The largest pin is earth.
The round pin is ground.
Plugs may not have the ground pin.
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John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints |
In the USA the discount department stores such as Wal-Mart are an excellent source for various items of electronic equipment and the currently most popular audio CD's and computer software titles. For more obscure audio CD's and software products specialist shops offer a much wider selection but tend to charge higher prices.
However, you do need to carefully consider whether devices and media (disks, etc) are compatible between the USA/Canada and the UK before making a purchase. You also need to consider the possible extra cost of customs duty and VAT on items imported into the UK, and the extreme difficulty of sorting out any problems should the goods prove to be faulty. Remember that in Britain the significantly lower customs allowance applies to goods purchased outside the EU.
Compatibility concerns also apply should you intend to take an electrical or electronic device purchased in the UK with you for use while you are on holiday in the USA/Canada.
Be sure to pack any electrical or electronic devices that you take with you or which you purchase while on holiday in your carry-on hand luggage, both for airline security reasons and also in order to reduce the probability of them being damaged or lost in transit.
There is a possibility of magnetic and photographic media being affected by airport security X-ray scanners. CD's (audio, CD ROM, CD-R, CD-RW and DVD disks) are very unlikely to be affected.
This page only considers compatibility between the USA/Canada and the UK. I'm sorry, I cannot provide any information regarding compatibility between the USA/Canada and any other countries.
In general there is 100% compatibility of all products between the USA and Canada.
Don't forget that you have to add sales tax to the quoted price of any purchases in the USA and Canada. The rate of sales tax varies between states, so you may wish to check and decide which state to make any significant purchases in.
Audio Cassettes
Audio cassettes are fully compatible between the USA/Canada and the UK. I have taken audio cassettes recorded in Britain and played them in cassette players in cars in the USA.
Audio Compact Disks (CD's)
Audio Compact Disks (CD's) are fully compatible between the USA/Canada and the UK. I have purchased a number of audio CD's in the USA and Canada and they work perfectly on my CD player and in my computer in Britain. However, there is a theoretical possibility that the anti-piracy schemes now being used on some audio CD's may cause problems.
Batteries
All the standard types of domestic batteries available in the UK are also readily available in the USA and Canada, together with a wide range of miniature batteries for hearing aids, watches, cameras, etc.
Camcorder Cassettes
I'm sorry, I can't offer any information regarding the compatibility or otherwise of camcorder cassettes, having no experience of them. If in any doubt, I suggest that you take sufficient blank camcorder cassettes with you. Be sure to also check the plug design and voltage of your camcorder's battery recharger.
Camcorders
I'm sorry, I can't offer any information regarding the compatibility or otherwise of camcorders, having no experience of them. Be sure to also check the plug design and voltage of the camcorder's battery recharger. Also check whether the video output is compatible with your television and/or video mixer/editor. It is highly unlikely that you will be able to play back the output from a UK camcorder on a US/Canadian television.
Coax Connectors On Televisions And Video Recorders
In Britain, coax cables used to carry RF (radio frequency) television signals (for example, aerial cables and RF cables between video recorders and televisions) have push fit connectors. In the USA and Canada an aerial is called an antenna.
I think that in the USA and Canada screw fit connectors are used for coax cables. However, I have only checked installations in motels, where the television signal is distributed to all rooms and where there may be a desire to avoid visitors accidentally or deliberately disconnecting devices. The situation is also complicated due to the extensive use of cable and satellite television systems.
Colours Of Wires In Electrical Power Cables
The following refers to the colours of the coverings of the wires in electrical power cables which connect appliances to mains sockets (outlets) in normal domestic single phase applications. It does not refer to the colours of the coverings of wires used to distribute power through buildings to wall sockets or to multiple phase applications. Nor does it refer to any wires used to convey low voltage electrical signals.
In Europe the following colour scheme is used: the covering of the live conductor is brown, that of the neutral conductor is blue and that of the earth (ground) has green and yellow stripes. Britain previously used a different colour scheme but changed to the European standard many years ago.
