Moving overseas: can i re-build at a different voltage?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lord Chicken
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Lord Chicken

Hey there, just a query; i'm moving from australia to england and i
want to take my computer with me. I was thinking of taking it apart
and then re-assembling it in enland. i know the voltage is different
overseas, so how would that affect my re-building? ....maybe i could
get a different cpu (different voltage)...but still keep all my add-on
cards (ethernet, soundcard, etc) and ram memory? ....is this possible?
ALSO could i even take it overseas?...i mean would something happen to
the electronics of the boards in an aeroplane for 28 hours?....i'm
mostly worried about my hard disk? should i wrap it in anything
special (like an iron box :) i don't know?).....

thanks alot
seeyas
 
Lord said:
Hey there, just a query; i'm moving from australia to england and i
want to take my computer with me. I was thinking of taking it apart
and then re-assembling it in enland. i know the voltage is different
overseas, so how would that affect my re-building? ....maybe i could
get a different cpu (different voltage)...but still keep all my add-on
cards (ethernet, soundcard, etc) and ram memory? ....is this possible?
ALSO could i even take it overseas?...i mean would something happen to
the electronics of the boards in an aeroplane for 28 hours?....i'm
mostly worried about my hard disk? should i wrap it in anything
special (like an iron box :) i don't know?).....

thanks alot
seeyas
Click to expand...

The only thing that moving to another country would affect is your power
supply. Nothing inside your computer actually uses more than 12 volts.
Your power supply takes the alternating current from a wall outlet,
turns it into direct current, and steps the voltage way down. Almost all
power supplies are capable of handling both 110 and 220 volt systems,
but I'm not sure what the standard voltage in England is. Worst case
scenario, you might have to buy a new power supply.
 
Hey there, just a query; i'm moving from australia to england and i
want to take my computer with me. I was thinking of taking it apart
and then re-assembling it in enland. i know the voltage is different
overseas, so how would that affect my re-building? ....maybe i could
get a different cpu (different voltage)...but still keep all my add-on
cards (ethernet, soundcard, etc) and ram memory? ....is this possible?
ALSO could i even take it overseas?...
Click to expand...

All you'll have to worry about is the power supply. Some supplies are
switchable, but if not, replace it.
i mean would something happen to
the electronics of the boards in an aeroplane for 28 hours?....i'm
mostly worried about my hard disk? should i wrap it in anything
special (like an iron box :) i don't know?).....
Click to expand...

A friend of mine took a laptop and a desktop without any problems. It
probably won't be a big issue.
 
Lord Chicken said:
Hey there, just a query; i'm moving from australia to england and i
want to take my computer with me. I was thinking of taking it apart
and then re-assembling it in enland. i know the voltage is different
overseas, so how would that affect my re-building? ....maybe i could
get a different cpu (different voltage)...but still keep all my add-on
cards (ethernet, soundcard, etc) and ram memory? ....is this possible?
ALSO could i even take it overseas?...i mean would something happen to
the electronics of the boards in an aeroplane for 28 hours?....i'm
mostly worried about my hard disk? should i wrap it in anything
special (like an iron box :) i don't know?).....

thanks alot
seeyas
Click to expand...

Well someone already said they're the same... but for future reference:
http://www.voltageconverters.com/cgi-bin/shopper.exe?preadd=action&key=VC100

Funny story -- when I moved to Germany, I plugged in my computer and hit the
power switch... forgetting to switch it over. WhrrrrrRRRRRPOP!!! Sounded
like a gunshot. New PSU was all it needed, luckily.
 
Cuzman said:
" the only problem i can see is that English weather is bloody awful
compared to the sunny climes of oz. "


...and therefore the cooling will be more efficient. ;)
Click to expand...



Ah....a bloody optimist :-)
 
When I went to Italy we used 220 - 110 transformers or converters.

They can probably be purchased somewhere.

However, there are probably some power supplies that have a voltage
selector that are designed for 220 or 110. I think 220 is a standard
in many countries. There are probably some sites on the internet that
sell transormers or travel pack converters.
 
Lord said:
Hey there, just a query; i'm moving from australia to england and i
want to take my computer with me. I was thinking of taking it apart
and then re-assembling it in enland. i know the voltage is different
overseas, so how would that affect my re-building? ....maybe i could
get a different cpu (different voltage)...but still keep all my add-on
cards (ethernet, soundcard, etc) and ram memory? ....is this possible?
ALSO could i even take it overseas?...i mean would something happen to
the electronics of the boards in an aeroplane for 28 hours?....i'm
mostly worried about my hard disk? should i wrap it in anything
special (like an iron box :) i don't know?).....

thanks alot
seeyas
Click to expand...

