as well.

Hope that helps and best of luck on your journey! :cheers

[MB]

Thank you so much, everyone.

When we got Verizon DSL (excellent and reliable, by the way) here in the US, the set-up pack came with all the plugs, etc. I wonder whether -- if NZ phone jacks are different -- the equivalent NZ DSL set-up packs come with suitable jacks/plugs to fit in US laptops so that you're "good to go" once the set-up packs arrives at your home.

Cheers,
Matt.

[richsadams]

When we got Verizon DSL (excellent and reliable, by the way) here in the US, the set-up pack came with all the plugs, etc. I wonder whether -- if NZ phone jacks are different -- the equivalent NZ DSL set-up packs come with suitable jacks/plugs to fit in US laptops so that you're "good to go" once the set-up packs arrives at your home.

No worries mate, all of the equipment sold here comes with the appropriate cables, etc. :nice1

U.S. telephone technology uses RJ11 connectors. NZ uses "BT" connectors. (FYI, you can use your U.S. phones with a RJ11/BT adapter here :yes ). Keep your RJ11 phone cables too as you'll be able to use them as extensions, to connect to ADSL routers/modems and if needed you can buy adapters to use them to connect to NZ phone jacks as well.

RJ45 computer cables (modem to/from computer) are standard everywhere.

Cables and wires cost about twice as much here as they do at your local Target store, plan ahead.

Advise that you order service as soon as you can as it takes folks a while to get you up and running (took Telecom/Xtra about 2 weeks to get it all sorted for us). And there are still places here where you cannot get a high-speed connection...a whole other story. :uhoh Here are some links to local ISP's

http://www.ihug.co.nz/

http://www.clear.net.nz/

http://xtramsn.co.nz/home/

In the meantime, there are still a lot of Cyber/Internet cafes available...if you can squeeze in between the fish-eyed kids playing video games for a few minutes! :laugh

[leslie]

rich

v helpful posting. have been in uk so long that reading anything thorough and well written makes my eyes mist. dont usually get teary over computers (well, not THAT way). this post should bring it back into easy access!

we should have had you do our ita.

[sweetpea]

Just bumping this thread up because I wanted to check on bringing my dehumidier over. FYI--found out the dehumidifier has a motor, sucks down 800 watts, needs a step-down transformer.

Thanks Rich, for this helpful thread!

[richsadams]

Hi All :cool

Been away for a while. Thanks for the kinds words...here to serve!

Hope everyone is well and happy. :cheers

We're doing okay, busy at work; mine, (www.kiwicode.com) and Sandy's (www.worklinx.co.nz).

This electronics posting is still accurate if you were wondering...haven't blown anything up yet!

I just added a little warning...the power supply here is not as reliable as one would hope. We lose electricity about once or twice a month. Usually not for long, but long enough to have to go around and reset all of the clocks! :? To that end, I'd recommend buying surge protectors or power strips with surge protection for your valuable electronics.

We had a huge power spike a couple of months back and it blew out our oven (no surge protectors for ovens, so nothing we could do). We complained to the power company. (There are many here, we use Trust Power on a recommendation.) There was a lot of finger pointing..."we supply the power, but the lines are owned by someone else and it was caused by a contractor, blah, blah, blah." Almost all of our neighbours lost some appliance or other, fridge, dishwasher, computer, etc. In the end everyone filed insurance claims. Doubt if the insurance companies will go after the power company...just raise our rates! :no

Anyway, long story longer...protect your equipment!

Take care and hang in there...even in the dark it's worth it! :nice1

[DB]

Some comments on your advice

You can buy inexpensive (US$10 or so) converters for small appliances like telephones with answering machines (yes, they will work in NZ), or other low-voltage devices. They are usually adjustable for 120V or 240V and for various amps, 1 to 12.

I take it you are talking about "wall warts", little power blocks.

“AC in 110V, DC out – 12V 9A”. That means it converts 110 volts to 12 volts, 9 amps.

It wont say, 9 amps, trust me on this. It may say 1 amp, or 1.2 amps, but more likely something like 300mA.

These come in varieties, regulated and unregulated, and switch mode and transformer. Switchmodes tend to be universal input, ie they will work in both 110land and 220land, and are regulated, and are the best sort to get.

In Dick Smith here in NZ, they have a universal supply that does the lot that also works in 110V land, which is an example of the best thing to get, but probably cheaper in the USA. Dick Smith, $35 (http://www.dse.co.nz/)

You can spend less.


For instance if a stereo listed 110 volts – 25 amps, it would be equal to 2,750 watts (110 x 25). In order to make it operate in NZ you would need a transformer that had an output of at least 2,750 watts.

I know its an example, but its worth noting that a standard NZ wall outlet is 10A at 240V, 2400W. Mind you, a USA outlet is less...

Yes, you CAN use one transformer to run more than one item.

