Do 120v - 50-60hz Electrical Appliances Work Well In Los?

[thailoht]

Does anyone have recommendations for the best 'electrical converters' to use when running their 120v - 50-60Hz electrical appliances here in LOS?

Is anyone running 120v washers, refrigerators, televisions, computers and gaming consoles here?

Any operational problems?

[lopburi3]

1. The TV system here is analog PAL color - not digital NTSC so unless your TV is multi system it is not likely to be of much use.

2. Washers are likely to be 60hz only and controls not work correctly here on 50hz. The motor will also run slow. Unless you are sure they are marked 50/60hz. I suspect they are not.

3. Refrigerators should be made for tropics. Heavy insulation and strong compressors. I know Samsung make about 4 different types and Thailand gets the strongest model due to weather here. US models will not be efficient and difficult to service.

4. Computers usually can be changed easily so not a problem - I would not advise having anything that requires an external 230/115v transformer however as plugs here are the same as US and a mistake will be made; often sooner rather than later.

5. Believe the games have to be modified to play local discs and if you have to use a transformer are subject to a short lifespan as 4 above becomes an issue.

6. In general you can make most things work - but not at 100% and often they will have a shortened life - US sold items are made as cheaply as possiable and that includes cheap internal transformers which will run extra hot on 50hz power - with the high local temps that is a receipt for disaster.

[elkangorito]

As far as electric motors are concerned, those that are PROPERLY rated for both 50Hz & 60Hz will indicate a different voltage for each of these frequencies. These motors are generally larger (or heavier) than single frequency motors due to the amount of extra heat they must dissipate.

I suspect that some cheap motors will indicate 50/60Hz for the same supply voltage. In this case, the motor will have a greatly reduced life if it was originally designed for 60Hz & is then supplied by 50Hz.

To make this easier to understand, any electric motor that is designed to operate on 60Hz will suffer if supplied with 50Hz electricity. Equipment that uses electric motors are;

fridges, freezers, washing machines, pumps, air conditioners etc.

There is no "quick fix" for this unless you wish to fork out dollars for a frequency converter (expensive).

Don't bring 60Hz stuff here & expect it to work (properly) unless it is rated to do so.

[Bolo]

1. The TV system here is analog PAL color - not digital NTSC so unless your TV is multi system it is not likely to be of much use.

2. Washers are likely to be 60hz only and controls not work correctly here on 50hz. The motor will also run slow. Unless you are sure they are marked 50/60hz. I suspect they are not.

3. Refrigerators should be made for tropics. Heavy insulation and strong compressors. I know Samsung make about 4 different types and Thailand gets the strongest model due to weather here. US models will not be efficient and difficult to service.

4. Computers usually can be changed easily so not a problem - I would not advise having anything that requires an external 230/115v transformer however as plugs here are the same as US and a mistake will be made; often sooner rather than later.

5. Believe the games have to be modified to play local discs and if you have to use a transformer are subject to a short lifespan as 4 above becomes an issue.

6. In general you can make most things work - but not at 100% and often they will have a shortened life - US sold items are made as cheaply as possiable and that includes cheap internal transformers which will run extra hot on 50hz power - with the high local temps that is a receipt for disaster.

I'm terrible at electrical type things but have a question for you.

I'm going to ship my two printers and two desktops over there with monitors as well. Will I only need a converter for them or will I have to make some changes with what you mention above?

[endure]

1. The TV system here is analog PAL color - not digital NTSC so unless your TV is multi system it is not likely to be of much use.

NTSC and PAL are both analogue TV systems. Digital TV is a whole other ballgame.

[LivinLOS]

1. The TV system here is analog PAL color - not digital NTSC so unless your TV is multi system it is not likely to be of much use.

NTSC and PAL are both analogue TV systems. Digital TV is a whole other ballgame.

And Thailand doesnt have any !!

PAL only game in town here.

[Crossy]

I'm terrible at electrical type things but have a question for you.

I'm going to ship my two printers and two desktops over there with monitors as well. Will I only need a converter for them or will I have to make some changes with what you mention above?

On each device check the power rating plate, it's either on the back or on the bottom of the power block.

If it says, then:-

100-120V, then you need a converter

100-250V, the unit is universal and no converter is needed

100-120V /220-250V, the unit has a switch somewhere, you need to move the switch to the 220V position before use.

If you're not sure, post a photo of the rating plate

Please note, that the printers may not be sold in Asia and cartridges may not be available here.

[lopburi3]

1. Digital is the only game in town for the US now. But if analog the frequency used is different than PAL B/G so would not work here anyhow. Thailand started phasing out NTSC stations when then converted to color broadcasting (starting in about 1969).

2. Computer may have a switch to change input voltage. If not new power supply could be obtained. If you use transformer you risk to plug directly into 230v and ungrounded supply (and computer does require a ground to keep it from biting you). You could ground the unit itself but that and transformer would be messy and a new power supply is not that expensive.

3. As mentioned about check that cartridges are available for your printers - some models are not sold here so no supplies - most others are sold under a different model number than in the US. Would be very expensive if you have to mail order from US as postage is not cheap.

[petertucker48]

And dont forget Customs and Excise may want to charge you Inport duty !!!

[astral]

Digital or Analog makes no difference, the picture standard is still NTSC for the US and PAL for Thailand.

However most modern TV's display both standards without batting an eyelid

Laptop computers usually have universal power supplies, if not, just buy a new one. Cost $25

The same goes for game consoles.

Desktop computers, I recommend getting a local shop to fit a new 220V power supply for a very small cost.

The monitor may be a little more difficult.

It is my understanding that large appliances like washing machines in the US already run on 220V.

Check the plate on the back.

Not sure how the 50/60Hz side will affect the motors.

The import duty factor is one to consider. Unless you are just arriving and have a work permit, or a Thai wife?

[Crossy]

It is my understanding that large appliances like washing machines in the US already run on 220V.

Check the plate on the back.

Not sure how the 50/60Hz side will affect the motors.

The problem with US 220V appliances is they are expecting a 110-0-110 bi-phase supply. Dryers particularly have the motor and controller running from one 110V leg and so won't work on the Thai supply.

Running a 60Hz motor on 50Hz will cause slow running, and likely overheating

[TongueThaied]

It is my understanding that large appliances like washing machines in the US already run on 220V.

Check the plate on the back.

Not sure how the 50/60Hz side will affect the motors.

The problem with US 220V appliances is they are expecting a 110-0-110 bi-phase supply. Dryers particularly have the motor and controller running from one 110V leg and so won't work on the Thai supply.

Running a 60Hz motor on 50Hz will cause slow running, and likely overheating

As Crossy said, to be clear, running a US 220V appliance on Thai 220V is NO, NO & No!!! In the U.S, a two lead 220V line has two 110V leads that are out of phase with each other (they add up to 220V), while a two lead 110V line has one neutral lead and one 110V lead. In Thailand, a two lead 220V line has one neutral lead and one 220V lead. They are not the same -- apples and oranges.

[lopburi3]

Digital or Analog makes no difference, the picture standard is still NTSC for the US and PAL for Thailand.

However most modern TV's display both standards without batting an eyelid

It makes a difference for OTA reception. US model will not even have an analog tuner anymore so no conversion can be made. As for multi system am not sure but I suspect US models are still NTSC only as it is a few stang cheaper and that market is big enough to make a separate model cost effective. I know in 20th century multi system sets were not sold in US except in export shops.

[Bolo]

Thanks for the assistance guys. I appreciate it.