Hmm, Australia: 240v 50Hz, England: 240v 50Hz.

The only problem is that the sine wave of the power supply in England is
upside down, so obviously you need to fix this :-)
 
Hmm, Australia: 240v 50Hz, England: 240v 50Hz.

The only problem is that the sine wave of the power supply in England is
upside down, so obviously you need to fix this :-)
Click to expand...

For those who don't realize you're kidding;
there is no "fix" necessary.
 
Hey there, just a query; i'm moving from australia to england and i
want to take my computer with me. I was thinking of taking it apart
and then re-assembling it in enland. i know the voltage is different
overseas, so how would that affect my re-building? ....maybe i could
get a different cpu (different voltage)...but still keep all my add-on
cards (ethernet, soundcard, etc) and ram memory? ....is this possible?
ALSO could i even take it overseas?...i mean would something happen to
the electronics of the boards in an aeroplane for 28 hours?....i'm
mostly worried about my hard disk? should i wrap it in anything
special (like an iron box :) i don't know?).....

thanks alot
seeyas
Click to expand...

australia and uk use 240 volts..no problem...hard drive etc. will be
ok..there is an urban myth that electrnic media can be damaged by
airport scanners or cosmic rays but its not true.the only problem i
can see is that English weather is bloody awful compared to the sunny
climes of oz.
 
" the only problem i can see is that English weather is bloody awful
compared to the sunny climes of oz. "


....and therefore the cooling will be more efficient. ;)
 
BarryNL said:
.... snip ...

Hmm, Australia: 240v 50Hz, England: 240v 50Hz.

The only problem is that the sine wave of the power supply in
England is upside down, so obviously you need to fix this :-)
Click to expand...

No, one uses a sine wave, the other a cosine wave.
 
Actually England is 230V at 50Hz. Harmonized quite a few years ago due
to the EU. Mind you, voltage can, quite legally, vary from 216V upto
256V, and does! (it was the only way you could harmonise across so
many EU countries, have a large voltage differential). The only other
point is that the supply is generally well earthed, so no running a
cable to an earth spike. Just use the earth that is built into the
wiring system of the house etc. BTW. the computer cable should be 3
core, Brown - Live, Blue - Neutral and Green and Yellow - Earth; just
in case you end up wiring up a plug top, Despite everything, we Brit's
still like to try electricuting people. Anyone can carry out wiring
(although that might change shortly and some people might say about
time!)

regards
Graham
 
In message <<[email protected]>> "Pen"
England is 240V at 50HZ just like Australia.
Just get a new power cord as the wall outlets
are different.
Click to expand...

Sorry, my mistake... Well, actually a friend of mine made the mistake
and it stuck in my head when I should have remembered the phone call
from Aussieland as he told me that the power supply I imported and
shipped to the UK for him won't work down under.

I didn't do the research at the time, he just asked me if I could get a
120v/60Hz supply for some DV camera or something, and I ordered it from
the US and shipped it out to where he was living in the UK.
 
Thanks for all your help :)

.....and yeah the whether will be total crap (i hate hate hate the
cold), but i'm young and i want to travel somewhere, anywhere....and
england seems a good place to start
 
Might be nice to be able to plug in your monitor too...

England is 240V at 50HZ just like Australia.
Just get a new power cord as the wall outlets
are different.
http://www.r-e-d-inc.com/internat/intpower.htm
Click to expand...

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One thing is everyone uses the same motherboards. So just buy a power
supply that will work.
 
Lord Chicken said:
Hey there, just a query; i'm moving from australia to england and i
want to take my computer with me. I was thinking of taking it apart
and then re-assembling it in enland. i know the voltage is different
overseas, so how would that affect my re-building? ....maybe i could
get a different cpu (different voltage)...but still keep all my add-on
cards (ethernet, soundcard, etc) and ram memory? ....is this possible?
ALSO could i even take it overseas?...i mean would something happen to
the electronics of the boards in an aeroplane for 28 hours?....i'm
mostly worried about my hard disk? should i wrap it in anything
special (like an iron box :) i don't know?).....

thanks alot
seeyas
Click to expand...

I moved from Oz to England in 2001. Brought my 3 year old comp with me, just
wired new plugs on to the original power leads. That comp is still running
fine for my parents here.Steve
 
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