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This page describes how you can use 120V rated US devices in the UK, where the mais is 240V.

Summary

People moving from US or Canada to the UK or Europe sometimes bring portable appliances with them which they would like to use in their new country of residence. Some devices are universal but this is very often not the case and you could need a transformer that could cost more than the device is worth. This page should enable you to determine what you need, if anything.

Safety

Simply plugging a North American device into a European mains socket, perhaps via a simple adapter may well destroy the device and may create a fire hazard.

Main section

You need to look at the ratings plate, usually on the back of the device. There are 2 key ratings to look at: (a) The voltage (electrical pressure) it's designed to work with. US devices will normally say 110V whereas in the UK, the mains is 240V, which will kill a 110V device. However, some TVs and audio/visual devices may say 110-240V, in which case all you have to do is replace the mains plug with a UK one. Some older devices may have a switch on the back to convert between 110 and 240V (probably need a screwdriver to switch the switch). (b) If it's a 110V only device you need to look at the wattage. It'll say something like 40W, or 750W (or any other number of watts). In this case you need a transformer to convert 240V to 110V, rated for the number of watts of your device. (Note that a transformer may be rated in VA, not Watts. The difference is technical and needn't concern you.) For anything rated much over 100W the transformer will probably cost more than the device is worth, but for small audio/visual equipment, hair straighteners (but not hair dryers), lamps etc something like this should do (though I don't see a CE mark - slightly concerning): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313914115501?hash=item4916bd45ad:g:BPYAAOSwhDBiMAz2 A builder's transformer such as this will drive higher power devices (with an adapter on the output), but not cheap!: https://www.screwfix.com/.../carroll-meynell-3000va.../84144