Computer and electronic equipment in Australia

[[email protected]]

Hi. I may be moving to Australia from the UK and wondered whether it
would make sense to bring my PC, monitor etc or buy new. I know the
voltage is the same but wondered if there might be other problems. The
plugs I understand are a different shape too but would I just be able
to replace a UK 3 pin with an Australian 3 pin?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Jonno]

Hi. I may be moving to Australia from the UK and wondered whether it
would make sense to bring my PC, monitor etc or buy new. I know the
voltage is the same but wondered if there might be other problems. The
plugs I understand are a different shape too but would I just be able
to replace a UK 3 pin with an Australian 3 pin?

Thanks for any advice.

Yep All UK voltages are understood locally.
Plugs are different. Not over engineered like the ones in England.
They use a standard earth active and neutral. (No fuse)
Also use double insulated (no earth at all) appliances.
If you are moving it might make sense to get an aussie to english
dictionary though.
See here >>> http://www.abc.net.au/civics/globalcitizens/ozstrine.htm

 

[Trevor Wilson]

Hi. I may be moving to Australia from the UK and wondered whether it
would make sense to bring my PC, monitor etc or buy new. I know the
voltage is the same but wondered if there might be other problems. The
plugs I understand are a different shape too but would I just be able
to replace a UK 3 pin with an Australian 3 pin?

Thanks for any advice.

**Buy new. But avoid that damned new version of Windows like the plague.
Like most things, computer equipment is cheaper (or was) in Australia than
in the UK. The cost of living (even in Sydney) is somewhat lower than in
(say) London. The only exception being European automobiles. Do a search
here:

http://www.shopbot.com.au/

You'll gain an idea about prices.

Go here:

http://www.xe.com/ucc/

For the latest exchange rates.

If all else fails, just replace the mains plug and you'll be sweet.

 

[jasen]

Hi. I may be moving to Australia from the UK and wondered whether it
would make sense to bring my PC, monitor etc or buy new. I know the
voltage is the same but wondered if there might be other problems. The
plugs I understand are a different shape too but would I just be able
to replace a UK 3 pin with an Australian 3 pin?

All should work fine bar the plugs, typical outlets are 10A (rather than 13A)
so some appliances may need to be left behind or need a special outlet.

IEC cables are easily had so you won't need to replace plugs. If you have a
large number of wall-wart style powersupplies it may be a good idea to bring
a UK powerstrip with you and fit an Australian plug (or use an adaptor)

Don't bring an analogue tv,

Bye.
Jasen

 

[kreed]

Hi. I may be moving to Australia from the UK and wondered whether it
would make sense to bring my PC, monitor etc or buy new. I know the
voltage is the same but wondered if there might be other problems. The
plugs I understand are a different shape too but would I just be able
to replace a UK 3 pin with an Australian 3 pin?

Thanks for any advice.

Electrically there is no problem at all, just change the plug to an
Australian one. (or replace the IEC cord with a local one).

Power here is 240vac 50hz. It should be noted that Australian
household sockets are 10a maximum (not 13a like there). If you have
any appliances that draw ABOVE 10a (like big heaters, clothes dryers,
welders etc) you will need to have a 15a socket installed by an
electrician - this will have its own dedicated circuit and circuit
breaker at the power-box.

Things like plugpacks or such (where you can't replace the plug) you
should consider bringing UK power boards and put local plugs onto
them. (This will probably be cheaper option for you with stuff like
your computer gear where using the powerboard, will only need
replacing one plug instead of several items that you always use
together like computer gear, stereo components etc)

The one computer problem you might have here is modem compatibility,
if you have dial-up or ADSL, modems, they possibly might not work over
here on our phone system, even if you change the telephone plug. Check
first, or maybe someone else on this group might be able to advise
you.

The TV system here is different, so I wouldn't bring a TV or VCR.
Video tapes you bring will play here though without problems on local
equipment.

