Moving UK to CH. Which electronics to bring and which to ditch?

Posted by jaanku@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 15 comments

I’ll be moving from the UK to Switzerland in a few months. Which electronics/appliances should I bring and which should I replace when I arrive. Thinking of things like TV, coffee maker (nespresso), air fryer, fans, iron, rice cooker, electronic egg cooker, toaster, kettle, lamps, etc. I’m not worried about computers, phones, tablets or anything powered by USB (unless I should be?) All of these things would have the correct Hz and voltage, but would using a simple (but high quality) plug converter long term be ok?

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15 Comments

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Arseh0le@reddit

Not CH but did Nordics about a decade ago and we’ve just gradually replaced things as we went along. We bought new toaster, kettle, and a few small items. Our only hold out is an iron that will not die.

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Earnest_Shacklton@reddit

Firstly, everything from UK should run perfectly well on Swiss electricity. Secondly, consider the plugs. I would recommend changing the UK plugs to Swiss plugs for items which use a lot of electricity (kettle, iron etc). This is because using adapters long term for high current items is sub-optimal due to possible overheating issues. You can see how much a device uses (W) as every device has rating data printed on it. Thirdly, do you know how to wire a plug?

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jaanku@reddit (OP)

No idea how to rewire a plug and I don’t trust myself to do it correctly.

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Earnest_Shacklton@reddit

Then I would suggest a Swiss electrician do it for you.

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Defiant-Dare1223@reddit

That is definitely the wrong suggestion unless you have very valuable electronics!

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Key_Equipment1188@reddit

Considering the hourly of a swiss electrician, op better saved on shipping costs and said electrician and buy new items. For those items with heavier loads, get proper adapters with CE approval and it should be fine.

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AlbertP95@reddit

Don't rewire plugs on appliances that can come into contact with water, use a converter instead or switch the device.

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Earnest_Shacklton@reddit

Would you consider a kettle to be an appliance that can come into contact with water? Because my Kenwood kettle takes about 12.5A and there's no way I'd want that to be going through an adapter when I can just put a new plug on it (which is what I've done).

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Defiant-Dare1223@reddit

Everything will work. I've just used adapters until stuff has aged out.

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Physical-Fly6697@reddit

Just bring a few uk multi boards

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Hutcho12@reddit

You just need an adapter. Or get a power board from the UK and cut off the plug and put a Swiss one on and you can use a number of drives with it. This is a non issue.

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BoeserAuslaender@reddit

Don't forget that due to Switzerland being a special snowflake they have non-standard plugs.

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flower-power-123@reddit

In geneva today. I discovered a thing. the plugs here come in a triangle of three plugs. If you plug an adapter into one of then the other two plugs will be covered up.

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soupnoodles4ever@reddit

Brought my coffee machine and microwave, it’s been three years and no problem so far

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TechnicalFuel4821@reddit

I'm significantly dented and thought you meant China