European buying lights from USA

T

Ted Cunterblast

Member
Hi.
I need to know, well, whatever I need to know about buying lights from USA.

I know we use different plugs, and that there are adaptors for fixing this.
So my real question is: do these (120 V?) lights blow up once plugged into an European, in this case, 230 V socket?

What else am I supposed to do apart from changing the household plug? Change the globe? :huh:
 
Simple answer is 230v (Euro) will generally fry any 120v fixture. Detailed answer would depend on type of light (incandescent/fluorescent/HMI/Halide) etc.

Simple / cheap solution is to use a step-down transformer. Most transformers over around 1.5 kva rating can be used either way - ie as a step down or step up unit. Check eBay. They come in all sizes.

If you're thinking incandescent, most any quality unit you'd just have to change the plug & globe (we call 'em bulbs). All other types have internal circuitry expecting a certain input voltage which they then modify internally to some other figure (usually much higher) to operate the light.

Check with the manufacturer - some HMI's will have an internal jumper you could switch to change voltages. Any USA lights listed to use 220/240 volts will work just fine on 230.



Hope this helps.
 
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Sure, thanks. But one question has risen:
Assuming I would buy three different lights, let's say 1K Mole, Kino Flo and 2k HMI, and use them at the same time, would I have to buy, you know, THREE transformers, one for each? Is that how it works?

Not that it REALLY matters if this is in fact is the price of one:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tour-220-240-...essories_RL?hash=item230653e69d#ht_4885wt_954 So this thing would do the job?
EDIT: Well that is quite obviously max 100 watts. And I go around town thinking I'm smart.
But anyway same question remains. Do I need one transformer for each light?
After looking for more powerful transformers, it seems they are quite expensive. I guess that's the punishment element of not having been born in United States.

But I need an answer to this too:
Would this specific light work in Europe?
Here are the specs: http://extranet.mole.com/store/images/backpage/415-L.gif
See te rating: 120/240 volts. Does this indicate that I can just plug this sucker in without being blown up to atoms?
 
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One transformer can run all lights at once just fine. General rule is you'd want to oversize the transformer by 20% from max load. Here's a couple that should work . . . just so you get the idea.


http://cgi.ebay.com/4000-WATTS-STEP...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5634908ffe

http://cgi.ebay.com/4000-w-Watt-Ste...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a505d0221

One problem is that xformers by their nature are heavy buggers, therefore expensive to ship. I'd suggest contacting a local scrapyard handling electrical items. You're looking for an enclosed 2:1 transformer rated @ 4 - 5 Kw.

Best wishes.
 
A lot of companies make 120/240V lighting systems. You just change the bulbs to 240V bulbs and the power cord to 2 prong Euro power cords. You're good to go than. I use Photoflex and I take them to Europe all the time. No need for step down transformers.
 
So even though we use 230 V in my country, 240 V bulbs are still adequate?
If so, that's really life-affirming. There's a good bunch of such bulbs in Ebay for example.
 
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