Yep. That's why our miserable pension from the US sometimes takes a while to arrive here in CH. The Americans keep putting SZ on the envelope which means it goes via Swaziland

Unless it's got a transformer inside and uses 12V bulbs, but normal E14/E27 are 230V, so the internal wiring is just wire and a switch.

Tom

Your pension comes in an envelope by post?! And people say Switzerland is backward...

Yes, in the form of a stamp which we peel off of the envelope

Well I guess I'm not using the adapter to change the voltage but rather so that I can convert the plug from the American-style one to the Swiss one.

Yeah, with a nice glass of wine and a little Kenny G... (kidding about the Kenny G of course).

I don't know the relevant regulations, codes etc., but technically there might be a minor issue in that double voltage means a higher risk of sparks between the two polarities. This could be a problem with certain devices, for instance with bipolar switches according to US codes that may have an insufficient distance between the conductors in screw terminals for 240 V. I'd call that risk minimal under normal usage, though. In other words, I wouldn't use such a thing, say, inside a sauna, a greenhouse or a laundry room, but that doesn't seem to be the intention anyway.

__________________

"This is AMAZING! I have the exact amount of money Joe Biden has cost us playing golf in my sweatpants pocket!" — Kona Lowell

All that is necessary is that you change the plug and the bulbs. Nothing else is required. Most of my standing and table lamps are from the States.
You will also notice that the bulbs here last so much longer than the NA types.
I can say that in twenty years I have only had to replace maybe four bulbs.

Okay, I see what you are saying and after doing a bit more research, I now understand that PAL/NTSC/SECAM etc. are analog standards. But if my cable service is HD, and I use HDMI (both all digital) should there still be a problem (besides the step down conversion--and I'm guessing there is a switch inside the case of my tv since all this stuff is made in China and shipped to the world)?

We used our US TV in the Netherlands with a box and HDMI and had no problem getting it to work. The box will let you choose if you want to use PAL or NTSC . We still have to get a swiss-american converter to get it to work here.

Basically any modern flat panel is compatible with digital signals in Switzerland. Your only problem may be getting a voltage converter.

PAL/NTSC are not just analog standards, they are also Digital Standards.

PAL is 625-line/50 Hz, NTSC is 525-line/60 Hz. Actually, the PAL frame rate is 25/S, NTSC is 29.97/S (it was 30/S until they invented color NTSC TV, which required dropping 1 frame /1000 to fit it into the bandwith). TVs with higher refresh rates simple show the same frame multiple times.

Tom

Thanks, Tom. I will let you know how it all goes when my TV arrives. Worst case scenario, I can use it to watch TV from my laptop and all my delicious American TV (hulu, netflix) achieved through a VPN to an American network.

Honestly: A high quality brand new sharp flat screen in the same size as yours (32 inch) with the latest LED technology costs 399 CHF at Digitec. If you have to spend a three digit number on all adapters to MAYBE make your used US panel work, I am not sure if it's worth it...

Thanks everyone for the lamp wiring/plugs/bulb/etc comments, helpful. Unfortunately cannot contribute to the US-to Switzerland TV discussion since my television was bought in the UK (and I never use the thing anyway). But hope you'll either find a good solution or a good buyer, looking for a US TV...Q