For many years the USA has used the following colour scheme: the covering of the live conductor is black (or occasionally red or blue), that of the neutral conductor is white and that of the ground (earth) is green. However, according to some sources the USA is now changing to the European standard, especially for equipment which is distributed world-wide.
I suspect that the colour scheme used in Canada is the same as in the USA.
Computer Consumables (Ink Jet Cartridges, Laser Printer Toner Cartridges, etc)
Computer consumables such as ink cartridges for inkjet printers and toner cartridges for laser printers are fully compatible, but be very careful to purchase the precisely correct product for your particular device. The best approach is to note the manufacturer's product number from an old cartridge before leaving.
Computer Hardware
Apart from the different mains voltage and frequency, computers and computer related equipment such as printers and internal computer components such as hard disks, video boards, sound boards should be compatible.
A probable exception to this rule is modems. As well having to be compatible between the different countries' telephone systems, I believe that modems also require a different design of telephone connection plug in the UK to the USA/Canada. I would imagine that high speed modems (X2, K56Flex and V.90) are particularly likely to be incompatible.
Despite the attractiveness of a potentially considerable saving, I would question the wisdom of a visitor from the UK making a significant computer hardware purchase in the USA, due to having to pay import duty and VAT when importing the equipment into the UK (the very much lower customs allowance applies to purchases made outside the EU), and the difficulty of sorting out any problems should the equipment prove faulty or unsuitable.
Computer Media (Floppy Disks, CD-R Disks, etc)
Blank computer media such as floppy disks and high density exchangeable disks (for example Iomega Zip drive disks) are fully compatible, assuming the same physical size, density and operating system.
Blank CD-R and CD-RW disks should be fully compatible as far as I know.
Provided they are compatible in terms of data formatting, CD-R and CD-RW disks containing data are fully compatible. I have successfully created audio format CD-R disks on my computer in Britain and played them on car CD players in the USA.
Computer Software
Provided the system requirements are met, computer software is generally compatible between the USA/Canada and the UK, except perhaps software which involves the use of a modem.
CD ROM's and floppy disks are compatible (provided parameters such as the physical dimensions, density, format and operating system are compatible).
DVD Disks (Digital Versatile Disks)
I believe that the recently introduced DVD disks (similar to Compact Disks but with much greater capacity) have been deliberately designed so as to incompatible between different continents, but that recently the DVD player manufacturers have reacted by making modern DVD players capable of playing DVD disks created for any zone. I suggest you check very carefully before purchasing any DVD product intended for use in a different country.
Electric Light Bulbs
As well as the difference in mains voltage, there is another significant difference in the design of electric light bulbs between Britain and the USA and Britain. In Britain mains light bulbs have bayonet fittings whereas in the USA they screw in.
Electric Light Switches
Electric light switches in the USA and Canada, especially on lamps, are often small knobs which must be turned clockwise. You should always turn these knobs clockwise, since turning them anti-clockwise (counter-clockwise) merely unscrews the knob.
If one of these switches controls only one light then repeatedly turning the knob clockwise will alternately switch the light on and off.
If one of these switches controls two lights, for example two lights over two adjacent beds in a motel room, then as you repeatedly rotate the switch clockwise it will run through the four permutations of two lights being on or off (00, 01, 10 and 11, then back to 00 and so on).
Electrical Switches
Electrical switches operate in the opposite sense in the USA/Canada to the UK. In the USA and Canada off is down and on is up, whereas in the UK off is up and on is down (except for some equipment intended for the world market and imported into the UK, of course).
Mains Electricity Supply And Main Sockets (Power Outlets)
The following only refers to normal domestic single phase electricity supplies.
US and Canadian mains electricity has a voltage of 110v and a frequency of 60Hz. In the UK the mains voltage is 240v and the frequency is 50Hz.
Mains sockets are called power outlets in the USA and Canada.
Earth is called ground in the USA and Canada.
