Electrical items from UK to OZ
Discussion
So just packing some stuff to take down under.
Just wanted some advice. Will all UK electricals work OK in OZ? I'm thinking about the TV, Fridge, Dyson, XBOX 360 + Kinect, the OH's hairdryer + straighteners, all that sort of gear...
Will we need to get the plugs switched or will we be ok just to use adaptors?
With regards to the Xbox, I think the Kinect should work on any sort of Xbox, be it purchased in the UK or OZ, can anyone confirm this please? I've also heard the games are region free, so should be compatable.
Thanks in advance
Just wanted some advice. Will all UK electricals work OK in OZ? I'm thinking about the TV, Fridge, Dyson, XBOX 360 + Kinect, the OH's hairdryer + straighteners, all that sort of gear...
Will we need to get the plugs switched or will we be ok just to use adaptors?
With regards to the Xbox, I think the Kinect should work on any sort of Xbox, be it purchased in the UK or OZ, can anyone confirm this please? I've also heard the games are region free, so should be compatable.
Thanks in advance
Yep pretty much with one exception which I will come to in a bit.
You just need to get the plugs changed, I bought a load of black ones on line (side entry as they take up less room) which were difficult to find as could only get white and grey from shops...but anyway, changing them is easy if time consuming. They don't have plug fuses generally over here, but then when was the last time you changed a fuse in an appliance?
TVs - I did not know this when I arrived but digital TV works on a different broadcast encryption so you will need a digibox of some description to use the TV over here. TVs are pretty cheap here too I would say, so don't buy one if you are thinking of it. If you have a great TV you want to bring thats fine (I did initially) but you'll need a freeview type box like the uk or Foxtel (sky). On its own you won't get a picture even if it has a tuner in built.
That is all, HTH.
You just need to get the plugs changed, I bought a load of black ones on line (side entry as they take up less room) which were difficult to find as could only get white and grey from shops...but anyway, changing them is easy if time consuming. They don't have plug fuses generally over here, but then when was the last time you changed a fuse in an appliance?
TVs - I did not know this when I arrived but digital TV works on a different broadcast encryption so you will need a digibox of some description to use the TV over here. TVs are pretty cheap here too I would say, so don't buy one if you are thinking of it. If you have a great TV you want to bring thats fine (I did initially) but you'll need a freeview type box like the uk or Foxtel (sky). On its own you won't get a picture even if it has a tuner in built.
That is all, HTH.
I bought my xbox and it plays UK and Aussie games.
However, I did read on another forum that some people have to re-register for a new XBox Live account. I had no problems but it could be because the email address associated with it is from hotmail.com and not hotmail.co.uk ?? Alternatively, it could just be duff information on the other forum!
Be careful with fridges, freezers and washing machines etc. Quarantine are always on the look out for mould etc. and appliances that get damp or wet are highly likely to get some growth during the journey.
Make sure you clean the Dyson to perfection before packing it. Remove all filters and throw them away etc. Its worth bringing though as they're very expensive over here. We bought a new Miele upright in John Lewis before we left and are very pleased we did.
White good can be expensive here. We recently paid $850 for a Bosch washing machine which is the model below what we had in the UK. The UK one cost us less than 500 pounds.
If you have a lot of TV/DVD type devices that will be located in one place, bring a few UK multi-sockets with you and put an Aussie plug on the end. We left UK plugs on our DVD player, XBox and TV etc. then plugged them into the trailing socket. Its also a handy place to plug in mobile chargers that you cant change over.
However, I did read on another forum that some people have to re-register for a new XBox Live account. I had no problems but it could be because the email address associated with it is from hotmail.com and not hotmail.co.uk ?? Alternatively, it could just be duff information on the other forum!
Be careful with fridges, freezers and washing machines etc. Quarantine are always on the look out for mould etc. and appliances that get damp or wet are highly likely to get some growth during the journey.
Make sure you clean the Dyson to perfection before packing it. Remove all filters and throw them away etc. Its worth bringing though as they're very expensive over here. We bought a new Miele upright in John Lewis before we left and are very pleased we did.
White good can be expensive here. We recently paid $850 for a Bosch washing machine which is the model below what we had in the UK. The UK one cost us less than 500 pounds.
If you have a lot of TV/DVD type devices that will be located in one place, bring a few UK multi-sockets with you and put an Aussie plug on the end. We left UK plugs on our DVD player, XBox and TV etc. then plugged them into the trailing socket. Its also a handy place to plug in mobile chargers that you cant change over.
Edited by 200bhp on Monday 26th November 23:15
200bhp said:
However, I did read on another forum that some people have to re-register for a new XBox Live account. I had no problems but it could be because the email address associated with it is from hotmail.com and not hotmail.co.uk ?? Alternatively, it could just be duff information on the other forum!
If you want working Aussie apps etc. (like Fox instead of Sky and E4) you need an Aussie Live account.You then can't change your country or transfer MS points. And you have the hard bit, thinking of another alias.
I think it'll also cause issue when playing on-line as it'll try to connect to players from your location, and the ping might be too slow.
