• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

American Radios, and other Electric devices dont work in Europe.

M

midwestclubber

Guest
Is everyone aware that American Appliances dont work in Europe? Europe uses something like 220 Volts, at 50 cycles, while the U.S uses 110 volts at 60 cycles. That means, if you attempt to plug in a Radio in Europe, The radio will explode into a shower of Fire and sparks. Not only that, but European plugs are different too. Europe often uses Round, or flat prongs on their plugs, so you cant even plug in an american radio to a european outlet, without a special plug adaptor, but that only solves the plug fitting problem, you have to use some kind of Voltage regulator on top of that, which are very Heavy and expensive, or else your radio will melt.... I never knew this, I thought all plugs, and electricity was universal, but I guess not.
 
DUH! :)

> Is everyone aware that American Appliances dont work in
> Europe? Europe uses something like 220 Volts, at 50 cycles,
> while the U.S uses 110 volts at 60 cycles. That means, if
> you attempt to plug in a Radio in Europe, The radio will
> explode into a shower of Fire and sparks. Not only that,
> but European plugs are different too. Europe often uses
> Round, or flat prongs on their plugs, so you cant even plug
> in an american radio to a european outlet, without a special
> plug adaptor, but that only solves the plug fitting problem,
> you have to use some kind of Voltage regulator on top of
> that, which are very Heavy and expensive, or else your radio
> will melt.... I never knew this, I thought all plugs, and
> electricity was universal, but I guess not.
>

They used to make fun of this in all the spy movies in the 60s and 70s.
If you go to Europe being a walkman with you. If you move to Europe buy something there, or as you mentioned use an adaptor (it's no big deal really).
 
Re: DUH! :)

> > Is everyone aware that American Appliances dont work in
> > Europe? Europe uses something like 220 Volts, at 50
> cycles,
> > while the U.S uses 110 volts at 60 cycles. That means, if
>
> > you attempt to plug in a Radio in Europe, The radio will
> > explode into a shower of Fire and sparks. Not only that,
> > but European plugs are different too. Europe often uses
> > Round, or flat prongs on their plugs, so you cant even
> plug
> > in an american radio to a european outlet, without a
> special
> > plug adaptor, but that only solves the plug fitting
> problem,
> > you have to use some kind of Voltage regulator on top of
> > that, which are very Heavy and expensive, or else your
> radio
> > will melt.... I never knew this, I thought all plugs, and
> > electricity was universal, but I guess not.
> >
>
> They used to make fun of this in all the spy movies in the
> 60s and 70s.
> If you go to Europe being a walkman with you. If you move to
> Europe buy something there, or as you mentioned use an
> adaptor (it's no big deal really).
>
Any Battery powered radio you bring to europe will have to either be an analog, or be one of those radios that tunes to both even and odd frequencys.
 
> Is everyone aware that American Appliances dont work in
> Europe? Europe uses something like 220 Volts, at 50 cycles,
> while the U.S uses 110 volts at 60 cycles. That means, if
> you attempt to plug in a Radio in Europe, The radio will
> explode into a shower of Fire and sparks. Not only that,
> but European plugs are different too. Europe often uses
> Round, or flat prongs on their plugs, so you cant even plug
> in an american radio to a european outlet, without a special
> plug adaptor, but that only solves the plug fitting problem,
> you have to use some kind of Voltage regulator on top of
> that, which are very Heavy and expensive, or else your radio
> will melt.... I never knew this, I thought all plugs, and
> electricity was universal, but I guess not.
>
I know that some electronic appliances made here have support for both 110 and 220 volts...you can usually tell by reading the fine print on the packaging or on the label that's on the product. If you can find such appliances, then all you need is the plug adaptor...the voltage adaption is done automatically.