US and Canadian power outlets are of a totally different physical design to mains sockets in the UK or Europe, so as well as taking care of voltage difference considerations you will also need an adapter for an electric razor or any other device.
In Britain, all but the most ancient of domestic mains sockets have three square holes for the live, neutral and earth connectors. All but the most ancient of appliance cables have plugs with three square prongs to match. Plugs always have all three prongs, although very occasionally on very low current devices the earth prong is a non-conductive dummy. The hole and prong for earth (ground) is larger and longer than the other two and the plug can only be inserted in one orientation. In modern sockets, as the plug is inserted the earth pin automatically operates a simple mechanism which opens slots inside the socket which normally cover the live and neutral. Normally the neutral is at zero volts (or very close to it), although I have heard a theory (very much unconfirmed) that for safety reasons some British schools are wired with the live and neutral each at 120V with opposite polarity.
Mainland Europe uses a different design with (I think) round connectors. Sockets for electric razors use this design (with only two connectors) both in mainland Europe and in Britain, and in some cases the voltage on the socket can be switched between 240v and 110v.
In the USA and Canada the live and neutral sockets in power outlets are thin, straight slots, normally parallel to each other. The earth socket is round and placed so that the three sockets form a triangle. Some mains outlets have a more complicated design where one of the straight slots has a "T" shape, allowing it to take plugs with straight prongs which are parallel or at 90 degrees to each other. I suspect that the 90 degree prong arrangement is for very heavy current appliances such as electric cookers and air conditioners, which presumably should only be plugged into special outlets capable of carrying that extra current.
In the USA and Canada many plugs for low current appliances such as lights only have the two straight live and neutral connectors and therefore can be plugged into the socket with either orientation. This is potentially highly dangerous since the switch on the appliance could then be located on the neutral side of the appliance, leaving the appliance live even when switched off. The plugs on higher current appliances have all three conductors and therefore can only be inserted in one orientation. The live and neutral sockets are not guarded by sliding covers as they are in modern British main sockets.
The European standard sockets for electric razors, with two round holes, are not found in the USA or Canada and a normal mains socket must be used instead. In older buildings a suitable socket for an electric razor can sometimes be found on the rim of a bathroom light fitting. In more modern buildings there is usually a suitable placed wall socket, often with an earth trip switch. Check the voltage on your razor and don't forget to switch it back after returning from holiday.
The physical design of the mains sockets used in the USA and Canada is in my opinion very poor. Plugs, especially those with only two prongs, have a great tendency to work loose and fall out. Apart from the obvious frustration with all appliances and the risk of data loss and corruption when using a computer, if only the neutral conductor loses connection then under some circumstances the entire appliance can become live, with obvious dangers.
The connection at the appliance (if any) can take any form in each country. However, fixed cables (with no plugs and sockets) or the "kettle lead" type of connector used on most modern computer equipment seem to increasingly be the two most common possibilities in the USA, Canada and Britain. Unfortunately, the "kettle lead" design of plug and socket is also rather prone to accidental disconnection.
The following diagrams of sockets are on the same scale as each other but are only intended for illustrative purposes and are not exact:
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UK Mains Socket.
The largest pin is earth. |
UK Electric Shaver Socket. |
US Power Outlet (normal design).
The round pin is ground. Plugs may not have the ground pin. |
Mobile phones may be unable to obtain an adequate signal in remote areas of the USA and Canada.
Modems
I do not know for sure but my impression is that modems of all types (for conventional analog phone lines, for cable, or for ADSL) are not mutually compatible between Britain and the USA/Canada.
MP3 Recorders and Players
I'm sorry, I cannot comment on the compatibility or otherwise of MP3 (also called MPEG3, MPEG Level 3) recorders and players, having so far had no experience of them.
Photographic Film
Most standard types of photographic film which are available in the UK should also be readily available in the USA and Canada. If your camera uses a non-standard type of photographic film then it might be wise to take sufficient film with you.
