U.S. Vs NZ Electronics - What to Bring
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richsadams
Electronics Guru
Joined: 19 Dec 2003
Posts: 156
Location: Formerly the U.S. now in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand!
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Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 2:51 pm Post subject: Juice |
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Hi Sesame 
Quick reply as I'm still using the neighbor's computer...
Most of the items you mentioned will work if you utilize a step-down transformer/converter. If you can locate them near each other I'd recommend using only a couple of transformers with double the wattage required to operate whatever it is you're bringing. In other words, if each one used 150 watts and you had four you would need two 600 watt transformers. Depending on the type, etc. one transformer would run around US$75 to US$150. Weigh that against the life of the equipment (which can be somewhat shorter as they will run slightly slower/hotter at 50Hz), convenience (of having it plugged into a transformer), replacement costs in NZ, etc.
Everything you mentioned is available here, but the cost is about 10% to 20% higher than in the U.S. (Other things are on par or cheaper like DVD players).
And keep in mind one caveat...if it uses a timer, it will not work here...timers utilize 60Hz AC (alternating current) to keep time and everything is 50Hz here. Also if whatever it is utilizes heat it will not work properly either (bread maker, etc.)
Transformers are available here as well, but again the cost is a bit more than the U.S. Transformers are all heavy and could add to shipping costs if you bring them in.
Hope that helps. I'll recap and write lots more about electronics and many other impressions as soon as we have Internet access hooked up...hopefully by Tuesday!  |
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Raeven
Valued Member
Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 156
Location: Central Coast of California
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Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiicccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!
Man, we miss you!!!!!!!!!!!
Can't wait to hear how you're settling in.. hope all is well!!
Stephen and I put our house up for sale this week and hope to be joining the migrant stream by September. We're to the fish-or-cut-bait stage.. hearing your impressions will be so welcome!!
All our best wishes are with you.
Take care, Rae |
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SoCal Gal
I Like It Here
Joined: 30 Jan 2004
Posts: 84
Location: San Diego, CA
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Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 9:02 am Post subject: US vs NZ Electronics |
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Hi Rich and Rae!
back from Hawaii, but want to skip that and go straight to NZ! Rae, I'm so excited that you put your house up, keep me posted! We are trying our best to get rid of things, but I just brought back a bunch of junk with me (I swear, I don't know how it got in my luggage!) but we'll be minimalists in NZ!
Miss you all!
SoCal Gal  |
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nancy
Testing The Water
Joined: 01 Aug 2004
Posts: 4
Location: US
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Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 11:41 am Post subject: |
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Hi Rich,
Thanks for this great information. Now that you're in New Zealand do you think we should bring all of our things from the States along with a transformer? Or should we buy a transformer in New Zealand? Or should we just take nothing and replace everything in New Zealand?
Nancy |
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richsadams
Electronics Guru
Joined: 19 Dec 2003
Posts: 156
Location: Formerly the U.S. now in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand!
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Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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| nancy wrote: | Hi Rich,
Thanks for this great information. Now that you're in New Zealand do you think we should bring all of our things from the States along with a transformer? Or should we buy a transformer in New Zealand? Or should we just take nothing and replace everything in New Zealand?
Nancy |
Hi Nancy!
Wow, that's a loaded question!  I'd hate to be held responsible for things either way! 
It really depends on what you have, how much it cost, and if your mother-in-law will ever visit and find out you gave her Christmas present away. 
One thing first...COMPUTERS - both laptop and desktop. Bring them! They will work here.  (See above recommendations.)
Seriously, it's really hard to say. Maybe an example might help...
We loved our refrigerator which was only a couple of years old and a fairly expensive model. We bought a transformer for it and brought it along. Well, it turns out that it won't fit in the kitchen of the house we bought (being too wide and too deep.) We could have had the space widened, but it would have stuck out into the kitchen too far. So we had to buy a new one and keep ours in the garage. 
On the other hand, I couldn't part with my home theater system (again, fairly high-end) and brought it and an appropriate transformer along. We purchased a new TV, DVD player and VCR and we're very happy with everything. 
You could easily replace most everything here. It will probably cost you about 20% more than in the U.S. But then you'd have all brand-new things all of which will work here w/o transformers or adapters and would have someone to work on them if they quit working.
So it really depends on a couple of things; the quality and cost of what you have. If it's sub-standard quality I'd sell it and buy new. If it's normal quality...that's a judgement call. You have to calculate how old it is, how much it will cost to not only replace it with new, but how much it will cost to insure and ship as well as the cost of a transformer to make it work. If it's expensive I'd probably bring it along if you can afford it. One, because it will cost a good deal more to replace it here and two, you may not even be able to find an equivelent item here.
NOTE: This all presumes that whatever it is will work here (again, see above electrical “lessons”).
Transformers are more expensive here. (I can’t make further recommendations because the NZIS is just now completing our Invitation to Apply for Permanent Residence. )
Bottom line? You can do just fine buying all new here. Just be prepared to spend a little more. I’m glad we brought the things that we did, but I might have left some of it behind now that I’m here. We have certainly done our part to keep the NZ economy humming! 
Hope that helps a bit.  |
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