If not, then you will probably blow out whatever it is you're using :)
 
Re: DUH! :)

> Any Battery powered radio you bring to europe will have to
> either be an analog, or be one of those radios that tunes to
> both even and odd frequencys.
>
Correct :)
 
Re: SOUTH AMERICA

> > Any Battery powered radio you bring to europe will have
> to
> > either be an analog, or be one of those radios that tunes
> to
> > both even and odd frequencys.
> >
> Correct :)
>
Well ive never traveled over seas, though I want to so badly. I have been to Canada, Mexico, and even South Amercia, and all radios, and electronics seem to work fine in all those places. I can tell you that roads in South America suck really bad, Bumpy dirt roads that cut throught the jungle, and even a strange baron areas of Red Rocks that looks like you landed on MARS. Its also very hard to find FOOD thats actually edible, in alot of South America.
 
Questions

> > > Any Battery powered radio you bring to europe will have
>
> > to
> > > either be an analog, or be one of those radios that
> tunes
> > to
> > > both even and odd frequencys.
> > >
> > Correct :)
> >
> Well ive never traveled over seas, though I want to so
> badly. I have been to Canada, Mexico, and even South
> Amercia, and all radios, and electronics seem to work fine
> in all those places. I can tell you that roads in South
> America suck really bad, Bumpy dirt roads that cut throught
> the jungle, and even a strange baron areas of Red Rocks that
> looks like you landed on MARS. Its also very hard to find
> FOOD thats actually edible, in alot of South America.
>

I thought travelling to South America constitutes as Overseas :)

What country/countries did you visit in South America? I hear that even dairy products are hard to find in some countries.
 
> Is everyone aware that American Appliances dont work in
> Europe? Europe uses something like 220 Volts, at 50 cycles,
> while the U.S uses 110 volts at 60 cycles. That means, if
> you attempt to plug in a Radio in Europe, The radio will
> explode into a shower of Fire and sparks. Not only that,
> but European plugs are different too.

It's 230V these days in EU countries, although that's a fairly recent standard.

And just to confuse you further almost every country in Europe seems to have a different design of plug... the plugs here in the UK are about twice the size of the US equivalent and built like tanks, with three fat rectangular pins.

Most portable radios can work both in the US and UK though - you need something that will tune in 0.1MHz steps on FM (or 0.05MHz for Italy). For AM it's best to have something that will tune in 9kHz instead of 10kHz steps, but in many European countries AM is basically empty in the daytime anyway. The FM stereo system in the US and Europe isn't 100% compatible, but it's a pretty minor difference so unless you're importing a hi-fi or something it doesn't matter.
 
Re: Questions

> > > > Any Battery powered radio you bring to europe will
> have
> >
> > > to
> > > > either be an analog, or be one of those radios that
> > tunes
> > > to
> > > > both even and odd frequencys.
> > > >
> > > Correct :)
> > >
> > Well ive never traveled over seas, though I want to so
> > badly. I have been to Canada, Mexico, and even South
> > Amercia, and all radios, and electronics seem to work fine
>
> > in all those places. I can tell you that roads in South
> > America suck really bad, Bumpy dirt roads that cut
> throught
> > the jungle, and even a strange baron areas of Red Rocks
> that
> > looks like you landed on MARS. Its also very hard to find
>
> > FOOD thats actually edible, in alot of South America.
> >
>
> I thought travelling to South America constitutes as
> Overseas :)
>
> What country/countries did you visit in South America? I
> hear that even dairy products are hard to find in some
> countries.
>
We went down through the east side, through Chili and down to San Paulo Brazil. They serve strange mistery meat in just about every Restaurant, i wouldnt eat it, it could have been anything. The motels are shacks, without TV, or Air conditioning,,,,And its very HOT. You cant even find Cold Medicine in some places in S.A,,,,,Mexico on the other hand sells CODEIN over the counter...Go figure.. Its really not a good idea to go to S.A unless you know what you are in for... Most of those run down Shanty Towns are very Dangerous as well, they will stab you in the back, just to get a dollar of American money, not to mention the strange looks you get while rolling down the Dirt Roads in a Early 80s Camaro.
 