Portable Radios
Portable radios are compatible between the UK and the USA/Canada, except that there are no long wave transmissions in the USA or Canada.
Medium wave is usually referred to as "AM" (Amplitude Modulation) in the USA/Canada, and VHF as "FM" (frequency modulation).
The locations of Medium wave radio stations within the waveband are, I think, quoted as frequencies in KHz as is now common practice in the UK. As in the UK, the position of VHF radio stations within the waveband are quoted as frequencies in MHz.
To convert from a frequency in KHz to a wavelength in Metres divide 300,000 by the KHz figure. To convert from a wavelength in Metres to a frequency in KHz divide 300,000 by the Metres figure. (These formulas are only valid for electromagnetic waves travelling at the speed of light, such as radio waves. They are not valid for sound waves which travel at a much lower speed.)
Prescriptions For Spectacles (Eye Glasses)
Prescriptions for spectacles (eye glasses) are completely compatible between the UK and the USA (and therefore almost certainly Canada). You may however need to explain the different date formats used in the two countries (dd/mm/yy in the UK, mm/dd/yy in the USA).
Compared with UK opticians' prices, Wal-Mart's Vision Centres in the USA are an extremely low-cost source of prescription eye glasses, prices starting at around $40 (as at summer 1999) for single vision lenses complete with frame and anti-scratch coating. The quality of construction is at least equal to that of "designer" frames costing a hundred pounds or more in Britain. However, charges for eye examinations are lower in the UK than the US, and are free in the UK for senior citizens. Therefore the most cost-effective approach for UK residents, especially senior citizens, is to have your eye examination performed in the UK, take your prescription with you and purchase your glasses while on holiday in the USA. Glasses are usually made up within an hour or two, and any necessary minor adjustments will be made free of charge at any Wal-Mart Vision Centre provided you have the receipt. Most but not all Wal-Mart stores have Vision Centres, usually located adjacent to the entrance on the opposite side to the snack bar. However, Wal-Mart Vision Centres do not stock high power lenses and may take up to a week to obtain them. Charges in US opticians are considerably higher than in Wal-Mart Vision Centres but are still much lower than in the UK.
In addition, Wal-Mart also sell off-the-shelf self-selection reading glasses in the main part of the store at much lower prices than those charged for these products in the UK. Prices start at around $8 (as at summer 1999).
Televisions
Analog televisions are completely incompatible between the USA/Canada and the UK. The mains voltage and frequency is different. The number of lines is different. The way that analog colour television signals are encoded is fundamentally different in the USA and Canada to the UK. The USA and Canada use the NTSC system (officially National Television Standards Committee - or cynically "Never The Same Colour"), while the UK uses the PAL (Phase, Active Line) system.
I strongly suspect that the physical design of the aerial socket on US/Canadian analog televisions is different to that on UK analog televisions. An aerial is called an antenna in the USA and Canada.
I imagine that digital televisions will also be completely incompatible between the USA/Canada and the UK.
Similarly, it seems highly likely that any equipment associated with television reception (television aerials, cable decoders, satellite dishes and decoders, signal boosters, etc) are completely incompatible between the USA/Canada and the UK.
Video Cassettes
Video cassettes for domestic video recorders (both pre-recorded cassettes and blank cassettes) are completely incompatible between the USA/Canada and the UK, except that some video recorders now sold in Britain are capable of playing American/Canadian NTSC video cassettes as well as UK PAL cassettes.
However, sometimes UK format pre-recorded video cassettes are available, especially at tourist attractions, for example in shops in National Parks. Look for video cassettes clearly marked as being both VHS and PAL format (VHS alone is not sufficient). The technical quality of such cassettes may suffer somewhat due to the conversion process from the US/Canadian format original.
Video Recorders (VCR's)
Video recorders are completely incompatible, for similar reasons to televisions, except that some video recorders now sold in Britain are capable of playing American/Canadian NTSC video cassettes as well as UK PAL cassettes.
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Most recently modified 25-Jun-02