electrical power in Canada

[cegardner]

we are planning an extensive trip through out Canada. is there an issue with the electrical like the differences in Europe?


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[cameront120]

Yes, we have it. And yes, we use the same outlets as you. No converters necessary.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by cameront120

Yes, we have it. And yes, we use the same outlets as you. No converters necessary.

Really!?!?!? When did you get it. (juskiddin')

[RamblinManGa]

Hi from AZ. . . we just stayed in several Canadian campgrounds on the way to & from Alaska. No power problems for us. Regards, Craig

[Isuzusweet]

Yes we have the same voltage as you, give or take a few volts. Brown outs do occur if and when the bicycle generator guys start to tire but at least Ontario hydro have the team switch overs down to a science.

One thing of note, just like North Korea, to give the generator bike guys a break we turn out all lights, TV's which only work in the cities with rabbit ears and all other electrical devices at 9:30 pm and power up at 7:00am.

Enjoy your stay in the cold snowy Great White North.

Cheers
Tony

PS Remember snow chains are mandatory, except in the cities which do allow studded tires.

This was written on an IBM XT computer. Hopefully next year I'll be upgrading to a Pentium.

[DKB_SATX]

It's already been alluded to (both seriously and in jest) but the only difference is that in some parts of Canada they call it "hydro" because that's part of the name of the public utility. 60 hz and nominally 120v.

[Isuzusweet]

Canadian summer sports. I jest you not!

Cheers
Tony

[gandttimes]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

Yes we have the same voltage as you, give or take a few volts. Brown outs do occur if and when the bicycle generator guys start to tire but at least Ontario hydro have the team switch overs down to a science.

One thing of note, just like North Korea, to give the generator bike guys a break we turn out all lights, TV's which only work in the cities with rabbit ears and all other electrical devices at 9:30 pm and power up at 7:00am.

Enjoy your stay in the cold snowy Great White North.

Cheers
Tony

PS Remember snow chains are mandatory, except in the cities which do allow studded tires.

This was written on an IBM XT computer. Hopefully next year I'll be upgrading to a Pentium.

George

[gandttimes]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

Yes we have the same voltage as you, give or take a few volts. Brown outs do occur if and when the bicycle generator guys start to tire but at least Ontario hydro have the team switch overs down to a science.

One thing of note, just like North Korea, to give the generator bike guys a break we turn out all lights, TV's which only work in the cities with rabbit ears and all other electrical devices at 9:30 pm and power up at 7:00am.

Enjoy your stay in the cold snowy Great White North.

Cheers
Tony

PS Remember snow chains are mandatory, except in the cities which do allow studded tires.

This was written on an IBM XT computer. Hopefully next year I'll be upgrading to a Pentium.

Whoops, the guys on the bikes didn't make a timely switch and only part of the message was sent.


George

[Gmoore]

One thought to consider if you have a Honda 2000 generator. You'll need two of them to operate your ac - and one of the pair must be the "companion" version connected together with the special kit.
Be sure to buy your "companion" generator and the connector kit in the U.S. as they are not sold in Canada.

[macofpei]

Originally Posted by cegardner

we are planning an extensive trip through out Canada. is there an issue with the electrical like the differences in Europe?


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Check the Internet. Canada is a civilized country, just north of your country. We share the same electrical grid.
You will also find most campgrounds even have sewer connections..

[daveswenson]

Be careful of your electronics in Canada. Their AC power is backwards from ours. Positive when it should be negative. And negative when it should be positive.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by daveswenson

Be careful of your electronics in Canada. Their AC power is backwards from ours. Positive when it should be negative. And negative when it should be positive.

And back again. 60 times per second.

[MelGoddard]

Originally Posted by daveswenson

Be careful of your electronics in Canada. Their AC power is backwards from ours. Positive when it should be negative. And negative when it should be positive.

HuH???? what part of England did you come from????
As someone above stated; "We share the same grid as you guys"! The polarity doesn't switch at the border. But be advised that some campgrounds can have voltages down to 108 VAC. as depicted on the cute little wall plug-in gauge.
Brownouts??? Possibly! And the "NIMBY'S" still bitch about wind turbines, and solar panels.

[traileritus]

You all are too funny! I just got back from a few days (too few, alas) in Southern BC and Alberta. Since there was only myself and one son, we took my little 1948 canned ham instead of the AS . . . we were definitely the least progressive/modern by far and away of anyone in all of the campgrounds we stayed in! They all had sites with full hookups as well as sites for those of us with less well equipped campers and tents.

So don't mind these folks pulling your leg, cegardner, the electricity is the same on both sides of the border. And while the weather can be chilly in Canada the warmth and kindness of her citizens more than makes up for drops in temp, I've always found.

[NY24]

The NEC (National Electric Code) is THE standard that is supposed to be followed in ALL of North America. I've heard there are places in Mexico that haven't got the word yet. You should be fine anywhere in Canada.

[news2me2]

Originally Posted by NY24

The NEC (National Electric Code) is THE standard that is supposed to be followed in ALL of North America. I've heard there are places in Mexico that haven't got the word yet. You should be fine anywhere in Canada.

In Canada we dont recognise the NEC - we do follow the CEC (Canadian electrical code) VERY similar but some differences in areas that would be unseen by the naked eye (wire ampacities, code allowances, wiring techniques...).

National in the case of NEC is only US American, - Mexico electricity - that is another story all together.

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by macofpei

You will also find most campgrounds even have sewer connections..

But where does it go?

I had a battery in my flashlight die when I was in Canada. Beware!!


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[reelfastgreg]

a good taste of Canadian humor in this post, thanks you northern neighbors.

[McDave]

In Canada last week was the first time I have read higher than normal voltage, 129 volts, on my fancy expensive surge protector/voltage regulator gadget. However, it didn't trip or anything, and I trust my gadget explicitly, so it must be okay. Right now, I'm poking along on only 119 volts in Spokane. Way to give a guy an inferiority complex, Canadians.