If I wanted to buy an electrical appliance from another country, but it's not suitable for U.S. plugs and?

Question

voltage, is there something I can buy to make it suitable? Thanks.

Answer 1

There are several problems with what you want to do. The first is voltage, the second is frequency, the third is power and the final one is safely.

Voltage can be overcome with a transformer - costly but doable.

Frequency is a much tougher problem if the appliance has a motor that depends on the frequency to run properly. If you run something on 60 cycles that should run on 50 cycles it will run faster than it should. Frequency convertors are also available but would probably cost as much or more than an expensive appliance.

Power requirements will determine how big a transformer or frequency converter you need. The bigger the power requirements, the larger the unit you need.

Finally SAFETY, the biggest concern of all. Underwriter's Laboratory tests appliances for safety and the ones that pass have the right to display the UL label. If you buy from another country you run the risk of an unsafe appliance that could harm you.

So to answer your question, yes you can but you have to figure out if it is worth your time, money and safety.

Answer 2

You would have to buy an inverter. What that would do would boost 120 v to 220 v. It would not really be worth it as it is around the size of a battery. Now you can also check behind the appliance and see if you are lucky and it has a voltage selector. But to me not worth buying it.

Answer 3

I think you can buy adapters at electronics stores or travel stores. Not completely sure about that one, though.