You cant safely do this. Ok, it'll probably be OK, but a double fault situation can expose you to the full gusto of the mains voltage, but without any protection. Recommend using one transformer for one "thing". Or consult an expert and have a transformer fitted safely. Also recommend buying transformer in NZ, rather than elsewhere, as transformers available here are isolating not autotransformers, again much safer in fault situations. There have been some really dangerous autotransformers sold in NZ.

[dave k]

Thanks for all the info Rich & everyone! I've got a quick question for you though if you don't mind :)

I recently bought a little pre-amp for recording mics & guitars into my computer from the U.S, and on the AC Adaptor plug it says:

Input - 120VAC, 60Hz, 15W
Output - 9VAC, 1 Amp (although on the back of the cardboard box it came in it says the power supply is 9VAC , 300mA)

Do I need a step-down transformer for this, or can I just buy a NZ wall-wart?

Sorry for being a bit dense about this...you've probably already explained it, but I'm just scared of frying it!

Thanks!

[richsadams]

Hi All :cool

DB: Wall warts? Cute name, apt description. :laugh

Right you are about the 9 amp mistake...it would be 300 to 500 mA or milliamps! All fixed now.

The transformers I'm referring to with regard to running more than one item are designed as such, having more than one, sometimes three outputs and are voltage regulated/surge protected. An unregulated single output simple step-down transformer should only be used for one item. Good clarification.

Not sure about the differences in where they are purchased. All I've seen in both the U.S. and NZ have come from China (as do the five or six I'm using). Valid point about the double-fault situation.

DAVE: A "wall wart" with the correct output should do you just fine. 9 volts, 300 mA is very common.

[dave k]

Thanks.
OK, here's my REALLY dumb question :oops:

All the units I've seen are 9VDC , not AC...

Will this be ok ?

Ta,

[richsadams]

Hi Dave :cool

Good question. 9 volts A/C? That's a new one on me. :?

DC stands for "direct current" which I assumed is what your gizmo uses. It already has a transformer of sorts that changes 110V AC (alternating current) to 9V. But if it is A/C, that's another story; one I don't know the ending to.

Best to check with the manufacturer (yeah, right) and failing that, perhaps DB or someone else here can answer that. Or you might find a wiz kid at Dick Smith!

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. :(

[DB]

I recently bought a little pre-amp for recording mics & guitars into my computer from the U.S, and on the AC Adaptor plug it says:

Input - 120VAC, 60Hz, 15W
Output - 9VAC, 1 Amp (although on the back of the cardboard box it came in it says the power supply is 9VAC , 300mA)

Do I need a step-down transformer for this, or can I just buy a NZ wall-wart?

Wall wart from DSE, 9.3VAC, 1A (http://www.dse.co.nz/), 6NZD, though they are being discontinued, so better get in quick!

[dave k]

:clap

Massive thanks!!!

[jo-and-jeff]

We wanted to be able to bring over our lovely 40" HDTV from the U.S. It's only a couple of years old and has a fabulously clear picture. It cost quite a bit, and we would likely only have been able to recoup a small amount of that had we tried to sell it in the States.

Because of what I learned from this thread (Thanks, richsadams (http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/member.php?u=99)!), we came over pre-stocked with a Video Converter, numerous US-->NZ adapter plugs and several high-wattage transformers (500w, 750w, and 1500w). I originally hooked the TV (250w), VCR/DVD (22w), and Stereo Receiver (280w) up to the 1500w transformer, which emitted a constant slight hum that made me a bit nervous, so I put the TV and VCR/DVD on a 500w transformer --> 110v surge suppressor and the Receiver on a separate 500w transformer --> 110v surge suppressor. It all seems to work fine (of course the receiver does not receive NZ FM, but we usually only listen to CDs anyway). I've connected the Sky box --> Video Converter --> HDTV, and the picture is fine.

(Please note that there is no HDTV yet in NZ, and the picture you get will only be as good as the signal, which in NZ is okay, but larger TVs tend to emphasize the lesser picture quality. However, the DVD quality is still exceptional.

The wonderful subcontractor who came to install our SKY told me that they deal all the time with very unhappy customers who bought an extremely expensive TV from Harvey Norman, Noel Leeming, or Bond & Bond and think that there is something wrong with their SKY connection because the picture isn't nearly as good on the same TV in their home. This is because the big electronic stores have the SKY on their demo models run through a big amplifier to improve the picture, so be aware that what you get at home will likely not look as good as what you see on your TV in the store before you buy it.

Please also be prepared for NZ TV to show all widescreen offerings with the sides chopped off. :uhoh )

We brought both our receivers and both our CD decks, since they are all about 20 years old and we couldn't have gotten any money for them. Sadly, neither CD deck appears to work now, but they both had to be fixed after our last big move, so that was not unexpected. However, the VCR/DVD player also plays CDs, so it was not a huge loss. I've got the HDTV and DVD/VCR audio output through the receiver to the really nice front and back speakers we brought with us, and the sound quality for TV and DVDs is great.