Some overseas cordless phones are illegal to bring here (due to them
using frequencies that arent licensed for cordless phone use here)

 

[Two Bob]

Hi. I may be moving to Australia from the UK and wondered whether it

would make sense to bring my PC, monitor etc or buy new. I know the
voltage is the same but wondered if there might be other problems. The
plugs I understand are a different shape too but would I just be able
to replace a UK 3 pin with an Australian 3 pin?

Buy a computer when you get here, our computers dont whine as much as yours
do!

 

[Two Bob]

Hi. I may be moving to Australia from the UK and wondered whether it

**Buy new. But avoid that damned new version of Windows like the plague.
Like most things, computer equipment is cheaper (or was) in Australia than
in the UK. The cost of living (even in Sydney) is somewhat lower than in

Dont you watch the news, Sydney has the most expensive house prices in the
world.

 

[Hugh]

Probably better to sell your PC there (remove hard drive if it has personal
data and mount it in a new PC here as D. Cost of freight, warranty, etc.

PC's here are far cheaper than in the UK. Doing this would eliminate your
connection compatibility issues completely (data/electrical). Local
warranty is probably easier than sending unit back to UK for service.

Regards,
H.

 

[Trevor Wilson]

Dont you watch the news, Sydney has the most expensive house prices in the
world.

**Yes, I do watch the news. No, Sydney does not have the highest house
prices in the world. They are high, though. Rents in Sydney are
significantly lower than in London. Food costs are MUCH lower. Fuel costs
are lower. Heating costs are lower. Etc, etc. Living in Sydney may be the
most expensive place in Australia, but it is far from the most expensive in
the world. Try Tokyo, sometime. You'll REALLY see what living costs are all
about.

 

[Friday]

**Yes, I do watch the news. No, Sydney does not have the highest house
prices in the world. They are high, though. Rents in Sydney are
significantly lower than in London. Food costs are MUCH lower. Fuel costs
are lower. Heating costs are lower. Etc, etc. Living in Sydney may be the
most expensive place in Australia, but it is far from the most expensive in
the world. Try Tokyo, sometime. You'll REALLY see what living costs are all
about.

Perth now has higher prices than Sydney.

 

[David L. Jones]

Hi. I may be moving to Australia from the UK and wondered whether it
would make sense to bring my PC, monitor etc or buy new. I know the
voltage is the same but wondered if there might be other problems. The
plugs I understand are a different shape too but would I just be able
to replace a UK 3 pin with an Australian 3 pin?

Yep, just get a local IEC power lead when you get here.

Thanks for any advice.

My advice would be don't bring it, and don't buy a new one.
Ex-Lease PC's are available real cheap, like $150 for a P4 2GHz+
Depends on how high spec a machine you actually want and need though,
but for $200 you can get a PC that will do almost everything you could
need.

Dave

 

[Mike]

Perth now has higher prices than Sydney.

Just what I was going to say, and driven by real estate agent greed,
4 bdrm house on 350sqm block in Glendalough, asking $699K <guh>
no offers of course...


--
Regards
Mike
* VK/VL Commodore FuseRails that wont warp or melt with fuse failure indication
and now with auto 10-15 min timer for engine illumination option.
* VN, VP, VR Models with relay holder in progress.
* Twin Tyres to suit most sedans, trikes and motorcycle sidecars
http://niche.iinet.net.au

 

[Jonno]

Just what I was going to say, and driven by real estate agent greed,
4 bdrm house on 350sqm block in Glendalough, asking $699K <guh>
no offers of course...

Yes, but we'd all rather live in Melbourne.
All the imports are coming to Sydney, then realising their mistake come
to live in Melbourne.
Sydney, realising they've lost some population keeps on importing more
of the same.
Slow down immigration now for the right reasons.

 

[swanny]

Just what I was going to say, and driven by real estate agent greed,
4 bdrm house on 350sqm block in Glendalough, asking $699K <guh>
no offers of course...

And that would probably be about a million Euros is it was in Glendalough, Co
Wicklow, Ireland. Real estate is ridiculously over priced over there compared to
here.