Job Discussion Forums

[Griff-James]

Will UK electrical items work on the Saudi mains system?

[Cleopatra]

[Imdramayu]

Aren't most countries in the Gulf 220v? If KSA is out of step with the rest of the Gulf, I hope it is easy and cheap to get people to install a 220v outlet in my house.

[scot47]

American influence has led to many places in KSA favouring 110v. Aramco for example. Some places may have dual voltage.

My advice is do not bring anything. What you need is available here.

[Cleopatra]

[cmp45]

You can buy a converter that converts from 110 to 220 and vice versa...I bought one at a sports shop where I bought my tread mill...it works well...they are not cheap and are somewhat heavy contraptions...however they are about the size of a loaf of bread, but heavier!

[Cleopatra]

I tried to use a converter to run my 220v hair dryer from a 110v outlet. A few seconds after I plugged it in, it started crackling and then came that scary burning rubber smell. I haven't dared use it since! Perhaps the heavier, more expensive converters that you describe are safer, but I have heard that even good converters will damage and shorten the life of appliances with frequent use.

[cmp45]

Hmmmn smell of burning rubber??? Not good...honestly, mine does get hot too...so don't use it for lengthy periods of time, but the times I have used it worked fine for me. Have not encountered any burning smell yet; however, I have melted many extension cords with too many appliances/ gadets plugged in at once...yikes!

[Cleopatra]

[Stephen Jones]

A transformer powerful enough to work with the wattage of a hairdryer is likely to cost a load more than a new hair-dryer.

110 volt sockets are a pain because it's so hard to buy goods that have that voltage.

[MixtecaMike]

Interesting facts about electricity

The voltage here is 110 because it was installed by Americans.
The 220V plugs run by combining two out of phase 110 circuits.
Some plugs (usually in the kitchen) can be converted to 220
Jugs, irons and sandwich toasters will run on 110, but slowly
You need a big enough transformer to run your appliances or it will go up in smoke. VA rating on the transformer needs to be a bit higher than the wattage on your appliance
Your electric oven and dryer will have 220 plugs, you can run some wires out of those sockets to an outlet box yourself, if you know what you are doing.

The above information is from my experiences trying to equip my kitchen with goodies I couldn't previously afford. My house had a non-working wall oven that I ripped out, and I used the outlet that was behind it to run a Europe style three pin socket with the neccessary adaptors for the round pin plugs, plus a good extension lead. Transformers are generally not up to any appliances with heating elements, unless they are the very expensive ones.

[johnslat]

Here's something I found on Yahoo Answers. I'm no electrician, but it sounds reasonable to me:


"In Saudi Arabia, all cities and major towns including Riyadh use both 110V AC and 220 V AC. As a matter of fact even normal houses and grand hotels HAVE both 110 and 220 outlets. But here's the catch: Saudi Arabia is a 60Hz country and NOT 50Hz frequency. THE UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, UK, Germany, Europe, etc are all 50Hz and so are most of their electrical products.

Only Saudi, US, Canada, Philippines, etc. are 60Hz countries, so watch out for appliances having 50 Hz only and don't use it in a 60Hz supply !!!

How it will affect you:

What happens if you connect a 50 Hertz motor to a 60 Hertz main?

The motor turns 17% faster

The internal current goes down by 17%

The power (watt) goes up 17 %

Mechanical cooling is more, because of 17% more turns, but the life expectancy of the device goes down due to more wear and tear.

Hair Dryer of 50 Hz using a 60Hz supply

A hairdryer has a heating element and a fan motor. The heating element is not a problem, but the fan motor is made for 50 Hertz, so expect more air blowing volume and mechanical failure as the motor is running faster than it should.


Today's laptop adaptors are mostly made for the whole world and there is no problem as long as it states on the name-plate: 110-220 volt 50/60 Hertz. If it only states 110/220VAC 50 Hertz(cycles), think twice before plugging it in Riyadh."

I also seem to recall that a good number of devices sold in Saudi have a switch on them which allows the user to choose either 220 or 110 voltage.
So, when buying, check carefully to ascertain whether such a switch is provided.

Regards,
John

[scot47]

Cleo
It is time that you realised that 110 volts is the RIGHT way because that is what they do in Murka ! Any other system is ipso facto WRONG !

[Mia Xanthi]

Sooo glad you've learned to see it that way, scot47!

[Cleopatra]

Gee whizz... soon you'll convince me to start measuring temperatures in fahrenheit, and referring to my female colleagues as "you guys".