plasma voltage and shipping
 

I was looking at TH-42PH9UK which is a 42 plasma monitor. works on ntsc and pal. for about 1000 at costco or tigerdirect. I was wondering since its 120v 50-60hz 345watt would a 500watt step down converter work? are they noisy? also I was going to ship it with me on the direct flight over. should there be any issues if I left it in the box? its going to poland EU. I don't wabt to buy one in poland as they are over 5000usd for the same thing.

I would contact Panasonic technical support through their website and ask if it can be switched. Looking at the spec sheet for that model it does only list 120V, but I have to believe they sell the same thing in countries with 220V. May be as easy as flipping a switch and getting a plug adapter if you know what to look for.

The spec sheet also lists it at 59.5 pounds (I'm assuming minus packaging) so you may be paying extra for weight. I also don't know that the airline will accept responsibility for damage. They are packed to be strapped to a pallet for long distance transport - I don't know how well it would hold up getting thrown around a cargo hold, baggage cart, conveyor belt.....

For the voltage, since its 50-60Hz, all I really need is a 220V to 120V converter, and I can get a 500watt one for about 25USD. I just dont know how noisy they are, if there is any noise.

I can have up to 70lbs with Lot, and true I dont know how well they will handle it, I can always make a small crate out of plywood. Hopefully reading "Fragile" would be fine.

I use step down convertors all the time. Mine aren't noisy, but I use 1500 watt versions for my high end electronics. I've been told that over time, the step down process will slowly burn out your electronics. Hasn't happened to me yet.

One other issue you'll have is a warranty. I doubt your USA product warranty will be covered in Poland, but check with Panasonic.

Seems strange that your TV is multi-system but not multi-voltage.

Go to Germany and pick one up. 42" plasmas run as low as EUR899 there. You'll save a lot of hassle. Heck, you can find a much better Plasma in Germany and Holland than the one you are looking at but for about the same price.

I'm not sure a stepdown transformer will be a good idea for a plasma, the output voltage of these things is usually pretty badly regulated.

And of course, there is also the issue with getting a decent NTSC signal into the TV from your European equipment, the issue of shipping it, and the issue of getting it into the country without paying a fortune in taxes.

Is there anything special about the 42PH9UK you want? It's a fairly old and basic TV.

Just make sure that you get a transformer (very bulky and heavy), e.g. http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search, and NOT a "converter" (small and light), e.g. http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search (which will fry your device).

Ill have to check Germany, but what I saw in Poland, its real pricy. I was looking at that panasonic as it both has the NTSC for my Xbox from the USA and Pal for the TV there. Import fees is what Im thinking about, but as a US citizen, would I still have to pay them? how would I be able to calculate it.

You got any sites that I can check the prices in Germany?

You'll most certainly have to pay them, as a US citizen the only thing you may get back is sales tax (since Tiger has a store in IL you'll be paying sales tax if you ship it to home in IL).

Plasma TV's are also a weird item, they may even have special import tariffs on them or environmental import fees.

Did you check Mediamarkt in Krakow? You'd be surprised how many European TV's will do PAL and NTSC.

FWIW: here is what FedEx has to say on Polish imports:

For shipments where clearance is required, Polish Customs Authority requires 22% VAT for all shipments with a value above US $20. Depending of the commodity, tax will also be added prior to release. FedEx will charge recipient VAT and taxes either directly or charge their account at Customs. Only companies can apply for this account at Customs.

A quick look at Polish Customs Tariffs shows that you may need to pay:

1. Third country duty: 14% +
2. Value added tax: 22%

http://isztar.mf.gov.pl:7080/taryfa_...=y&impexp=#POS

hmm so somewhere in the ballpark of 400usd as tax for import. wonder if polish citizens are excluded guessing not. mediamarkt is where I pulled 12000pln for a ok plasma. samsumg or panasonic one 10000 to 1 contrast and 1080i is about 14-16k pln. to usd about 4.7-5.4k usd. if they were about 2grand usd I wouldn't have a problem.

just looked at mediamarkt ads and 40" samsung lcd with 6000:1 is 6590pln

When it comes to imports, nobody is excluded.

If you bring it as checked baggage they won't insure it, even if they allow it. I think you'd be better off shipping it freight.

I agree with Murphy.

With plasma you have one major problem: it HAS to be shipped upright, never flat.

If it is laid flat you run a very possible risk of the glass breaking under its own weight.

And there is no way you can be sure it'll be shipped correctly, in fact; you can probably be pretty damn sure it will NOT be shipped correctly.

I understand the need to save if they are so expensive in PL, but the risks and costs are just too great.

If I were you I'd get up early on Saturday and drive to the Mediamarkt in Cottbus, it's only 480km :D

what companies would ship it? fedex?