Buying a clothes dryer and a dishwasher in China...

[rogerluli]

We have so many experts here on every imaginable topic so I bet you guys can help me out with a 'lectricity question. Do electrons spin the other way in China???

 

But seriously the extent of my knowledge in this field is to plug stuff in and flip a switch... after that I'm in the dark...

 

So anywho I have a bunch of table lamps and some ceiling fixtures that I would like to keep and take to China. I know their 'lectricity is different... is it 220/50 and ours is 110/60 or whatever that means but what would have to be done to incandescent lamps to make them work there... changing wiring, sockets, doodads, whatxits...Is this rocket science and I'd be better off selling the lamps here or what???

[toy_rn65]

Ok, here is an update from my last trip to China.

For the use of dish washer, there is Cascade (family size) for sale in the Friendship Store in BJ. I would assume it would be availiable in other Friendship Store also but ya'll know what "assume" stands for. I even saw pakages of Jet Dry in a couple of the large supermarkets in BJ. There must be a demand for these items, otherwise they wouldn't have them on the shelves.

For the use of clothes dryers, there is Bounce dryer sheets in the Friendship Store in BJ and they were even the regular size pakages.

As for the price of these item, I can't recall but they didn't jump out at me at the time as being too high compare to the price in the US.

[Randy W]

We have so many experts here on every imaginable topic so I bet you guys can help me out with a 'lectricity question. Do electrons spin the other way in China???

 

But seriously the extent of my knowledge in this field is to plug stuff in and flip a switch... after that I'm in the dark...

 

So anywho I have a bunch of table lamps and some ceiling fixtures that I would like to keep and take to China. I know their 'lectricity is different... is it 220/50 and ours is 110/60 or whatever that means but what would have to be done to incandescent lamps to make them work there... changing wiring, sockets, doodads, whatxits...Is this rocket science and I'd be better off selling the lamps here or what???

 

 

If you have 220 and ground I think you can pick off either hot wire and ground to get 110. Perhaps an electrician can verify that.

 

Go out back and look inside your breaker box. That's how it's wired. My old house that was built in 1952 carried 220 volts through the attic - then each socket was fed by 2 wires, one from a hot wire, the other from ground.

 

The 50 cycles won't affect lighting.

 

Then, on the other hand, you could simply buy new bulbs in China if they fit the socket.

[rogerluli]

We have so many experts here on every imaginable topic so I bet you guys can help me out with a 'lectricity question. Do electrons spin the other way in China???

 

But seriously the extent of my knowledge in this field is to plug stuff in and flip a switch... after that I'm in the dark...

 

So anywho I have a bunch of table lamps and some ceiling fixtures that I would like to keep and take to China. I know their 'lectricity is different... is it 220/50 and ours is 110/60 or whatever that means but what would have to be done to incandescent lamps to make them work there... changing wiring, sockets, doodads, whatxits...Is this rocket science and I'd be better off selling the lamps here or what???

 

 

If you have 220 and ground I think you can pick off either hot wire and ground to get 110. Perhaps an electrician can verify that.

 

Go out back and look inside your breaker box. That's how it's wired. My old house that was built in 1952 carried 220 volts through the attic - then each socket was fed by 2 wires, one from a hot wire, the other from ground.

 

The 50 cycles won't affect lighting.

 

Then, on the other hand, you could simply buy new bulbs in China if they fit the socket.

 

Ha...you think an olde house was built in 1952??? Try 1910...

 

Randy you lost me with the first sentence... I need the "for dummies" take on this...You seem to be saying I can just screw Chinese bulbs into my lamps and badda-bing...light???

[Randy W]

We have so many experts here on every imaginable topic so I bet you guys can help me out with a 'lectricity question. Do electrons spin the other way in China???

 

But seriously the extent of my knowledge in this field is to plug stuff in and flip a switch... after that I'm in the dark...