Unfortunately, our VCR/DVD is JVC, a brand for which no "hacks" exist (you have to do a firmware upgrade, and I haven't been able to locate one yet), so it only plays our Region 1 DVDs.

We bought an affordable Philips DVD/CD/AM/FM Home Theatre System and an affordable standard TV for the upstairs (we refuse to shell out huge amounts for a plasma TV as long as they have a limited lifespan of 5-8 years). I found that, in order for the NZ DVD player to work with our US TV, it also had to be run through the Video Converter (I don't know if this is a particular characteristic of this brand, or it's because it's a Home Theatre system, or if it would be true for all NZ DVD players), which degraded the quality of the DVDs. Interestingly, the US player appeared to work fine for both VHS tapes and DVDs with the NZ TV without the use of a Video Converter!

We brought our coffeemaker since it's a wonderful, discontinued model that's still highly sought-after on eBay because of its excellent performance. It works fine with a little 1400w converter but, as expected, the clock does not keep proper time so the timed start feature is unusable. We've got a transformer for the kitchen things with motors (food processor, blender, KitchenAid mixer).

For things like our Discmans, cordless phones, portable reading lights, etc. I bought some AC-->DC converters at Dick Smith that can be set for one of various voltages from 3v to 12v. They're not cheap, at $26-50 a pop, and you have to be sure to get them with the Amperage capability to match your appliance, since they come in 300A, 500A, 800A, and 1000A versions.

My US Caller-ID box works fine; however, the NZ Caller-ID system shows only the number and not the name, which is a bit of an annoyance.

To summarize, if you've got nice US appliances that you'd like to keep, it may be worth trying to bring them. You'll have to weigh their value to you and the higher cost of electronics and electrics in NZ against the cost of shipping and accessories to make them work properly.

Jo

[clg]

Good post Jo. Power converters work wonders don't they?

One thing on Sky the picture with MySky is better than with Sky, you get a full widescreen picture without the sides cut off and the picture seems sharper too.

Chris

[johnandbethcox]

This is a great thread! So helpful to those of us planning the move!!!

Any word on XM or similar satellite radio offerings? We're ADDICTED to it and can't stand listening to normal radio with all of its commercials.

Thanks!

[jo-and-jeff]

Any word on XM or similar satellite radio offerings? We're ADDICTED to it and can't stand listening to normal radio with all of its commercials.
Ha. Hahaha. XM will be arriving sometime after HDTV (http://subs.nzherald.co.nz/column/story.cfm?c_id=709&objectid=10356834). If you're lucky, you might still be alive then.

:roll

[barryp]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Very helpful!


The wonderful subcontractor who came to install our SKY told me that they deal all the time with very unhappy customers who bought an extremely expensive TV from Harvey Norman, Noel Leeming, or Bond & Bond and think that there is something wrong with their SKY connection because the picture isn't nearly as good on the same TV in their home. This is because the big electronic stores have the SKY on their demo models run through a big amplifier to improve the picture, so be aware that what you get at home will likely not look as good as what you see on your TV in the store before you buy it.


That doesn't make any sense to me. The signal arriving at your home is identical to the one arriving at the store, so the picture on the same TV should not look any different when you get the TV home. Perhaps the dealer is using picture sharpening circuitry? (One can do the same at home.) Or running very-high-contrast settings in a bright retail environment. Hmm.

I too am hooked on XM and will not give it up without grumbling. They do offer an online access package, which includes many of the same low-or-no-commercial channels and some additional ones. XM radio users get this service free w/ their service, or you can have just the online bits for US$8/mo:

http://xmro.xmradio.com/xstream/channel_lineup.jsp

(I adore Channel 300, which gives me reason to live :o ) It's not portable and assumes broadband internet access, but it's an option....

[DrPhred]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Very helpful!



That doesn't make any sense to me. The signal arriving at your home is identical to the one arriving at the store, so the picture on the same TV should not look any different when you get the TV home. Perhaps the dealer is using picture sharpening circuitry? (One can do the same at home.) Or running very-high-contrast settings in a bright retail environment. Hmm.



The difference is what they are doing with the signal once they get it. You could buy the same thing that they use to improve the image, but it would cost a bundle on top of the cost for the TV. I use something similar on my HDTV. I have an external video up-scaler that coverts any incoming video signal to a 1080 signal. It dramatically improves any non-HD signal to look great on my HDTV. But it's not cheap. I'd never have got one but I got it as an old store demo when we where done using it.

[skibumwa]

What is the rule (law) with living in NZ and buying a laptop from the USA and having it shipped therefore bypassing the huge markup for your local NZ retail store? i.e. A person in Auckland says to himself: "I thought about taking a friend up on an offer to buy me stuff using my $ & her educational 'discount' in America (from a University) and then having her Fed Ex the item to me. The Fed Ex will cost a lot, but still the overall saving would be 35-40% over buying the same pricey toy (like a MacBook Pro) in NZ at a store like Bond-Bond Electronic (Auckland). Does anyone have any comments on experiences on this idea?

