Using U.S. lamps and bulbs in the UK

My husband and I have been reading posts here about lamps, and think we understand how it works bringing them from the U.S. But my husband had a further question, maybe someone here knows the answer? Here's his question:

We are sending our lamps to the UK -- the movers have already packed them and they will arrive with our other furniture, which includes a number of step-up/step-down transformers.  My question is: is it safe and possible to run a US 110V lamp using a florescent US bulb (which, of course, uses a very low wattage) through a transformer in the UK?  We want to avoid all safety and rewiring issues, as well as the cost of purchasing new florescent bulbs in the UK.

I'd ring these folks directly. They were very helpful when I ordered my Kitchenaid transformer.

http://www.newmarket-transformers.co.uk/

I brought my lamps over with me and never used them (I thought I would have them rewired) but the cost didn't make sense to do it. I wouldn't bother bringing them over....lamps are not OTT expensive over here like other things are. Plus with the limited storage space in most houses....its just not worth it.

From a technical point-of view, fluorescent lamps are a slightly different proposition than incandescent (filament) lamps.   The latter don't care about the frequency of the supply, but the ballast in a fluoro fitting is tailored to the intended supply frequency, so running on 50 instead of 60 Hertz does have an effect on the current through the tube. 

In practice though, the difference on most low-wattage lamps is not enough to be of concern, although some of the newer-style "compact" fluorescent lamps can be a little temperamental.   Also keep in mind that although these last a long time they'll need replacement eventually, and although regular bulbs are available in 110V versions here, 110V fluoro lamps are not so easily obtainable.

If you do opt for bringing lamps, just make sure that you run on a proper transformer, like the ones on the Newmarket site.  The "transformerless" converters, while attractive from a cost-vs.-power standpoint, will cause nothing but trouble with any sort of fluorescent light.

From a technical point-of view, fluorescent lamps are a slightly different proposition than incandescent (filament) lamps.   The latter don't care about the frequency of the supply, but the ballast in a fluoro fitting is tailored to the intended supply frequency, so running on 50 instead of 60 Hertz does have an effect on the current through the tube. 

In practice though, the difference on most low-wattage lamps is not enough to be of concern, although some of the newer-style "compact" fluorescent lamps can be a little temperamental.   Also keep in mind that although these last a long time they'll need replacement eventually, and although regular bulbs are available in 110V versions here, 110V fluoro lamps are not so easily obtainable.

If you do opt for bringing lamps, just make sure that you run on a proper transformer, like the ones on the Newmarket site.  The "transformerless" converters, while attractive from a cost-vs.-power standpoint, will cause nothing but trouble with any sort of fluorescent light.

Thanks so much, my husband said this was what he needed to know! I'm still a bit in the dark about it all (no pun intended), but I'll let him figure out the electrical stuff and hope he doesn't end up shorting out the house!

We brought all our incandescent bulb lamps over and have been using them from the pat 4 1/2 years with UK bulbs and plug adapters. No problems w/ overheating or anything. Make sure you use UK bulbs (of whatever wattage you'd normally use,) though - using US bulbs will cause them to blow. You can find screw-base bulbs most everywhere, in my experience.

HTH