Convert US to UK power for lighting?

M

magicmat

New member
Hello! A year or so ago i purchased a lighting kit from the US consisting of 2 x 1000W lights, and 1 x 650W Halogen light. I also ordered 3 x plug converters for use in the UK. I am now having to use these lights, and realise that the converters are not really doing the job too well! They get VERY hot, and cut out sporadically! What is my best way of making these usable here in the UK? They have a US 3 pin plug on them...i thought the US was all 2 pins?!

Im not great at electricity, so your help would be much appreciated! Please let m know the easiest way to sort this out! Thanks

Matthew
London, UK
 
I assume that the bulbs were replaced with the 240VAC ones, right? If you suspect that the plugs are not able to handle the power, the best and cleanest way to handle this is to cut the US ones out, and permanently install the UK ones instead.
After doing this, you might discover that your problem did not go away. The real reason for your problem likely are the house circuit breakers. 1000W is a lot of power, the house wiring has to be up to snuff...
HTH
 
When you say, "cutting out" can you be more clear.

The other poster mentioned about house breakers. Do you think that's it or is it something on the light itself cutting it off (maybe because it gets too hot for instance) or is it the plug adapters getting too hot and cutting out?

A plug converter is many times a totally mechanical device and its doubtful that that is your problem if its a passive kind unless it has a short of some kind. A more active type of plug converter has a transformer on it though. If its a transformer, that could be the problem especially if its a low wattage type used for hair dryers or shavers. 1000w or even 650w video lights would need very big and heavy (and probably expensive too) 1000w transformers. It's really not a workable solution.

To avoid this, you definitely want to replace the bulbs with 240vac ones and then all you need is a mechanical US to UK plug adapter and no tranformer at all. There is generally no other active component in a tungsten lamp and the country's voltage dictates what voltage lamp you use because those kind of bulbs are totally driven from line voltage with no other circuitry involved than perhaps a switch. Transformers aren't a great long term solution so it's better to lose that as soon as possible.

Our older plugs here in the USA are two prong, but all new construction and remodeling is 3 prong (ground is third one).
 
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It is the convertors themselves that are cutting out...the small LED on them goes out during use (sometimes not much use!).

Excuse my ignorance, im not particulary "hot" (no pun!) on electiricy and lighting, as you can probebly already tell!

No bulbs have been changed, and i am not currently using any transformers. I could buy large heavy voltage converters, but don't really want MORE equipment and weight!

http://www.beststuff.co.uk/voltage_conversion.htm

The bulbs are a Halogen Photo Optic Lamp 120V 600W, and 2 lights with 120V 1kw halogen bulbs.

The one other possible factor is that the adapters I was using were only 2 pin, so the 3rd pin on the light plugs was not plugged into anything...it was just left exposed on the outside of the adapter casing.

So...does that help at all? Should i be changing the bulbs? What to? Am i being really dumb if i ask what 240vac bulbs are?

Ignornace isnt always bliss i guess!

Thanks for you help!
 
magicmat said:
It is the convertors themselves that are cutting out...the small LED on them goes out during use (sometimes not much use!).

Excuse my ignorance, im not particulary "hot" (no pun!) on electiricy and lighting, as you can probebly already tell!

No bulbs have been changed, and i am not currently using any transformers. I could buy large heavy voltage converters, but don't really want MORE equipment and weight!

http://www.beststuff.co.uk/voltage_conversion.htm

The bulbs are a Halogen Photo Optic Lamp 120V 600W, and 2 lights with 120V 1kw halogen bulbs.

The one other possible factor is that the adapters I was using were only 2 pin, so the 3rd pin on the light plugs was not plugged into anything...it was just left exposed on the outside of the adapter casing.

So...does that help at all? Should i be changing the bulbs? What to? Am i being really dumb if i ask what 240vac bulbs are?

Ignornace isnt always bliss i guess!

Thanks for you help!
Click to expand...
What you have now is going to give you headaches

1. Get rid of the converters
2. Go to a local shop with your lights (or contact the manufacturer) and get the 240VAC bulbs.
3. Cut off the plugs, and ask somebody more technical than you to put on the UK plugs instead.
HTH
 
magicmat said:
Hello! A year or so ago i purchased a lighting kit from the US consisting of 2 x 1000W lights, and 1 x 650W Halogen light. I also ordered 3 x plug converters for use in the UK. I am now having to use these lights, and realise that the converters are not really doing the job too well! They get VERY hot, and cut out sporadically! ...
Click to expand...

Your converters were obviously not designed to handle the electrical current your lights are using. More than likely, they are cutting out because of the heat - it's a thermal overheat protection circuit.

Your best answer is to follow adolgin's advice.
 
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