i am now considering what to ship to Taipei and what not before my relocation.
many of my electric machins are 220V. i figure they wont fit taipei’s 110V. would you advice me to leave al of it behind and buy/rent new stuff? what is this transformator solution?
thanks
[quote=“dudzaar02”]I am now considering what to ship to Taipei and what not before my relocation.
many of my electric machins are 220V. i figure they wont fit taipei’s 110V. would you advice me to leave al of it behind and buy/rent new stuff? what is this transformator solution?
thanks[/quote]
Bring them along Taiwan does also have 220V in most apartments. If not tansformers that can convert 110 - 220v are commonly available.
[quote=“dudzaar02”]i am now considering what to ship to Taipei and what not before my relocation.
many of my electric machins are 220V. i figure they wont fit taipei’s 110V. would you advice me to leave al of it behind and buy/rent new stuff? what is this transformator solution?
thanks[/quote]
Hi,
it all depends on the kind of electrics you have there and how you can connect them in Taiwan. If all you have is a 110V supply, then some will be OK just as they are, others will require a small transformer, yet others will work with a rectifier, and then there are some that are best left at home since they would require a large transformer or can’t be used even with a transformer. For that case (110V only) , let me make you a list:
Group 1)
Items that work as they are: most modern computers, radios, TVs, plug-in adapters, shavers, small battery chargers (for phones, cameras, walkmans, etc.) - confirmation is easy: if the item has written or stamped somewhere something along the lines of “AC 100-240V 50-60Hz” it will be OK; or if the item has a switch with two settings, 100/110 and 220/240, it will be OK as long as you select the correct switch position. (^^)
Group 2)
Items that require a small transformer (not very expensive; available at many travel goods stores and online): computers, radios, TVs, plug-in adapters, shavers, battery chargers, small fluorescent lights, that have written or stamped on them something like “AC 220-240 V 50-60Hz” or “AC 220V 60Hz” or “AC 240V 60Hz” and a power rating of less than 50W (or 100W). Most travel transformers are rated for 50W and not very expensive (maybe around 25 Euros/US$), some are rated for 100W and just a bit more expensive. There are also some combinations of rectifiers and small transformer with a high-power setting (=rectifier) and a low-power setting (=transformer, often no more than 25 Watts).
Group 3)
Items that require a large transformer (prices and weights go up with power rating: a few hundred US$/Euro and well over 10 kilograms for a 1500Watt transformer; available from electric supply stores and online): some items in this list are heaters, refrigerators, hair dryers, irons, large fluorescent lights, floodlights, large battery chargers (for cars, trucks, boats), machine tools, washing machines, small clothes dryers (one-phase), small ovens (one-phase), small stoves (one plate), toasters, microwaves ovens, vacuum cleaners, etc., that have written or stamped on them something like “AC 220-240 V 50-60Hz” or “AC 220V 60Hz” or “AC 240V 60Hz” and a power rating large enough to exceed the limits of a small transformer - the maximum power rating for such household electrics in the US is usually 1500Watt, in some other countries it can be 2000Watt. One note of caution: if you want to use any device that has a motor (for example, a washing machine or a lathe) or a compressor (for example, a refrigerator) and is rated for, say, 1000 Watts, you should get a transformer rated for at least 50% more than that. By the way, a properly built transformer can be used “step-down” (from 220V to 110V), or “step-up” (from 110V to 220V), the problem being, however, that many transformers for sale have already plugs, cables, and outlets installed that limit them to one kind of use.
Group 4)
Items that can be used with a rectifier (often misleadingly called “converter”, not heavy, not expensive): some heaters, some incandescent lights, some hairdryers, some irons - but rectifiers can “kill” appliances that are not suitable, so you should get an expert opinion on any of those devices that you want to use with a rectifier.
Group 5)
Items that people other than electricians, electronics specialists, engineers, or other specialists are better off leaving at home include appliances that are rated beyond 2000Watts or require a 3-phase power supply (among them kilns, heavy-duty planers, lathes, industrial size appliances, etc.).
There are, of course, also various safety issues to consider (for example, there are insulating and non-insulating transformers, the latter less expensive but more dangerous), and in many cases (especially in those cases where people don’t understand what i have explained above!) it is better (safer, and at the end likely cheaper) to bring along only electrics that belong into group 1 and otherwise use electrics designed for the place where one is going to live.
