# Aussie "Sparky" Question ~ Electric Advice Needed **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 16, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-sparky-question-electric-advice-needed/219350 "2003-12-16T17:47:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GawnFishin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GawnFishin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GawnFishin)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-sparky-question-electric-advice-needed/219350/21 "2003-12-18T04:44:00Z")
Another victory in the battle against ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![KenGr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecc23a/32.png) [@KenGr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KenGr)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-sparky-question-electric-advice-needed/219350/22 "2003-12-18T07:32:00Z")
After a bit more searching, I concur (and yield) that monitors are built for specific hemispheres. Interestingly enough, whenever I found this posted in message board, it was immediately followed up by people who had moved their monitors from one hemisphere to the others and observed no difference, so this may not be a critical issue. ---
**Author:** ![askol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@askol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askol)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-sparky-question-electric-advice-needed/219350/23 "2003-12-18T08:16:43Z")
I suppose I could calculate how much of a difference it would make, if I knew the energy of the electrons on the CRT, and if I knew the field strength of the earth’s magnetic field. Anyone have a link for the average and maximum values for the earth’s magnetic field? ---
**Author:** ![GawnFishin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GawnFishin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GawnFishin)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-sparky-question-electric-advice-needed/219350/24 "2003-12-18T15:15:11Z")
As I pointed out earlier, I moved from Australia to Canada and I was NOT able to use my old monitor without modification. I remembered this (much too late) from when I worked on video games in the 70’s, used imports were at times a big headache. To have the monitor magnetically realigned (it **can** be done) ended up working out to be about 3/4’s the price of a new monitor with a warranty. Wasn’t worth bringing the damn thing extra freight and all. However the computer is still running I use it for the occaisional older DOS based game. Some newer power supplies from memory do have trip safe switches which will not allow the power supply to be turned on with the incorrect voltage set. I could be wrong about this though because I have also seen computers exhale clouds of blue smoke at times after trying to start them at the wrong voltage. Although I would imagine if you took precautions you should be fine with the computer, as I said mine is still working although I have since replaced the power supply. I guess after seven years of service I couldn’t complain. ---
**Author:** ![GawnFishin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GawnFishin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GawnFishin)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-sparky-question-electric-advice-needed/219350/25 "2003-12-18T15:20:50Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by_ KenGr, > > this may not be a critical issue. No it’s not critical the monitor will still function as mine did however there was a very disturbing discoloration. I mean this was better than LSD. Although opinions may vary on the last point. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-sparky-question-electric-advice-needed/219350/26 "2003-12-18T18:26:42Z")
It’s probably cheaper to pitch the monitor and buy a new one. A friend of mine recently moved from USA to Germany, and put himself on a strict “stuff diet” as the shipping cost was huge. I heard him say something about five dollars per pound. If that’s true (he was on a rant, so it may have been exaggerated) a 40-pound monitor would cost $200 to move. He took his computers, mice and keyboards, but garage-saled the monitors, TVs, VCRs, and pretty much anything that plugged in. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-sparky-question-electric-advice-needed/219350/27 "2003-12-18T22:52:50Z")
I know this is getting off topic a little, but my tip as someone who has moved household across the world is: don’t chuck away all the minor crap, intending to buy it all again. Chuck it in boxes and ship it. Why? Time. You have no idea how long it takes to buy all the tiny little things that make up a household till you have to do it all in one go. ---
**Author:** ![KenGr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecc23a/32.png) [@KenGr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KenGr)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-sparky-question-electric-advice-needed/219350/28 "2003-12-19T01:18:23Z")
Having done several international moves (and packing for one right now), $5 per pound is not a bad estimate for air moves. Moving by surface (ship) is much cheaper and is basically set by volume. For WAG estimating, try $250 per cubic meter or $7.50 per cubic foot. Also remember that things can be packed inside each other, so the “small stuff” is essentially free. ---
**Author:** ![CheekyMonkey613](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e480ec/32.png) [@CheekyMonkey613](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheekyMonkey613)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-sparky-question-electric-advice-needed/219350/29 "2003-12-19T14:29:25Z")
Thank you, everyone for your input! I’m the anti-thesis of a computer nerd, so lots of the computer lingo is WAY over my head. I’ll have my honey take a look at what’s been said about computers when he gets here this weekend. Aside from that, thanks Princhester and Ken and everyone I’ve missed for making “broader” suggestions, as my computer is only ONE of my concerns as far as electrical stuff goes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aussie-sparky-question-electric-advice-needed/219350.md?page=1)