Using UK Chandeliers in the US?

By BecomingHome

I'm a bit of a chandlier whore.. would like to put one in every room in our new house if I could! Lately I'm finding that the style that I like (marie antoinette inspired!) are so much cheaper in the UK, even accounting for the horrible exchange rate. (http://www.bhs.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/bhsstore/978738/94230 just one example)

My question is that with the UK 220 voltage, is there a way that these could be wired or re-wired to work with our 110 voltage? Would it be an easy DIY project or would we need to bring it to a lighting specialist.. and would that be terrible expensive?

Thanks in advance for any insights!

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chandeliers lighting voltage Electrical

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May 03, 2007

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About: My husband and I just bought our first house and it needs quite a bit...

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DIY Maven

May 03, 2007

Every house has the capability to have recepticals wired for 220. You could hire an electricitian to convert those recepticals where you want your UK fixtures installed. If you didn't, and left them 110, your 220 fixtures would only get half the voltage, so it makes sense that your bulbs would be on the dim side. It would be like the hairdryer effect in reverse. When we use them over there, they blow because of the overage.

minneapolisite

May 03, 2007

My husband's an Electrical Engineer. He says: "Wire should be wire as long as the receptacles can handle U.S. bulb sizes." In other words, go for it. Just remember, you should always ensure that you never put in higher wattage bulbs than specified on the packaging (or often on a sticker on the fixture itself.) Upon first install, I would sit in the room with the light on for many hours with a fire extinguisher handy, but I only suggest this because I am paranoid. :)