Need Help with Transformer purchase before we depart the US for the UK

We're leaving the US in a couple of weeks for the UK, where we'll be living for the next several years.  We want to get some equipment that will allow us to be able to run our 120V 60Hz electronics there if we need to.  As such, I've been told that we need more than just wall plug converters...we need transformers, or else we'll damage our electronics.

We've been told to buy transformers here in the US b/c they're less expensive than in the UK.  We've also been told not to "go cheap" b/c they'll fail, and to buy a "good one".  I don't know what "cheap" is, nor do I know what a "good one" is.

I know we need a 240/120V step-down transformer rated for the wattage/amperge that we want to run off of it (at one time).  What I don't know is this: 

If we want a good one that won't fail immediately, do we want one like this:

newcomer link: http://[url [nonactive] [/url]

or one like this:

newcomer link: http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Star-ST1000-1000-Watt-Transformer/dp/B000AY3IVY/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1339615432&sr=1-1&keywords=220v+to+110v+converter [nonactive]

We're talking about having 1 for our kitchen that we could plug a power strip into and run a panini press, toaster, coffee maker, etc. off of, and another for our computer room to plug in our printer, computer accessories, etc.

The bottom one looks like overkill, but I don't know.

The highest wattage that I can find on any of our equipment is 1000W on our Panini Press (which I find hard to believe, but anyway). 

Any advice?

Hi there, have you purchased your transformers yet? We're moving back to the US and have 2 transformers that we'd like to sell. They are both Tacima brand and we've only had them for a few months.

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We're in London till the end of the month. Let me know if you're interested. thanks.

We have 2 voltage transformers, one we bought in USA more than 10 years ago that we had shipped to UK and the other we bought in UK.  I can't remember where we bought them from as it was so long ago but they can be a bit pricey.
TLC direct has transformers 120V to 240V with the strongest dealing with 3000 watts:
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Transformer_Index/UK_to_USA_Converter/index.html

I believe ours are 2000 watts.  Be careful with your electronics - you probably don't want to use a 1000 watt transformer with your 1000 watt panini press in case there's a surge, you might kill your expensive transformer.  I believe I was advised to have at least 1 1/2 times the maximum wattage of appliances.  Also, if you plug in more than one thing and use both then you may want to have higher wattage transformer.

Note that these things are massively heavy.  There's some kind of dark matter in them as the boxes are relatively small so it's quite unexpected how heavy they are.  You can get transformers that convert one way or step-up, step-down that can convert either way so just something to be aware of.

Avoid the Seven Star brand - cheaply made, and IMHO won't last. The Tacima brand seems pretty good, and are UK made. Make sure you are looking at a step down transformer, not a step up, which is for using UK stuff in the US.

We have one of those yellow heavy (weight) and heavy duty transformers that you get here in the UK for use with power tools. It's rated for 3000VA and will power about anything you throw at it. We paid about £68 at a local electrical shop, but you can find them used if you look. Ugly and heavy, but as they are generally used on building sites, they will handle the high wattage stuff, and are fine for prolonged use. I used to keep one in the kitchen with a heavy duty power strip and ran all US appliances.

I also have a smaller 100VA transformer that I use for small appliances, which I bought for about £13. I'm very careful what I use it for.

I definitely recommend a universal power strip:



This has a Euro plug, but we just replaced with a UK grounded plug. For some reason, You can't seem to buy that in the UK. All my external hard drives are dual voltage, so I plug into the power strip and the power strip is connected directly to the mains.

Buy them in th UK. Newmarket Transformers is a great company.