Overseas Light Fixtures

I remember hearing something about the electricity used overseas being different from what's standard over here, and needing things like voltage converters/plug adapters/etc to be able to make American electronics compatible with overseas electricity. (Difference in voltage? In watts? In frequency? In the plug shape? In all four of those things?)

I was going through eBay, looking for some interesting light fixtures to keep in my back pocket for future renovations. I noticed a few from the UK. Would the wiring in a UK light fixture be able to work correctly in an American-wired house? Or should I just avoid that altogether? --96.46.xxx.xx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by fred [CA]) Posted on: Apr 24, 2018 8:46 PM
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In England it's 220V. In USA it's 110V.

Converters are bulky and not so cheap.

Avoid the hassle, buy local made for local market.

A lot of stuff on ebay comes in 110V, sometimes you can choose. --99.59.x.xxx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by NC INVESTOR [NC]) Posted on: Apr 24, 2018 8:47 PM
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It will need to be rewired. Any lamp repair shop can do it. --71.75.xx.xx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by OPM [OR]) Posted on: Apr 24, 2018 10:27 PM
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I'd suggest.. that the foreign made items are made for the US market..

how would they sell items here otherwise? --162.247.xx.xx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by cjo'h [CT]) Posted on: Apr 24, 2018 10:39 PM
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Deanna, I took a nice Waterford nine tier chandelier home from Shannon one time,mace specifically for the American market If you get something from England make a note of that to them,or rewire it yourself to suit.shouldn't be too much of a problem................Charlie.............................................. --174.199.x.xx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by beelocks [NH]) Posted on: Apr 25, 2018 4:22 AM
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It's not just the voltage.

Light bulbs in the UK mostly use a bayonet cap rather than the Edison screw fitting that you're used to.

Even a standard light fixture with no fancy electronic would need to have the bulb holders replaced so you could use a 'regular' light bulb.

Shipping from the UK aint cheap.

The chances are that anything from the UK would talk with a funny accent like I do, but not as funny as Charlie :) --98.229.xxx.xx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by Deanna [TX]) Posted on: Apr 25, 2018 5:16 AM
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Thanks! That was very helpful, everyone! :) --96.46.xxx.xx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by Opinionated [NC]) Posted on: Apr 25, 2018 5:26 AM
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The voltage standard for residential lighting and receptacles in the USA is 120 volts (not 110), 60Hz. The electric service for individual residences in the USA is typically 240/120. For apartment buildings, it may be 208Y/120.

The UK is 220 volts 50Hz.

Some lighting products may be sensitive to the Hz and all are dependent on the proper voltage. --67.213.xx.xxx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by Robert,OntarioCanada [ON]) Posted on: Apr 25, 2018 9:03 AM
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In the Uk the voltage is 240 VAC where in Europe the voltage is 220 VAC. The colour code is different from North America where instead of white and black for the hot side they use brown and blue. Make sure the fixtures have a safety rating where in North America UL or CSA is the norm. There should be a safety rating for electrical equipment in the Uk. In Europe they use EU compliant. Here most provinces are only permitted to sell electrical equipment that has UL or CSA rating where in Quebec it is possible to buy the cheap Chinese light fixtures, irons and coffee pots that have no safety rating. The wire will continue to burn with a match where other jurisdictions that is not permitted. --147.194.xxx.xxx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by cjo'h [CT]) Posted on: Apr 25, 2018 10:43 AM
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Beelocks,back there I didn't have any accent,it was only when I came here. --174.199.x.xx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by cjo'h [CT]) Posted on: Apr 25, 2018 10:52 AM
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Beelocks,thought I detected an accent you a Geordie?..............charlie......when in Ontario,met quite a few and also a few Newfies.................................................... --174.199.x.xx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Posted on: Apr 25, 2018 11:03 AM
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I love the irony in this post considering most US sold fixtures and lamps are made overseas. But yes, you'll probably need to have the UK fixture rewired. --108.69.xxx.xxx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by Deanna [TX]) Posted on: Apr 25, 2018 8:13 PM
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Yes! I was writing the bit about "overseas electricity" and I'm thinking to myself, "Ummmm... how many of these things are NOT manufactured overseas to begin with?!" :P --96.46.xxx.xx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: Apr 26, 2018 12:56 PM
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It depends on the base, here a-19 has been common since 1930, if you are gonna hunt a specialty bulb just hunt a new fixture you can put a new bulb in. --76.188.xxx.xx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Apr 26, 2018 1:52 PM
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My husband's parents were taken with a lovely lamppost in Paris, I think it was, and paid to have it packed and shipped home. God only knows how much. They installed in their front yard (at great expense, including all the wiring etc.) and in the end, not one person ever knew it was anything other than a lamp post bought at Home Depot.

I once lugged a CEMENT HEAD home from France. It was like $8 there and $150 here...but OMG the trouble of getting it here. It was back before heavy luggage cost more but this thing almost broke the suitcase. I still have it, though, fastened on my house looking at the water! :)

My BIL got into the importing of wardrobes from France because they had so many lovely ones going begging over there (the young French want a closet like anyone else LOL!) Didn't last long. Kids in the US wanted modern IKEA closets too. --50.82.xxx.xx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by Lynda [TX]) Posted on: Apr 27, 2018 5:01 PM
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My military DH and our family were overseas 14 out of his 22 years. We lived in Germany, Cyprus(formerly British), Pakistan (formerly British), Egypt (formerly French then British), and Turkey (modern infrastructure from Germany). Transformers were necessary items and were bought and resold from one US household to another. A way of life. Also plug end adapters from flat US to round Euro plug ends.

One good thing was overseas made lamps would work on US currency if you had the end adapters. But it was more difficult to find bulbs that fit. I had 3 beautiful china lamps bought during a vacation to Hong Kong. I paid to have them re-wired just for convenience, only to have them get smashed during the shipment of our household goods back to the states. --108.87.xx.xxx

Overseas Light Fixtures (by joey [NJ]) Posted on: Apr 30, 2018 1:03 PM
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The OP is about a light fixture. A light fixture from overseas will work in the US and vice versa. You simply must use light bulb that is rated to voltage of the country you are in. If it is a lamp with a plug, you just would need to change the plug, or use a plug adapter.

Appliances that run on different voltage would need either a step up transformer or step down transformer which can get big depending on the maximum wattage. --5.102.xxx.xxx

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Overseas Light Fixtures

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