Buying USA Electrical goods for Uk

Hello everyone. I need to ask the age old question about electrical items bought in USA to work in the UK. We want to stock up on some Halloween decorations and maybe some christmas ones too when we are there next month, and I wanted peoples advice on running them safely here in England. As the Usa lights etc will be 110v system, what would I need to buy from say (screwfix direct) or (B&Q) that would allow the lights to work safely here?

Any electricians out there or experts at light shopping could answer this one.

Thanks, Stuart.

You will need a 110 transformer. You may need a few. A typical 110v 3.3kva transformer will run approx 6 sets of standard xmas tree lights (assuming 5 amps per set). To be honest such decs and lights are so cheap in the uk now. I brought loads back from the USa but ended up buying new for next to nothing.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Oceansplasher
Hello everyone. I need to ask the age old question about electrical items bought in USA to work in the UK. We want to stock up on some Halloween decorations and maybe some christmas ones too when we are there next month, and I wanted peoples advice on running them safely here in England. As the Usa lights etc will be 110v system, what would I need to buy from say (screwfix direct) or (B&Q) that would allow the lights to work safely here?

Any electricians out there or experts at light shopping could answer this one.

Thanks, Stuart.
[/quote]

I second Martin.

The transformers are also very bulky so when we bought an early Ipod docking station home from a trip to NY one year we ended up replacing it with a UK spec fairly soon afterwards as the transformer sat there like a big lump....

Safety wise the is no problem.

TOM

Places like circuit city and best buy do have the transformers, but they are not cheap, so unless it is something special you want, it may not be worth it.