Bringing TVs back to the USA

We are moving to the USA in July and have 2 flat screen TVs that we bought here in Zurich. The larger one has a great stereo system with it. Can and bring the TVs and stereo system with me or just the stereo speakers, etc...?

You can bring it, but I'm guessing you're asking something else.

You do know that when comparing electrical appliances, and in particular TV's, from Europe with US, it's like comparing apples and oranges.

(They have a different type of electricity and picture format - your TV's may be able to cope, if suitably equipped).

Be careful of the shift between power supplies - We are on 240V here, and the US is on 110V. The cycles are also different (50Hz to 60Hz, but I can't remember which side has which). This will mean unless your TV automatically has an auto-switching transformer you will want to stick something in between so you can get enough power to drive your system.

As for frequencies received I'm going to say that should work wherever, but don't quote me.

Now, why would you not be allowed to bring the TV? Did you open it up and pack it with weed or something?

Very funny...no weed. Just need to know if I should sell it or not. Can't post on this website until I have 10 hits...now I have 3....and counting...

Just go to the Off Topic Forum, and make 7 flippant, irrelevant and irreverent replies to 7 threads (like the rest of us).

it will be fine, just plug them in no problem, the higher voltage would just make the picture move faster, it wont make the tv die instantly

.... and don't worry that the Neon Transformer Secondary Circuit makes the picture jump quickly with many moving horizontal lines.

Sell them as you'll need a step up transformer for the power and, depending on the TV, it may or may not be able to take the US signal (NTSC vs PAL). That and you can get a decent TV for cheaper in the US.

No, they are not the same.

Also, the format is different.

My TV here (as is generally the case) will work with both PAL and NTSC video, but the receiver is PAL only, and thus you would need an external receiver with HDMI or SCART output in the US.

Don't bother.

Tom

I have an LG that can be run on almost anything (110V/60Hz and 230V/50Hz).

My Samsung on th other hand runs only with 220V up to 240V 50Hz/60Hz. You have to check on the back of your TV what voltages it will accept.

The HDMI input of both TV will accept any format in 50Hz (Europe), 60Hz (US), and 24Hz (Movie). Check with the manual of your TV.

The digital tuner of both TV will only accept DVB formats. In the U.S. free tv over the air is ATSC. Cable can be DVB-C but also other formats (Which is more likely). The analog tuner of the LG accepts NTSC and PAL, the Samsung does only PAL (But who watches analog these days?).

Conclusion: If your TV runs on the American voltage (120V/60Hz) and supports the 60Hz picture formats it will run with a set-top box. If you will use cable and it is in the DVB-C format, it may even run w/o a set-top box.

Check the power specs. If it can handle 100-220 V, you will be fine. If not, then you would need a step up/step down converter to power down the voltage from 220 to 110. I have a US xbox and I have to use a step up/step down converter to prevent it from frying the power box.

Secondly, if you are connecting to US cable or satellite or DVD player the signal is NTFS in the US and Europe is PAL. You may not be able to convert the video signal.

I would suggest that if you have both of those issues to sell the TVs and purchase new one designed to be used in the US.

Umm, no. We have a higher voltage in Switzerland than America. If the TV has an auto transformer it will be fine, otherwise it just won't turn on.

If it was to go the other way, well let's just say I've seen how the instant upgrade option works with an American computer power supply that was plugged into a 240V socket. Flash! Bang! Blue Smoke! about covers it...

Back on topic, Personally I'd sell, but that's because I'm not that attached to most of my stuff besides my computer. You would find the cost of shipping will not necessarily be any better than selling and buying new.

And then you will have a new TV!

NTFS = New Technology File System (computer jargon)

NTSC = National Television System Committee (applicable to N. & S. American TV broadcast format).

[although I still prefer my earlier version above: Neon Transformer Secondary Circuit ̈]

Oh, and I forgot to add that, at least with our shipping company, that they wanted to tack on 200chf for a box for the TV since I considered keeping ours as well but, if you haven't kept the original box, they'll add this on (which, after paying rather a lot of money for everything else, 200chf for a TV box seemed a bit too much). Just something to keep in mind if you decide to keep them.