A question for a qualified electrician

[nichola]

Hoping you can help.

Lamp with 220v wiring. To be used in Canada where they use 110V.

If the bulb used is for 110v can it be used with the lamp and the 220V wiring?

Or would it need to be rewired?

Hope this makes sense!

Nichola

[alanw]

Change the plug for Canadian 2 pin, use a bulb of the correct voltage (110v for Canada) the wiring will be fine.
Just check the lamp holder (bayonet or Eddison screw)and make sure you can buy the correct bulb in Canada to match the lamp holder.

[nichola]

Thank you sooooo much - I was told bulbs are standard sizes so this should be ok.

What if the wiring is being used running straight from the mains for example say a chandelier with no plug involved. Would it need to be rewired then or is there something that can be done.

Last question I promise.

[jackstee]

The easy non technical explanation is that.
No problem Nichola. The 220/240 wiring is stronger than the 110.
So don't worry

Steve

[lynne]

Sometimes I do wonder at my logic.  I read this topic.  It means nothing to me.  I am not a qualified electrician........so why on earth did I read it?

Mind you, I'm delighted your electrical problem is sorted!

[chewyturk]

quote:Originally posted by jackstee

The easy non technical explanation is that.
No problem Nichola. The 220/240 wiring is stronger than the 110.
So don't worry

Steve

I have to disagree with that statement.
110v systems use more amps than 230v systems and hence need thicker cables.
Since P=I*V if 'P' remains the same, then 'I' will be larger for every reduction in 'V'.
EG, (for ease of maths we'll say the systems are 110v and 220v)

Your appliance is 2200w
On a 220v system - 2200w/220v = 10A
On a 110v system - 2200w/110v = 20A

This is why higher power appliances in America run off 240v. American houses are actually fed with 240v. One neutral and 2 120v lines. Lamps still run off one line to neutral which is 120v but appliances which require more power run from both lines which gives an effective 240v.

[nichola]

thanks for the answers everyone - and your interest Lynne   sorry for later reply on this I took advantage of the power cuts here yesterday to go away for a couple of days...

Anyway, 2 electricians here said no problem and Alan confirmed what they had said regards lamps. I can see if the bulb and the plug are ok then thats fine with the wiring.

But when I think about a chandelier which would be linking wiring together with 2 different voltages then I see there should be a problem.

Anyway an electrician in Canada is now to be consulted which I think is the best thing. However I would be interested in any more info particularly in relaition to the chandelier that qualified electricians have to offer as it is always an advantage to have this sort of knowledge.

I do always recommend that people ensure they comply with their own countries legal requirements re electricity but it helps to be able to have some knowledge too.

I did try searching the internet but couldn't find anything helpful that I could understand.

[chewyturk]

Checking with a local is obviously a good idea but I can't see any problem with a light fitting from the UK being used in Canada.

Lamps take very little current so I can't see a problem.

ps I hope my previous post didn't confuse you - I wasn't saying there would be a problem, just that his statement about cable sizes was wrong. You should be fine.

[nichola]

thanks John, errr actually I did find it a little confusing but I think I have solved the question; just waiting for confirmation now.

thanks everyone for answering...