Is this a common 'hush hush' scenario? -- Bypassing the NZ higher prices the buying direct from the USA and paying for international shipping to save lots of $$$?

[barryp]

Well, it is fraud, unless you declare the full NZ retail value and pay taxes on it. It's also almost certainly a violation of that educational price break agreement.

There is also a supportability argument in that equipment bought offshore won't be serviced here. International shipping costs are nontrivial if service is required offshore.

You're allowed to import stuff from overseas and avoid GST legally, but only for minor purchases (NZ$150 or less). I've ordered a few things from Amazon in the USA, and one of the larger boxes was opened by Customs. Nothing to hide, so no consequence except a delayed shipment. With a laptop, the consequences would have been pretty unpleasant.

Finally, as immigrants, one sure way not to demonstrate fitness as an immigrant is by violating the laws of your new country.

[tiefchord]

1500w). I originally hooked the TV (250w), VCR/DVD (22w), and Stereo Receiver (280w) up to the 1500w transformer, which emitted a constant slight hum that made me a bit nervous, so I put the TV and VCR/DVD on a 500w transformer --> 110v surge suppressor and the Receiver on a separate 500w transformer --> 110v surge suppressor. It all seems to work fine (of

BTW: For others who might come across this same phenomena - what most likely caused the hum was a simple ground loop caused by multiple paths to ground being present. In this type of scenario - everything that has any kind of connection (*not just power - this includes rca, s-video cables, 1/4" TR cables, and any non-optical connection*) to said devices emitting hum must be using the same power source. What this means is that when having a step-down transformer (220/50->110/60) connected to the house circuit with a group of 110/60 devices chained off of it and a few other devices which can use 220/50 natively (or are using mini-transformers on their own) are *also* connected directly to the house circuit with some form of signal cables attaching individual devices between those two groups (ones getting power from the transformer and ones getting power from the mains power directly) like RCA cables, etc. you can end up with a potential for a "ground loop." This will be even more an issue with 50 hz vs 60 hz (which are the related frequencies of the hum one may hear) being used within the same overall setup. What happens is that some of the devices may have multiple sources of ground. The transformer may provide it's own relative ground source for the step-downed group, and depending on how the home's electrical setup is done one might even have more than one internal path back to mains power. The alternating behaviour of AC is what is creating the hum. Also, it's very common in US homes to bring in 220/30A from the distribution company and split this into 2 separate 110/15A circuits - which are then routed to various outlets in the same house for purposes of load-sharing the current needs of devices plugged in to each circuit. I don't know if NZ does this, but I do know that the same situation can create ground loop situations in the US as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_loop_(electricity)

The best bet is to isolate all points of connection to a common power source - while at the same time making sure the combined current needs of all devices connected to that source do not go above that of any intermediate power cables transferring their power (typically an extension cord) and that of the power source itself (either a transformer or mains power) - which will be rated up to a given max load. For NZ mains, it's 10A. For step-down transformers, it's typically 80-85% of their max wattage divided by the output voltage - which will give you a rough figure for the maximum current load they can sustain (both peak startup AND average use).

A 2000W transformer would therefore be safe to around (.85 * 2000/110) 15 amps. Considering that a typical home circuit in the US is rated to 15A max - you probably won't be coming close to this limit (provided you're not trying to run a blender, toaster, space heater, and full on stereo system all at the same time). Don't forget that startup load is almost always higher than average load - so you need both figures to have an accurate picture. For simple goof-off electronic devices it's not a big deal - but for a 1500W sub-woofer or audio amp for instance - yes one should map things out accordingly.

[skibumwa]

I already own my MacBook Pro from Apple. I bought it in Oregon 5 months ago. Does that mean I have to pay NZ taxes on it when I get to NZ for my move? I am the legal owner of it. I think that would be ridiculous. Considering the same machines costs $3600 NZD at (i.e.) Bond Bond, paying taxes on a price like that could be considered fraud in itself.

I actually know for Apple, I can get service anywhere I go in the world through AppleCare.

I guess for everyone moving to NZ, buy your pricey electronics before you move to NZ.

I almost passed out when I saw the prices on some items. Even with the exchange rate & shipping factored in, they were waaaaaay overpriced. Does any one know why this is or do companies just take advantage of New Zealand (and New Zealanders) and it's remoteness to everything in the world...

i.e. a US power cord for my laptop bought in the USA: $70 USD
i.e. a NZ power cord for my laptop bought in NZ: $160 NZD

Besides the end prongs, it's same piece of hardware, far different pricing. Shipping is nowhere near THAT expensive- not even Fed Ex overnight... hummmm:uhoh


Thx

-John



Well, it is fraud, unless you declare the full NZ retail value and pay taxes on it. It's also almost certainly a violation of that educational price break agreement.

There is also a supportability argument in that equipment bought offshore won't be serviced here. International shipping costs are nontrivial if service is required offshore.