If you have a 220V supply and aren’t thinking of using heavy equipment (group 5), then all you need to be concerned about is the current or power rating and getting the right connectors.
But if in doubt, play it safe!
I am not sure what kind of “machines” you plan to bring, but check if they perhaps rely on 50Hz for operation. Some motors do and may not turn under load when operated at the local 60Hz. Had that problem with a friend’s washing machine once, where the main drum motor worked, but the pump went on strike.
Yes, we fried a coffee machine due to the same issue… got the voltage right, thought the frequency would be OK as it is only a heater… then screwed one of the pumps… worked great for the first brew… 
So for the most part I would just buy new or second hand here if we are talking appliances…
I shipped a whole 240V studio to Taiwan which was worth it because of the cost and unavailability of the equipment. It wouldn’t be worth it for e.g. a 20 Euro hairdryer. For the studio I hardwired a transformer and regulator setup from the Taiwan supply into a new ring main with an imported distribution board, breakers and UK sockets (so noone can accidentally plug Taiwanese equipment into a 240V socket). In our house I have a 240V home theater amp running happily off a 1,000W transformer I bought years ago for about NT$900. I would not bother with TVs, motorized appliances etc. for various reasons other than voltage problems.
The alley behind old Guanghua has a few shops that will sell you a transformer and you should be able to get one for about NT$1 per Watt. The price does appear to have gone up recently but I got a 2000W transformer there a few years ago for NT$2000 and that should be good enough for a few must-have items. They’re nice simple jobs with a 2-prong US socket on each end, and the ends labelled “110V” and “220V” respectively. They’ll step up and down, but must be single-phase live earth at the 220V end (don’t plug that end into the mains in Taiwan even if you did find a 2-hole 220V socket). It’s 60 cycles here, by the way, not 50 like in the UK, but I doubt that’ll matter much these days unless you’ve got some ancient motor that relies on the electricity supply to know how fast it’s going.
As posted earlier, all the little so-called “transformers” you get with laptops and phones and stuff are all actually rectifiers and you can probably pick up local power supply units for your foreign gear, after all every electronic product runs on DC and therefore there will be a rectifier/PSU out there for your gadget. Ask one of the fragrant spotty youths at Guanghua for advice.
Would be good to know exactly what you’re bringing. Wouldn’t bring any big stuff because there’s not enough electricity here to run anything major anyway. (You get about 20kW per house instead of 40kW in the UK and socket outlets are fused at 13 amps giving you 2860W but you only get 1000-1500W here.)
You can get “220V” here but it’s in the form of two-phase 110V: Live 1, Live 2, Neutral, meaning two phases of 110V with phase to phase providing 220V and phase to neutral providing 110V. But phase to phase doesn’t actually give you same sort of supply you’ll get with a single phase of 220V. So you’re better off stepping up a single-phase 110V supply to 220V. And also be aware that Taiwanese socket outlets are fused at 10A or sometimes 15A depending on what’s in the electrician’s bag at the time, and your transformer will eat an amp or two just to keep itself warm.
Also, don’t just go plugging stuff into A/C 220V plugs. They are not live, neutral, earth like the Motherland. All of the ones I have seen are actually L1, L2, N, for old a/c units that used 2-phase 110V. If you plug a L,N,E plug into that (depending on whether the pink wire is connected to the purple wire) it might give you only 110V L-N and your house will burn down.
If in doubt, ask a plumber. (水電工)
My sockets in Taipei say: 15A 125V
My hair dryer says: 220-240V 50hz 1800-2100W
My Vitamix Blender says: 220-240V 50/60hz 800-950W
My Oral-B Electric toothbrush says: 220-240V 50/60hz 0,9W
I want to use these things in Taiwan. What can I buy and from where?
Thanks
Most electronics nowadays are made for 100-240V 50/60hz … due to cost economic reasons during production, but check the label first.
Houses have 220V/60hz but mostly only for aircon, so maybe there are a few outlet plugs in the house and you need some wiring.
The hair dryer will work at 220V/60 hz but the fan speed will be changing, the heater (resistor) doesn’t care about the frequency.
Yes, they all work but not at full power…I want to use them at full power. Does anyone know where I can buy the step-up converter in Taipei?
Did you actually read what I posted? Your place should have 220V/60hz sockets somewhere from where you can run all at 220V, or buy a 220V extention cable or have one made to be able to use it from a bit further.