Re: Questions

> > > > > Any Battery powered radio you bring to europe will
> > have
> > >
> > > > to
> > > > > either be an analog, or be one of those radios that
> > > tunes
> > > > to
> > > > > both even and odd frequencys.
> > > > >
> > > > Correct :)
> > > >
> > > Well ive never traveled over seas, though I want to so
> > > badly. I have been to Canada, Mexico, and even South
> > > Amercia, and all radios, and electronics seem to work
> fine
> >
> > > in all those places. I can tell you that roads in South
>
> > > America suck really bad, Bumpy dirt roads that cut
> > throught
> > > the jungle, and even a strange baron areas of Red Rocks
> > that
> > > looks like you landed on MARS. Its also very hard to
> find
> >
> > > FOOD thats actually edible, in alot of South America.
> > >
> >
> > I thought travelling to South America constitutes as
> > Overseas :)
> >
> > What country/countries did you visit in South America? I
> > hear that even dairy products are hard to find in some
> > countries.
> >
> We went down through the east side, through Chili and down
> to San Paulo Brazil. They serve strange mistery meat in
> just about every Restaurant, i wouldnt eat it, it could have
> been anything. The motels are shacks, without TV, or Air
> conditioning,,,,And its very HOT. You cant even find Cold
> Medicine in some places in S.A,,,,,Mexico on the other hand
> sells CODEIN over the counter...Go figure.. Its really not
> a good idea to go to S.A unless you know what you are in
> for... Most of those run down Shanty Towns are very
> Dangerous as well, they will stab you in the back, just to
> get a dollar of American money, not to mention the strange
> looks you get while rolling down the Dirt Roads in a Early
> 80s Camaro.
>

I was under the impression, through friends and family, that Chile is very Western and much safer then most Latin American countries.
I know Sao Paolo, Brazil has some very dangerous favelas/shanty towns, but doesn't it also have many extremely wealthy neighborhoods? Isn't it the New York of Latin America?
Buenos Aires, Argentina is oftentimes compared with Paris isn't it? :)

I hear it can be quite dangerous in countries like Peru and Paraguay, as well as of course parts of Colombia where guerillaz rome free in the jungles (not to be confused with gorillaz in the jungle, LOL).
 
Re: Questions

> > > > > > Any Battery powered radio you bring to europe
> will
> > > have
> > > >
> > > > > to
> > > > > > either be an analog, or be one of those radios
> that
> > > > tunes
> > > > > to
> > > > > > both even and odd frequencys.
> > > > > >
> > > > > Correct :)
> > > > >
> > > > Well ive never traveled over seas, though I want to so
>
> > > > badly. I have been to Canada, Mexico, and even South
> > > > Amercia, and all radios, and electronics seem to work
> > fine
> > >
> > > > in all those places. I can tell you that roads in
> South
> >
> > > > America suck really bad, Bumpy dirt roads that cut
> > > throught
> > > > the jungle, and even a strange baron areas of Red
> Rocks
> > > that
> > > > looks like you landed on MARS. Its also very hard to
> > find
> > >
> > > > FOOD thats actually edible, in alot of South America.
> > > >
> > >
> > > I thought travelling to South America constitutes as
> > > Overseas :)
> > >
> > > What country/countries did you visit in South America? I
>
> > > hear that even dairy products are hard to find in some
> > > countries.
> > >
> > We went down through the east side, through Chili and down
>
> > to San Paulo Brazil. They serve strange mistery meat in
> > just about every Restaurant, i wouldnt eat it, it could
> have
> > been anything. The motels are shacks, without TV, or Air
> > conditioning,,,,And its very HOT. You cant even find Cold
>
> > Medicine in some places in S.A,,,,,Mexico on the other
> hand
> > sells CODEIN over the counter...Go figure.. Its really
> not
> > a good idea to go to S.A unless you know what you are in
> > for... Most of those run down Shanty Towns are very
> > Dangerous as well, they will stab you in the back, just to
>
> > get a dollar of American money, not to mention the strange
>
> > looks you get while rolling down the Dirt Roads in a Early
>
> > 80s Camaro.
> >
>
> I was under the impression, through friends and family, that
> Chile is very Western and much safer then most Latin
> American countries.
> I know Sao Paolo, Brazil has some very dangerous
> favelas/shanty towns, but doesn't it also have many
> extremely wealthy neighborhoods? Isn't it the New York of
> Latin America?
> Buenos Aires, Argentina is oftentimes compared with Paris
> isn't it? :)
>
> I hear it can be quite dangerous in countries like Peru and
> Paraguay, as well as of course parts of Colombia where
> guerillaz rome free in the jungles (not to be confused with
> gorillaz in the jungle, LOL).
>
San Paulo does have extreme wealthy parts, Problem is, their isnt too much in the way of Middle Class their, if you arent rich you live in the ghetto. As far as danger is concerned, Costa Rica, in Central America was probably the worst. The Police their treated us like Dogs,and attempted to arrest us for running a stop sign That DID NOT EXIST... And forget driving at night, in Central or South America, Too much debri in the road, no gas stations open, and log trucks with no lights, Which dont look like U.S Log trucks.
 