You're allowed to import stuff from overseas and avoid GST legally, but only for minor purchases (NZ$150 or less). I've ordered a few things from Amazon in the USA, and one of the larger boxes was opened by Customs. Nothing to hide, so no consequence except a delayed shipment. With a laptop, the consequences would have been pretty unpleasant.

Finally, as immigrants, one sure way not to demonstrate fitness as an immigrant is by violating the laws of your new country.

[tiefchord]

I already own my MacBook Pro from Apple. I bought it in Oregon 5 months ago. Does that mean I have to pay NZ taxes on it when I get to NZ for my move? I am the legal owner of it. I think that would be ridiculous. Considering the same machines costs $3600 NZD at (i.e.) Bond Bond, paying taxes on a price like that could be considered fraud in itself.


Just declare it as "computer (personal use)" and you'll be fine. Customs had no issue with mine - and I even declared it verbally rather than writing it down as I wasn't sure what to do.


i.e. a US power cord for my laptop bought in the USA: $70 USD
i.e. a NZ power cord for my laptop bought in NZ: $160 NZD

Besides the end prongs, it's same piece of hardware, far different pricing. Shipping is nowhere near THAT expensive- not even Fed Ex overnight... hummmm:uhoh


Like I said in another post - buy it there, and bring it. You'll also love the prices on simple adapters as well (3-4x the cost of the same thing as CompUSA or Fry's for instance).

[Super_BQ]

There has never been a better time to import stuff from the US. The NZ $ around 76 cents USD for $1 is record history.

For clarification when importing non-commerical goods through the post office or courier, no GST is assessed unless it triggers the minimum $50 GST value. So this means a person can bring goods with a declared value of up to $300 USD (or $400 NZ value). Also note that cost of shipping is part of the total.

It would be foolish to think imported electronics in NZ would sell for more than what people buy in America. NZ is a small country with small population which = little buying power and ability to get low prices. Expect prices to be at least double.

Also it's not the retailors that are making lots of margin, it's the fact that the distributor that imports the goods has to pays a higher price.

BQ

[Wahlet]

Rich, (or someone else!),
I've got a beaut of a 120v 60hz clock radio. Would it keep time properly in NZ? I've read the cautions about washer/dryers, coffeemakers not working properly on 50hz. Does this apply to ALL clocks?
Thanks,
david

[IanW99]

Rich, (or someone else!),
I've got a beaut of a 120v 60hz clock radio. Would it keep time properly in NZ? I've read the cautions about washer/dryers, coffeemakers not working properly on 50hz. Does this apply to ALL clocks?
Thanks,
david

You don't actually say what sort of clock it is so can't give a definitive answer until you let us know?

If it is a quartz clock then it won't be affected by the frequency of the mains as it uses the frequency of the quartz that is made to oscillate to work out the passage of time.

Ian

[Wahlet]

OK, that is helpful to know. I think it is quartz but am not sure how to confirm. This is the clock radio: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Dream-Machine-ICF-CD843V-Digital/dp/B0001M2FYQ.

[IanW99]

OK, that is helpful to know. I think it is quartz but am not sure how to confirm. This is the clock radio: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Dream-Machine-ICF-CD843V-Digital/dp/B0001M2FYQ.

Yep, that will be quartz based and so will be fine. You of course need to ensure that it has the correct voltage.

Most modern electronics won't be affected by mains frequency, the main ones that are, are things with motors as it is common for them to use this frequency to regulate their speed.

Ian

[PeteS]

I just added a little warning...the power supply here is not as reliable as one would hope. We lose electricity about once or twice a month. Usually not for long, but long enough to have to go around and reset all of the clocks! :? To that end, I'd recommend buying surge protectors or power strips with surge protection for your valuable electronics.

We had a huge power spike a couple of months back and it blew out our oven (no surge protectors for ovens, so nothing we could do).....

Bits snipped

....Anyway, long story longer...protect your equipment!

It is possible to protect your equipment in NZ. You need to fit voltage monitoring relays and surge diverters to your incoming mains. This would cover you against loss of phases, voltages too high or low, loss of neutral (a big killer of appliances), and lightning strike on power lines.

Most power problems are caused by broken overhead lines. It's a symptom of an aging infrastructure. The power lines in our valley were put in in 1953. That's even older than me......

[DanFromCali]

AWESOME thread... and perhaps i am grasping at straws here b/c i want to just bring my HDTV over an have it work, but isn't an LCD tv just like a giant computer monitor? if i connect to a skyTV box with a digital cable, does PAL or NTSC even play into it? or will i definitely still need a signal converter (those sound expensive!)

still havent been able to find out if my Sharp Aquos has a universal power supply either, so i may go with a step down transformer just to be safe... if i decide to bring the tv over at all :(

[IanW99]

AWESOME thread... and perhaps i am grasping at straws here b/c i want to just bring my HDTV over an have it work, but isn't an LCD tv just like a giant computer monitor? if i connect to a skyTV box with a digital cable, does PAL or NTSC even play into it? or will i definitely still need a signal converter (those sound expensive!)

still havent been able to find out if my Sharp Aquos has a universal power supply either, so i may go with a step down transformer just to be safe... if i decide to bring the tv over at all :(

If you connect via HDMI then you are correct PAL or NTSC doesn't matter, but if you connect via AV cables then yes it does matter.

