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Everything you wanted to know #5: Appliances and voltages

I asked:

Every site says different things on transformers vs converters and kitchen appliances. I know it's been asked many times before, so I just want personal experiences: what small kitchen appliances did you bring, what did you run them on, and how well did they work (& how long did they last)???

And luckily for you, if you’re looking to this site for answers, smarter people than I am actually responded!!!

  • ask me again on a weekday, please [I posted this question on a Friday morning here – ie late afternoon in Israel!]
  • Personally, I'm not one for transformers. Never owned or used one. If you have an almost new, expected to last a decade or more appliance that's one thing, but otherwise get appliances that will be good for Israel, even if the price seems high. I'm here over 40 years. Transformers aren't free either, and some appliances don't work that well with them. Also, don't overstock on clothes, tablecloths etc. You'll need more closets and more space. They also cost money.
  • I agree…!
  • To be honest I would try to sell your 110 v appliances and buy new top quality 220v ones - go to the 220v store up North and check out prices there and buy from there and put on your lift. WE bought a 220v immersion blender for Pesach more than 6 years ago there and I am still using it!!! It's now chametzdig and dairy
  • I agree… . I didn't come with any appliances at all. Of course, I came marrying into a family here. But even what Rebecca brought over didn't last very long. Nothing more than 5 years. Transformers are great for a once in a while use, like the iron that we use perhaps 5-6 times a year. For things used often, it does shorten the appliance's life span. Better to put 220 stuff on your lift, or buy it here.
  • I agree - buy 220 there and ship it here- because it's being shipped, it doesn't get taxed (in Ontario). We use all the kitchen appliances we used to use- but more often (there is fresh food here so we make more of the stuff that we used to buy over there- we make the baby food, the sauces etc..)
  • For small appliances, you can check the price of 220V appliances in Israel on websites like zap.co.il, bestbuy.co.il, lior-electric.co.il and compare to the cost of bringing a 220V appliance from the US.
    for large appliances, take into consideration that appliances bought in Israel will have local service and warranty, and be appropriate for Israeli conditions - e.g. washers that heat their own water (only a small amount needed) instead of having to heat up the whole water heater so washer can take from it.  [This seems like a good rule of thumb] In general, a transformer might be good for an occasional appliance that you really like, but best to avoid them if you can get a 220V appliance to do the job. also the transformer can convert voltage but not cycles, which can be relevant for some appliances. and they are not supposed to be used for electronic equipment or high-wattage appliances.
  • It might be a bit premature to show up with appliances. They say that the electricity will finally arrive here in 2016.  [What a joker – I hope!]

But seriously… the blender is kind of new, so that hurts a bit.  And the hand blenders, and the mixers, and the Pesach mixer.  But the hardest is my beloved Cuisinart, although… precious as it is, is definitely on its last legs.  I just searched for the post where I blogged about it when it was a brand-new birthday present and discovered that it is older than one of my children (bought for my birthday, I guess eight years ago?).  So I guess they will have to go.

I think the kind of appliances people say to buy and ship are LARGE appliances, which we will definitely need to buy sooner rather than later (even if you’re renting, apartments generally come without any appliances).  But what I was asking about was mainly the small ones, so I guess we will have to buy them when we arrive … or do without. :-(

I suspect that we will be hemorrhaging money for the better part of the first year…

Addendum:  Computers and Power Supplies:

Two late-breaking comments were particularly important so I wanted to add them – actually, this is one issue I researched early on because I just bought a new desktop back in December…

  • However, some electronic equipment, such as a computer or router, might have a power supply that can work on either 110V or 22V input.

  • BTW we brought our computer, monitor and printer as well as our video camera - all of the worked fine with just an adapter (but make sure you switch your CPU to 220 v setting - otherwise you will blow the transformer and lose everything :)

So there you have it – the definitive responses… from actual folks who have been there and done that.

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