Conference kaosws::canada

	Don't bring any electrical appliances.

	North American standard for electricity is 110v 60Hz
	as opposed to the European 220v/240v 50Hz.

	Note also that North American television uses NTSC encoding,
	which is different from the PAL and SECAM signals used in Europe.
	So you can't play European video-cassettes on a North American VCR.

	Tony

    I emigrated from England in '81 ... there are some electrical
    appliances that may be worth bringing ... many will work with a
    transformer or already be dual voltage.  Most stereo equipment is
    OK but requires a transformer.
    
    As to moving, undoubtedly the cheapest way, if you have sufficient
    goods, is to get a whole shipping container ... pack and load it
    yourself.  Most container shipping companies are experienced with
    people moving themselves this way so will give guidance.
    
    The container takes usually 2.5 to 3 weeks to cross the atlantic.
    
    Stuart

    Also remember, that 220V is available for certain appliances,
    but I would certainly NOT bring Fridge, Clothes dryer (if you have
    one), IF you have a lot of videotapes and are expecting to receive
    them from people back home, you might want to consider brining the
    TV and VCR over for that ... but it is ONLY for that ... they will
    not work for North American TV signals at all.
    
    You might consider a European clothes washer ... but ONLY if it's
    near new and a model which is reliable, because you won't be able
    to get parts.
    
    A European Electric stove is hardly worth brining, unless it is
    *particularly* good ... like Bauknecht or some other top of the
    line make ...   Don't bring a gas stove.
    
    When we looked at moving here, we priced the cost of crating about
    10 cu. ft and it was more than shipping the container which was 
    about 8*8*20' so it enabled us to ship nearly EVERYTHING we owned.
    
    Stuart

    
     Thanks for all your prompt replies.  Concerning the moving of
     electrical appliances, though we are aware of the voltage problem,
     my friend considers primarily the washing machine.  European washing
     machines work in principle differently from North-American or Japanese
     ones and I believe they are in most of the cases stronger to get the
     dust away.  Their spin-driers, e.g. a good "Miele", work even at 1400
     rpm so you sometimes don't need the other separate dryer at all.  So
     far as I know, Miele also sells and maintains their products out of
     their office in New Jersey.
    
     Stuart's experience in self-moving will help my friend a lot in
     shopping the prices around here.  I also feel 1200 US$ for each 500
     pounds is too much though it's door-to-door service, pack and unpack
     included.
    
     What do you think about furnitures ?  They are maybe not heavy but
     do take spaces in the container.  I just heard that leather seats
     and other woody furnitures of same quality are pretty expensive in
     Canada ?
    
     Have nice holidays.
    
     Q.                                                        
    

If you want to bring the washing machine, it should be no problem putting
in a 220v outlet in the laundry room -- there's usually alread a 220v
circuit into the laundry room for the dryer.

However, you need to be sure that nothing (like the timer, for example) in
the washing machine is on a synchronous motor, in which case it would run
20% faster (and your wash cycles might be too short) since North America
has 60 Hz, not 50 Hz, power.

Actually, you can pay an electrician to put as many 220v outlets anywhere
in your house that you want them.

/john

    We had a 600 sq ft house in England, pretty full or furniture and
    "stuff" ... the container was about half full.  My brother moved here
    a couple years ago ... he 2/3 filled his container but his was by no
    means packed as densely as ours ... he brought free standing wardrobes
    (furniture) which took up a lot of space, but unless they are antique
    they aren't worth bringing because 99% of all houses have built-in
    wardrobe closets.
    
    The European washers do wash small loads very well, where a N. Am.
    washer is built for large loads.  European washers also usually
    heat their own water which can be a real boon to getting whites
    really white.  As to the spin and not using a heat dryer ... the
    convenience of the dryer is enormous because you don't have to peg
    clothes on the clothesline outside in the middle of winter when it's
    -20 to -40 deg. C and bring in stiff boards for clothes!  THe washer
    is about the only major appliance I'd consider.  Although if your
    friend has a family, the convenience of the larger N. Am. washer
    is obvious.
    
    Stuart