If it doesn't support PAL then best option would be to buy the new Freeview box as this has HDMI output or wait for the soon to be released Sky HD (June) which will also have an HDMI output.

Do you know the model number for your TV as it maybe possible to review the user manual to confirm support for PAL and 240V?

Either on the back of the TV / PSU if external it should list what mains voltage it can handle. If it says AC 110V-240V then no problems, if not there then check in the manual (specifications).

Ian

[DanFromCali]

It does not look like my tv (sharp aquos LC-37GD4U) has a universal power supply. At least as far as i can tell. And it says it handles NTSC/ATSC but says nothing about PAL. :(

i guess i can still use it there with a step down transformer once skytv comes out with and HD box. Anyone have any idea how much that is gonna cost per mo?

Also, thanks for the freeview lead, ian. That looks promising as well.

In general, electronics seem still a tad cheaper in the U.S., so i may just try to find a compatible tv here before i send my household shipping container - if i can find one.

urgh.

[jdbob]

It does not look like my tv (sharp aquos LC-37GD4U) has a universal power supply. At least as far as i can tell. And it says it handles NTSC/ATSC but says nothing about PAL. :(

My Toshiba 42HL167 is NTSC/ATSC and 115V only too. I'm guessing since ATSC is only used in North America they probably figured why bother with 230V?

[tebling]

I have several US devices (most low wattage) that do not require a transformer, only a plug adapter. Several of them will be sitting in the same place, so here are a couple options:

* Buy one plug adapter. Put the adapter on my US surge protector, then plug all my international voltage devices directly into the surge protector.

* Buy a NZ surge protector. Buy multiple plug adapters, so that all my devices plug into the new surge protector.

Obviously the first option is more attractive since I'd only have to buy one plug adapter versus several. But I'm a bit skeptical about my US surge protector working on 240V (I'm betting that it would "work" but the surge protection circuit would either trigger immediately or never work properly).

Anyone know for sure?

[jdbob]

But I'm a bit skeptical about my US surge protector working on 240V (I'm betting that it would "work" but the surge protection circuit would either trigger immediately or never work properly).

The surge protectors (most likely a device called a Metal Oxide Varister) is probably rated for something like 200V and they would blow when you plug it into 240V.

[IanW99]

No expert on surge protector ratings, but according to Wiki, they normally cap the voltage at 330, 400 or 500V so in all cases they would probably still allow 240V NZ voltage through as normal.

Even if this isn't successful, another option which many do from the UK, is to just bring a multi-way adaptor for all those items that you can't change the plugs on and then just change the plug on the end of the multi-way adaptor to a NZ one. In your case you would of course need to make sure that you never plug a US device in that wasn't rated to handle 240V. You can still plug this multi-way adaptor into a NZ surge protector to protect them all.

BTW, Not sure if they call multi-way adaptors the same in the US, but here I mean a strip of sockets connected to an extension lead with a plug at the end.

Ian

[Susan&Dennis]

WOW. This was an INCREDIBLY useful thread. Can't thank you enough!!!! S

[richsadams]

Hi All,

It's been ages since I created the original post on this thread and a lot of water has passed under many bridges. Please accept my apologies for not responding to some of the questions posted and thanks to those that filled in the gaps. We lost touch with this forum but I came across the details and decided that if I could help anyone else moving to NZ that I need to as many, many good folks here helped us on our journey.

At the moment we are back in the U.S. We decided to return due to a serious illness on my wife's side of the family..."just too far from home" for her. All is well with the family member now and we ended up moving to Oregon. The area we're in is a lot like NZ, so that's some comfort.

We really REALLY miss NZ and all of the friends we made, but we'll probably be here state-side for a while. We have NZ Permanent Residence so we can come and go as we please and we'll likely settle back there one of these days. (Hopefully the U.S. dollar will recover by then.)

I'd be happy to help with any questions about NZ, electronics or otherwise, as time permits.

Hope you're all doing well and enjoying life!

[Tia Maria]

Wow, what an amazing thread - loads of time and effort must have gone into it! (Rep coming your way...)

Welcome back! :)

Cheers

Tia

[mackstann]

Download speed is around 250 mbps and up is about 150 mbps.

Small correction: 250mbps (megabits per second) would be insanely fast and is faster than a wired home network (which is 100mbps). What I believe you meant was kbps (kilobits per second).

[richsadams]

Wow, what an amazing thread - loads of time and effort must have gone into it! (Rep coming your way...)