Re: Questions

Many Latin American countries go with 110-125 volts and might even use North American style outlets (plugs) but be aware that they are fond of using 50Hz which means any electrical appliances with motors will run slowly and will overheat and burn out after a short while. Your North American clock will run at exactly 83.3333333333% speed. That is, it will turn five units for every six.<P ID="signature">______________
Proud 2 B a pioneering satellite radio subs¢riber
Ai4i is always on the trailing edge of technology
_______________</P>
 
> Most portable radios can work both in the US and UK though -
> you need something that will tune in 0.1MHz steps on FM (or
> 0.05MHz for Italy). For AM it's best to have something that
> will tune in 9kHz instead of 10kHz steps, but in many
> European countries AM is basically empty in the daytime
> anyway. The FM stereo system in the US and Europe isn't 100%
> compatible, but it's a pretty minor difference so unless
> you're importing a hi-fi or something it doesn't matter.
>
I've generally avoided the problem by using battery operated devices (and, yes, the DC batteries are the same as in the US...only more expensive). However, I have never noticed any difference in the stereo system. FM stereo in the UK and Belgium sounded absolutely perfect in both my Sony and Sangean portables.

For AM, as stated above, bring a radio that can be switched to a 9 kHz step or an analog. The 10 kHz step would only work well on a few shared frequencies (i.e. 810 kHz).

If you must use an electrical device, for heaven's sake buy a converter. And, not just something to make the pins fit into the socket. No, you need a real converter that reduces the voltage to 110v. These are available for $25-30 at any travel store, or perhaps even Wal Mart.
 
Re: SOUTH AMERICA

> Well ive never traveled over seas, though I want to so
> badly. I have been to Canada, Mexico, and even South
> Amercia, and all radios, and electronics seem to work fine
> in all those places. I can tell you that roads in South
> America suck really bad, Bumpy dirt roads that cut throught
> the jungle, and even a strange baron areas of Red Rocks that
> looks like you landed on MARS. Its also very hard to find
> FOOD thats actually edible, in alot of South America.
>
Um, what country did you visit? Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil do require a converter for electrically powered appliances to work - as in Europe. Places in the north (like Venezuela) do not - they're on 110. The radio stations are on the same frequency standard as North America (e.g. 10 kHz). That's by hemisphere.

And, I have NEVER had a problem finding a good meal in S. America - though I'd imagine it could be tough for a vegetarian!! :)
 
No offence, But hey in Europe we have our own standards. For FM pre-emphasis is 50uS instead of the 75uS in America. Japan uses 25Us.
The fact that Europe choose the 220 - 240 V AC 50hz standard, and 3 pole 400V AC, is because with this standard electronic equipment has a longer live. In the next couple of years 230V AC wil go to 240V AC.

But some European countries still have 127V AC for home/office use and 3 pole 220V AC for industrial use.
But finally we have one currency the Euro (€), OK not all european countries, but most of them ;-)

For all of you coming to Europe, you can buy converters from 230V AC to 110V AC in lots of electronic stores. They even have the American type outlets installed on the housing. I use them to power up American equipment in Europe.

Martijn
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom