Do North American PCs work in Europe? I know the different voltages and frequencies often cause problems with electronic equipment and I want to be sure that my PC bought in North America will work over in Europe.
Thanks
Thanks
Computers in Europe
- Thread starter Javelin
- Start date
If your PS has the 115/235w switch on the back then you are fine, not sure about monitors though. 115 is for US and 245 is for Europe and basicly allmost the rest of the world. Thats because us Europians have better electrical system 
Thanks guys, so there is no problem with the frequency? I think Europe runs on 50hz... not sure about North america. And what about speakers, stereos and other electrical stuff?
thanks again.
thanks again.
- Oct 25, 1999
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USA, 110V A.C - 60cps - Europe 220V A.C - 50cps
1. You don?t get seriously injured from 110V (you have to stand barefoot on wet floor, or be a little kid).
2. You can get much more injured from 220V(personal experience).
3. If you have an instrument that uses 2200 Watts (hair dryer), the electrical current under 220V is 10A.
Under 110V, the current is 20A. It is called ?ohm law? Wattage=Voltage X Current, 1Watt=1Volt X 1A. Higher electrical current needs more copper in the wires, more copper cost more money (you make the inference).
American Instruments that work directly from the plug (hair dryers, vacuum cleaners, toaster oven etc.) can not work on 220v they will burn (you can get adtaptor that will make some of them work ? see your local Radio Shack). Instruments that have inside power supply and work on DC can work as long as the entry point to the instrument has switch for 220V. That includes computers, monitors, printers, scanners.
Instruments that are depending on reception like TV will not work out of the US, because US uses NTSC protocol. In Europe PAL or SECAM are used. Radio transmission is universal so there is no problem there.
Computer Monitor (looks like TV), but they get the signal from the video card thus have no problem working everywhere (as long as there switch to plug it to 220V).
Lap Top computer, no problem as long as your charger can work off 220V.
Dialup Internet connection varies from one country to the other. You must check before you go.
1. You don?t get seriously injured from 110V (you have to stand barefoot on wet floor, or be a little kid).
2. You can get much more injured from 220V(personal experience).
3. If you have an instrument that uses 2200 Watts (hair dryer), the electrical current under 220V is 10A.
Under 110V, the current is 20A. It is called ?ohm law? Wattage=Voltage X Current, 1Watt=1Volt X 1A. Higher electrical current needs more copper in the wires, more copper cost more money (you make the inference).
American Instruments that work directly from the plug (hair dryers, vacuum cleaners, toaster oven etc.) can not work on 220v they will burn (you can get adtaptor that will make some of them work ? see your local Radio Shack). Instruments that have inside power supply and work on DC can work as long as the entry point to the instrument has switch for 220V. That includes computers, monitors, printers, scanners.
Instruments that are depending on reception like TV will not work out of the US, because US uses NTSC protocol. In Europe PAL or SECAM are used. Radio transmission is universal so there is no problem there.
Computer Monitor (looks like TV), but they get the signal from the video card thus have no problem working everywhere (as long as there switch to plug it to 220V).
Lap Top computer, no problem as long as your charger can work off 220V.
Dialup Internet connection varies from one country to the other. You must check before you go.
<<1. You don?t get seriously injured from 110V (you have to stand barefoot on wet floor, or be a little kid).
2. You can get much more injured from 220V(personal experience).>>
Volts don't kill, amps do. I've had 80,000volts (almost no amps) go through my arm (chevy distributer, auto shop class). I guarantee you that if you connect the power out of a US residential plug to your body you will be dead before you hit the ground. If you don't believe me stick a fork in an electrical outlet (and stand in a bucket of water if you would like some real fun).
In the US, power is 3 phase and can be aquired from the power company in 3 different voltages. Single phase power is 110v, dual phase power is 220v and three phase power is 330v. I believe the european power grid doesn't have this flexability. (I'm guessing).
2. You can get much more injured from 220V(personal experience).>>
Volts don't kill, amps do. I've had 80,000volts (almost no amps) go through my arm (chevy distributer, auto shop class). I guarantee you that if you connect the power out of a US residential plug to your body you will be dead before you hit the ground. If you don't believe me stick a fork in an electrical outlet (and stand in a bucket of water if you would like some real fun).
In the US, power is 3 phase and can be aquired from the power company in 3 different voltages. Single phase power is 110v, dual phase power is 220v and three phase power is 330v. I believe the european power grid doesn't have this flexability. (I'm guessing).
We have 3 phase power in the UK for industrial applications normally. Wanna hear a funny but "shocking" story?
When I was a kid I had a summer job at an electronic factory during my school holidays.
They wanted me to rip some electrical cables out of some ducting in a disused building that was to be demolished (3-phase supply)which had all been disconnected from the mains supply.
So there I was in a flooded (water - about 4 inches) room standing on a set of metal ladders pulling out wires from the trunking - next thing flash - bang - black pinkie finger. Lots of swearing!!!
The company electrician came to check the wiring - went through every one until the last - which was still live!
Not the funniest thing that happened to me! LOL
When I was a kid I had a summer job at an electronic factory during my school holidays.
They wanted me to rip some electrical cables out of some ducting in a disused building that was to be demolished (3-phase supply)which had all been disconnected from the mains supply.
So there I was in a flooded (water - about 4 inches) room standing on a set of metal ladders pulling out wires from the trunking - next thing flash - bang - black pinkie finger. Lots of swearing!!!
The company electrician came to check the wiring - went through every one until the last - which was still live!
Not the funniest thing that happened to me! LOL
It may well be amps that kill, but you can't get the amps unless you have the voltage.
It's virtually impossible to be injured by less than about 40 V (there are some circumstances where this is possible, but they are quite special).
A 230 V supply is very much more capable of delivering a fatal shock than a 110 V supply. As a result, in the UK, all new electrical installations where portable appliances may be used must be protected with an RCD (residual current device) - this will automatically cut the power in the event of current flowing to earth (the most common way in which you can get electrocuted). Similarly, where oprtable power tools are used commercially, eg. building sites, they are required to be operated from an isolated 110 V supply.
3 phase supply (415 V) is normally reserved for industry, although you might find some large houses with old electrical installations which use 3 phase. Most domestic situations don't need a 3 phase supply, as a domestic single phase supply is more than enough (typically rated up to 20-25 kW).
It's virtually impossible to be injured by less than about 40 V (there are some circumstances where this is possible, but they are quite special).
A 230 V supply is very much more capable of delivering a fatal shock than a 110 V supply. As a result, in the UK, all new electrical installations where portable appliances may be used must be protected with an RCD (residual current device) - this will automatically cut the power in the event of current flowing to earth (the most common way in which you can get electrocuted). Similarly, where oprtable power tools are used commercially, eg. building sites, they are required to be operated from an isolated 110 V supply.
3 phase supply (415 V) is normally reserved for industry, although you might find some large houses with old electrical installations which use 3 phase. Most domestic situations don't need a 3 phase supply, as a domestic single phase supply is more than enough (typically rated up to 20-25 kW).
<<As a result, in the UK, all new electrical installations where portable appliances may be used must be protected with an RCD (residual current device) - this will automatically cut the power in the event of current flowing to earth (the most common way in which you can get electrocuted).>>
The name of this device they use in the US escapes my mind but it has been part of the residential building code for required installation in bathrooms and kitchens for around 6-10 years. We don't force them into every appliance, it's easier to force them into the buildings.
The name of this device they use in the US escapes my mind but it has been part of the residential building code for required installation in bathrooms and kitchens for around 6-10 years. We don't force them into every appliance, it's easier to force them into the buildings.
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