Welcome back! :)

Cheers

TiaThanks for the kind words. It was a labour of love. I'll have to review it again to ensure that it's still accurate but I think most of it is still applicable.

It's good to be back!

[Bruckner]

Hey Rich,

Just wanted to say thanks for your thread. It was incredibly helpful when we made the move.

Emily

[cani]

Hi Rich, great to see you on here. I read your articles years ago and wondered how you made out. You sparked my interest in moving to NZ starting my plod. Not there yet, slowly but surely. The best to you and yours, thank you. Cheers, Kristina:yes

[richsadams]

Hey Rich,

Just wanted to say thanks for your thread. It was incredibly helpful when we made the move.

Emily

Hi Rich, great to see you on here. I read your articles years ago and wondered how you made out. You sparked my interest in moving to NZ starting my plod. Not there yet, slowly but surely. The best to you and yours, thank you. Cheers, Kristina:yesHi you two! Thanks again for the nice thoughts. Glad that you made it Emily! Hang in there Kristina, hopefully it'll be worth it! :nice1

[DanFromCali]

fyi ... i did finally hook up a 47" Vizio LCD that i bought from Costco b4 i left the states... works like a charm w/ just a wall plug adapter and MySki HDi thru an HDMI cable.

[canajanz]

Be prepared to pay more for less in NZ. As mentioned, all appliances are small here. When we first saw some front-load washers we thought they were toys! Most average about half the load size U.S. folks are used to.

I have a full [american] size MAYTAG washer and drier purchased new here in NZ
There are other models but none so robust.

[BkyMonster]

What a good thread.
Wanted to add that we used this site http://www.voltageconverters.com/ to buy plug adapters and a voltage transformer and are very pleased. The prices you will get for plug adapters here are about 25% of what you will pay at Radio Shack etc. Kind of wish we had bought more but are doing ok with the ones we brought.

Hope you like Oregon, we certainly are feeling less culture shock than if we had moved from Oregon to Mississippi or another state. :)

[canajanz]

RE the washer and dryer, would it not be possible to bring over the set and swap out the motors with kiwi ones? WE spent alot of time recently looking at the home appliances, and they were pretty pathetic. THe top of the line models all seemed like rickety plactic toy knock offs.
.

I have a set of full [american] size appliances .. MAYTAG
NZ new but everything else just like in the USA

Whirlpool and Westinghouse are already big into the friedge market and are adding to the bigger 'american size' market in the laundry department

[canajanz]

I've travelled back and forth with mu computer and all I ever had to do was buy it a new cord with the right plug on the end .. and for laptops that's the end that does NOT include the transformer so it's cheap.

I found it easier to just get an adsl cable with the 'right' telecom connection.

[richsadams]

I have a full [american] size MAYTAG washer and drier purchased new here in NZ
There are other models but none so robust.I should go back and update my original post. They were importing more-or-less full sized washers and dryers just as we were leaving. The prices were pretty scary though. :eek: Hopefully that's improved as well.

[richsadams]

I have a set of full [american] size appliances .. MAYTAG
NZ new but everything else just like in the USA

Whirlpool and Westinghouse are already big into the friedge market and are adding to the bigger 'american size' market in the laundry departmentThe downside to any "larger" appliances is that the typical Kiwi home isn't able to accomodate them without some remodeling if at all. We brought our full-sized refrigerator with us but it was too large to put in our seaside Tauranga home's kitchen. It was a typical U.S. Admiral model; single door, etc. It was too wide and stuck out from the wall too far. So it ended up in our garage and we had to buy a new Fisher and Paykel. We would have never been able to have an "American" sized washer or dryer for the same reason. :no

Some newer houses like the one we had in Auckland were built with more space, but most NZ homes just cannot handle "American-sized" appliances.

[richsadams]

What a good thread.
Wanted to add that we used this site http://www.voltageconverters.com/ to buy plug adapters and a voltage transformer and are very pleased. The prices you will get for plug adapters here are about 25% of what you will pay at Radio Shack etc. Kind of wish we had bought more but are doing ok with the ones we brought.

Hope you like Oregon, we certainly are feeling less culture shock than if we had moved from Oregon to Mississippi or another state. :)Glad you received some good pricing on adapters. The markup on them is amazing so going directly to the source was a good move. :nice1

Oregon is great. It reminds us of NZ in a number of ways, particularly when we drive to the beach...but on the other side of the road. :) It also makes us miss it too. (NZ that is...not the other side of the road. :laugh )

[Castle]

Lights

Floor and table lamps that use incandescent bulbs will work in NZ. You’ll simply need to buy US to NZ plug adapters and new light bulbs once you get here!


Is this true? US lamps will run fine on 240V with no transformer?

Also has anyone brought over a KitchenAid stand mixer from the US and used with a transformer? Does it run slowly?

Thanks

[dilanium]

I've travelled back and forth with mu computer and all I ever had to do was buy it a new cord with the right plug on the end .. and for laptops that's the end that does NOT include the transformer so it's cheap.