Yes I did read your post. I checked my apartment and they are all 125V
Did you actually read what I posted? Your place should have 220V/60hz sockets somewhere from where you can run all at 220V, or buy a 220V extention cable or have one made to be able to use it from a bit further.[/quote]
So are most/all window-type airconditioning units 220v?
I never thought there were ANY 220v sockets in apartments here.
If you think it’s worth the effort, you could have a shui dian guy fit a 220V socket for you. Unless there’s something odd about your building, the power input is normally two-phase and earth. Connecting across the two phases rather than between one phase and ground) gives you 220V.
Aircon sockets are always 220V, so if you have an aircon unit you should have a socket. A 220V socket has one of the pins rotated at 90’ to the other, it’s easy to spot.
I am renting from a serviced apartment company so I don’t have the authority to send someone over to put in a 250V socket. I asked the company, but their response was to use this:
pcstore.com.tw/solar/M13779865.htm
Do you think this will work? (sorry I do not speak or read Chinese and I have never used a converter before)
Just to reconfirm, my electronic devices are:
My hair dryer says: 220-240V 50hz 1800-2100W
My Vitamix Blender says: 220-240V 50/60hz 800-950W
My Oral-B Electric toothbrush says: 220-240V 50/60hz 0,9W
Thanks
Yes that booster would work for you. When I lived in Hong kong I used a step down converter and it was simple to use. The step up converter should be the same “plug & play situation”. I have not searched around electrical stores for it but it should be pretty easy to find in Taiwan.
If you are very concerned about it, then you should buy one locally and ship it with your other things.
brisk, We came from Europe with the same thing, but we just shipped everything because it was the same price to take it as leave it. I’m an electrician by trade, so i understand a little bit about these things. The transformers we have brought here have all been fine so far, just make sure you match the wattage correctly. The one in the link you’ve posted will be fine for all you things, you can buy one smaller one for $280TWD from B&Q for your tooth brush just for connivence, also you can buy 30000w in B&Q ( i saw them yesterday) they are cheaper than in Europe here. I hope every thing goes well for you.
[quote=“brisk”]I am renting from a serviced apartment company so I don’t have the authority to send someone over to put in a 250V socket. I asked the company, but their response was to use this:
pcstore.com.tw/solar/M13779865.htm
Do you think this will work? (sorry I do not speak or read Chinese and I have never used a converter before)
Just to reconfirm, my electronic devices are:
My hair dryer says: 220-240V 50hz 1800-2100W
My Vitamix Blender says: 220-240V 50/60hz 800-950W
My Oral-B Electric toothbrush says: 220-240V 50/60hz 0,9W
Thanks[/quote]
Buy it from the PC store site quoted, have a local help if you can’t, you can then try it out and return within 7 days if it doesn’t do what you need. Based on my experience of bringing 220V 50Hz electrical items over I would say;
My hair dryer says: 220-240V 50hz 1800-2100W ~ Won’t work (correctly) as you won’t have 1800-2100W from the 110V supply you’ll be plugging into unless you can pull 20 Amps which isn’t going to happen (for long). I’d also guess that the motor won’t run correctly on 60Hz. It’s cheaper to buy a new hairdryer than the transformer anyway.
My Vitamix Blender says: 220-240V 50/60hz 800-950W ~ Might work as the frequency and wattage should be OK but pushing the limit of supply. You’ll need to do your blending and hairdrying in the same place though, else have to lug the transformer back and forth. How much is a new blender?
My Oral-B Electric toothbrush says: 220-240V 50/60hz 0,9W ~ Should be fine, buy a smaller 3/400NT transformer good for about 5W.
Based on my own experience I wouldn’t bother bringing 220V stuff again, sell it or give it to your friends and buy 110V stuff when you get here. Transformers are a hassle, waste power and you always run the risk that someone will accidentally plug your 110V device into it and fry it.
I don’t know if it’s too late, but if you have miele products i’ve just found out that they normally have a switch on the motor inside to change over from 50 Hz to 60 Hz maybe also for the 220-110 conversion. maybe take the back off and look. They do have miele sales rooms in taipei so there must be engineers for this too. hope it helps.
Also i went and brought the transformer in the link, it works with all the things you listed it also works with my meile vacuum cleaner and coffee machine. i just suggest changing the plug on it as the adapter they give you gets too hot, it seems to me the cable is too small for the current it is pulling… but to change is the plug is very easy and cheap.