 

So anywho I have a bunch of table lamps and some ceiling fixtures that I would like to keep and take to China. I know their 'lectricity is different... is it 220/50 and ours is 110/60 or whatever that means but what would have to be done to incandescent lamps to make them work there... changing wiring, sockets, doodads, whatxits...Is this rocket science and I'd be better off selling the lamps here or what???

 

 

If you have 220 and ground I think you can pick off either hot wire and ground to get 110. Perhaps an electrician can verify that.

 

Go out back and look inside your breaker box. That's how it's wired. My old house that was built in 1952 carried 220 volts through the attic - then each socket was fed by 2 wires, one from a hot wire, the other from ground.

 

The 50 cycles won't affect lighting.

 

Then, on the other hand, you could simply buy new bulbs in China if they fit the socket.

 

Ha...you think an olde house was built in 1952??? Try 1910...

 

Randy you lost me with the first sentence... I need the "for dummies" take on this...You seem to be saying I can just screw Chinese bulbs into my lamps and badda-bing...light???

 

 

The light bulb is the only part that uses any current. The wiring simply carries the current to the bulb. Unless the socket is metric or something like that, you should be okay.

 

Check your lamp to see how easy/difficult it would be (worst case) to replace the socket.

 

Try one next trip. Buy a cheap lamp with a standard sized socket to take with you.

[toy_rn65]

We have so many experts here on every imaginable topic so I bet you guys can help me out with a 'lectricity question. Do electrons spin the other way in China???

 

But seriously the extent of my knowledge in this field is to plug stuff in and flip a switch... after that I'm in the dark...

 

So anywho I have a bunch of table lamps and some ceiling fixtures that I would like to keep and take to China. I know their 'lectricity is different... is it 220/50 and ours is 110/60 or whatever that means but what would have to be done to incandescent lamps to make them work there... changing wiring, sockets, doodads, whatxits...Is this rocket science and I'd be better off selling the lamps here or what???

 

 

If you have 220 and ground I think you can pick off either hot wire and ground to get 110. Perhaps an electrician can verify that.

 

Go out back and look inside your breaker box. That's how it's wired. My old house that was built in 1952 carried 220 volts through the attic - then each socket was fed by 2 wires, one from a hot wire, the other from ground.

 

The 50 cycles won't affect lighting.

 

Then, on the other hand, you could simply buy new bulbs in China if they fit the socket.

 

Ha...you think an olde house was built in 1952??? Try 1910...

 

Randy you lost me with the first sentence... I need the "for dummies" take on this...You seem to be saying I can just screw Chinese bulbs into my lamps and badda-bing...light???

 

Your right Roger, if your light fixtures don't involve any transformer inside them, yes, just screw a Chinese light bulb into the socket, splice a Chinese plug onto the wire, plug it in and... badda-bing... thou shall have light!!!

[rogerluli]

We have so many experts here on every imaginable topic so I bet you guys can help me out with a 'lectricity question. Do electrons spin the other way in China???

 

But seriously the extent of my knowledge in this field is to plug stuff in and flip a switch... after that I'm in the dark...

 

So anywho I have a bunch of table lamps and some ceiling fixtures that I would like to keep and take to China. I know their 'lectricity is different... is it 220/50 and ours is 110/60 or whatever that means but what would have to be done to incandescent lamps to make them work there... changing wiring, sockets, doodads, whatxits...Is this rocket science and I'd be better off selling the lamps here or what???

 

 

If you have 220 and ground I think you can pick off either hot wire and ground to get 110. Perhaps an electrician can verify that.

 

Go out back and look inside your breaker box. That's how it's wired. My old house that was built in 1952 carried 220 volts through the attic - then each socket was fed by 2 wires, one from a hot wire, the other from ground.

 

The 50 cycles won't affect lighting.

 

Then, on the other hand, you could simply buy new bulbs in China if they fit the socket.

 

Ha...you think an olde house was built in 1952??? Try 1910...