I found it easier to just get an adsl cable with the 'right' telecom connection.

All I've done is put a plug adapter on my computer- works perfectly and cost less than a new cord. :nice1

[IanW99]

Is this true? US lamps will run fine on 240V with no transformer?

Also has anyone brought over a KitchenAid stand mixer from the US and used with a transformer? Does it run slowly?

Thanks

The point on lamps may be a little misleading as some lamps may include other electronics e.g. touch sensors, dimmer etc so may not be a blanket statement.

But, yes if your lamp is a plain standard lamp, then just replacing the bulb should be fine without needing a transformer.

For the mixer, I guess it will depend on if it uses the mains frequency to determine speed, if it does then yes it will run 20% slower. You could ask the manufacturer or service centre how they regulate the speed.

Ian

[richsadams]

The point on lamps may be a little misleading as some lamps may include other electronics e.g. touch sensors, dimmer etc so may not be a blanket statement.

But, yes if your lamp is a plain standard lamp, then just replacing the bulb should be fine without needing a transformer.

For the mixer, I guess it will depend on if it uses the mains frequency to determine speed, if it does then yes it will run 20% slower. You could ask the manufacturer or service centre how they regulate the speed.

IanGood point on the lamps, hadn't considered touch sensors, etc. Not sure what the results might be, if any difference. Our "normal" U.S. lamps worked fine with NZ light bulbs and a plug adapter though.

One of our friends is using a transformer to power their high-end mixer/blender and they report it's been fine for more than a year now.

[Castle]

Thanks for the replies on the lamps and mixer.

Last one... Anyone bring a US Wii over? The AC adapter says 52 Watts. So a 200W transformer should be fine, yes?

[richsadams]

Thanks for the replies on the lamps and mixer.

Last one... Anyone bring a US Wii over? The AC adapter says 52 Watts. So a 200W transformer should be fine, yes?Wii's, X-boxes, Play Stations etc. are fine using a transformer. However IIRC some folks have simply purchased a replacement AC adapter. In other words what you have now is already a transformer (110-120v) so you'd just need a 220-240v 52 watt adapter (with the proper connectors or adapters of course). Since most game systems are sold overseas you may be able to get one directly from the manufacturer.

[seattle]

I have been following this thread and went straight to it and found the answer to my question on whether a wii would work (Thanks Rich for this thread!)

Another question- we were thinking about having an electrician remove our chandelier so we can bring it with us. Is it possible that it can be re-wired and work in a NZ home? It uses 6 small bulbs (has a bit of sentimental value). Same with a couple of small lamp sconces. Thanks!

[dilanium]

A U.S. PlayStation 3 works on NZ voltage out of the box. No transformer needed, you just need a plug adapter.

A U.S. Wii will NOT work on NZ voltage, and neither will a U.S. Nintendo DS. You'll need a voltage transformer for any Nintendo devices. The Wii has a running wattage of about 21 watts, so if you get a 100 watt voltage transformer like we did, you'll be more than set.

[IanW99]

A U.S. PlayStation 3 works on NZ voltage out of the box. No transformer needed, you just need a plug adapter.

A U.S. Wii will NOT work on NZ voltage, and neither will a U.S. Nintendo DS. You'll need a voltage transformer for any Nintendo devices. The Wii has a running wattage of about 21 watts, so if you get a 100 watt voltage transformer like we did, you'll be more than set.

I seem to remember that the U.S. PS3 may or may not have a PSU that will cope with 220-240V and you had to open it up to confirm as the external label says that it is only suitable for 110V.

Has this changed? Can you confirm that in fact all U.S. PS3s can cope in NZ without needing a transformer?

For the Nintendo devices, I would certainly be looking at buying a replacement for the PSU that will work in NZ, rather than buying a transformer to use with the original PSU.

Ian

[richsadams]

I have been following this thread and went straight to it and found the answer to my question on whether a wii would work (Thanks Rich for this thread!)

Another question- we were thinking about having an electrician remove our chandelier so we can bring it with us. Is it possible that it can be re-wired and work in a NZ home? It uses 6 small bulbs (has a bit of sentimental value). Same with a couple of small lamp sconces. Thanks!You should be able to bring your chandelier and sconces with you...no rewiring needed. A local electrician can connect them for you. The only challenge might be finding bulbs that fit. Lighting Plus (http://www.lightingplus.co.nz) and Mitre 10 (http://www.mitre10.co.nz) (Kiwi version of Home Depot, orange paint and all) both carry a wide range of light bulbs so you shouldn't have too much trouble.

BTW, keep in mind that if you (or anyone) bring electrical items that you plan on using a transformer with, the light bulbs will need to be for the original voltage. For instance we brought our U.S. refrigerator and used a transformer (worked great). The lights inside of it needed to be 110V of course so we brought a few extras with us. We still have them...world traveled light bulbs! :laugh