Just to add, we have a UK fridge (changed plug), TV (got new kettle lead), stereo (lead) hairdryers/GHDs (plug), alarm clocks (plug), lamps (plug). Plugs are cheap and easy to swap if you are not a div, and for the stuff we could I asked our IT department for new cables.
Edited by Bibbs on Tuesday 27th November 00:14
Yes, as I understand it TV's are largely built for the world market, and it's a case of finding the right menu on almost all of them to switch to the correct settings to get them working over here. But TV's do seem well priced over here so if you think it's time for an upgrade you'd do well to buy a new smart 3D LED Super duper 50" telly here. Xboxes and PS3's aren't bad either if you do need to buy new.
Laptop works fine on Aussie power.
Mobiles (iphone 4S bought direct sim free from apple and HTC Desire Z on Uk T-Mobile contract) have both worked fine with aussie sims chucked in them, just make sure yours isn't sim locked to a UK network.
Worth bringing as many white goods as you can over though, even if you buy new in the UK, debox and "rough them up" a bit but leave them clean for customs. Hoovers, fridges, freezers, washers and driers are all very expensive here (Perth at least).
Laptop works fine on Aussie power.
Mobiles (iphone 4S bought direct sim free from apple and HTC Desire Z on Uk T-Mobile contract) have both worked fine with aussie sims chucked in them, just make sure yours isn't sim locked to a UK network.
Worth bringing as many white goods as you can over though, even if you buy new in the UK, debox and "rough them up" a bit but leave them clean for customs. Hoovers, fridges, freezers, washers and driers are all very expensive here (Perth at least).
Bibbs said:
I think it'll also cause issue when playing on-line as it'll try to connect to players from your location, and the ping might be too slow.
[/footnote]
I'd not thought of that although it doesnt seem to have caused me any problems so far. There is a country option in the XBox settings menu, not sure what changes that makes though.[/footnote]
200bhp said:
I'd not thought of that although it doesnt seem to have caused me any problems so far. There is a country option in the XBox settings menu, not sure what changes that makes though.
Must just be the app store type stuff then. I couldn't get the Sky option off my dashboard and replaced with Fox till I signed up with a new id 
Thanks for the replies. Some useful info there.
I'm aware that 'white goods' are a bit more pricey over in OZ. Hopefully we wont need to upgrade anything for at least a year or so and by then we'll be used to spending Aus money so it shouldn't seem as expensive.
The TV is about 3 years old, I'm sure I'll be able to sort that out. The main reason I asked on here about electricals, is because my OH thought she'd read somewhere that we'd need some sort of transformer for each one due to running on a different current.
I don't play my XBOX too often, my live subscription ran out in Sept, and I haven't renewed it, so no real issue there.
Cheers
I'm aware that 'white goods' are a bit more pricey over in OZ. Hopefully we wont need to upgrade anything for at least a year or so and by then we'll be used to spending Aus money so it shouldn't seem as expensive.
The TV is about 3 years old, I'm sure I'll be able to sort that out. The main reason I asked on here about electricals, is because my OH thought she'd read somewhere that we'd need some sort of transformer for each one due to running on a different current.
I don't play my XBOX too often, my live subscription ran out in Sept, and I haven't renewed it, so no real issue there.
Cheers
Buy UK>Aus travel adaptors in the UK, I think you can get 6 for a tenner or something on ebay.
They're $10+ each here. They'r all you need. Voltage/phase is the same.
I know this because we packed all ours with our shipping, then landed and realised we couldn't charge our phones or laptop.
They're $10+ each here. They'r all you need. Voltage/phase is the same.
I know this because we packed all ours with our shipping, then landed and realised we couldn't charge our phones or laptop.
WeirdNeville said:
Buy UK>Aus travel adaptors in the UK, I think you can get 6 for a tenner or something on ebay.
They're $10+ each here. They'r all you need. Voltage/phase is the same.
I know this because we packed all ours with our shipping, then landed and realised we couldn't charge our phones or laptop.
An easier way for stuff you are bringing over like hifi/cinema setups or tools in a workshop is to bring over UK powerboards and change the plug end for an Aussie 3 pin one, and use them were you are going to put a few UK plugged items.They're $10+ each here. They'r all you need. Voltage/phase is the same.
I know this because we packed all ours with our shipping, then landed and realised we couldn't charge our phones or laptop.
It is also handy to have in bedrooms when family/friends visit from the uk, and they can plug in their phone chargers, laptops etc. with no hassle (and they probably didn't think to bring adapters!!!)
My washing machine arrived with mould in it (left the instructions in there so I wouldn't lose them!) and stunk, but they were ok about it.
They checked the vacuum cleaner to make sure there was no bag in it (which there wasn't as the packers knew to remove it)
Your TV should work if you have the option to change it for Spain or Portugal (mine do).
I bought 20 plug adapters from eBay before I left. £1 each ensured a cheap solution!
Everything else worked as it did in the UK.
PS. Electricity is bloody expensive over here!
They checked the vacuum cleaner to make sure there was no bag in it (which there wasn't as the packers knew to remove it)
Your TV should work if you have the option to change it for Spain or Portugal (mine do).
I bought 20 plug adapters from eBay before I left. £1 each ensured a cheap solution!
Everything else worked as it did in the UK.
PS. Electricity is bloody expensive over here!
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