 

Randy you lost me with the first sentence... I need the "for dummies" take on this...You seem to be saying I can just screw Chinese bulbs into my lamps and badda-bing...light???

 

 

The light bulb is the only part that uses any current. The wiring simply carries the current to the bulb. Unless the socket is metric or something like that, you should be okay.

 

Check your lamp to see how easy/difficult it would be (worst case) to replace the socket.

 

Try one next trip. Buy a cheap lamp with a standard sized socket to take with you.

 

Okay so the wiring doesn't care if it's got 110 or 220 going through it??? then how come 220 stuff here has much bigger wiring??? because it draws more amps... whew I'm an elctricisn...

[Randy W]

Okay so the wiring doesn't care if it's got 110 or 220 going through it??? then how come 220 stuff here has much bigger wiring??? because it draws more amps... whew I'm an elctricisn...

 

Yes - the reason they go to 220 here is for appliances that need more wattage - AC, dryer - the wiring for a 220 volt appliance carries 1/2 the current, and wouldn't need to be as heavy.

Edited January 16, 2007 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Does anybody ever "click here if you don't wish to wait"? I usually just sit there and watch.

[rogerluli]

Does anybody ever "click here if you don't wish to wait"? I usually just sit there and watch.

 

Never tried it... I suspect my 'puter would slip a gear or something...

 

Thanks for the info Mr. Electric...

[rogerluli]

So I guess if anyone knows if Chinese and US lightbulb sockets are the same all my problems are over...

[SirLancelot]

We have so many experts here on every imaginable topic so I bet you guys can help me out with a 'lectricity question. Do electrons spin the other way in China???

 

But seriously the extent of my knowledge in this field is to plug stuff in and flip a switch... after that I'm in the dark...

 

 

I have always wondered this and never had the time to do some real research into the difference.

 

I'd like to know why the US uses 110 and most of the world uses 220. There must be pros and cons to each system. So for the experts, can you please explain why the US uses 110 and Europe and China use 220 volts? Please explain the pros and cons of using both systems.

 

Thanks!

Edited January 17, 2007 by SirLancelot (see edit history)

[Randy W]

We have so many experts here on every imaginable topic so I bet you guys can help me out with a 'lectricity question. Do electrons spin the other way in China???

 

But seriously the extent of my knowledge in this field is to plug stuff in and flip a switch... after that I'm in the dark...

 

 

I have always wondered this and never had the time to do some real research into the difference.

 

I'd like to know why the US uses 110 and most of the world uses 220. There must be pros and cons to each system. So for the experts, can you please explain why the US uses 110 and Europe and China use 220 volts? Please explain the pros and cons of using both systems.

 

Thanks!

 

 

220 provides more power with less amperage, while 110 is safer.

 

Higher voltages are used for transmission because they require less current, and less loss is incurred. At lower voltages, more current is required. The conducting wire itself generates a resistance (loss).

[SirLancelot]

 

 

220 provides more power with less amperage, while 110 is safer.

 

Higher voltages are used for transmission because they require less current, and less loss is incurred. At lower voltages, more current is required. The conducting wire itself generates a resistance (loss).

 

So what you're saying--if I understand correctly--is that our US 110 volts is safer but is actually less efficient than the 220 volt system with regards to receiving the same amount of energy (transmission). Is this correct?

 

We're basically sacrificing some efficiency for safety?

[Randy W]

 

 

220 provides more power with less amperage, while 110 is safer.

 

Higher voltages are used for transmission because they require less current, and less loss is incurred. At lower voltages, more current is required. The conducting wire itself generates a resistance (loss).

 

So what you're saying--if I understand correctly--is that our US 110 volts is safer but is actually less efficient than the 220 volt system with regards to receiving the same amount of energy (transmission). Is this correct?

 

We're basically sacrificing some efficiency for safety?

 

I believe that's true - I don't know of any other advantages to 110.

 

But anytime they tell you to use a short extension cord because of the current, with 220, you could use a cord twice as long.