British vs North American wiring for lighting.

[Kahu]

I would like to convert the flush mount ceiling light in my bedroom to a hanging pendant. I bought a lovely shade and wooden ceiling rose (purchased in the UK) and my plan is to use a grey fabric covered cord.

Only problem is, I am in North America and cannot for the life of me find cable like this. It is very easy to find online I n the UK but of course the voltage in the UK is different to NA.

Can I use British cable to hard wire my pendant lamp into my American home wiring? Presumably because the NA voltage is less than the British I wouldn’t be in danger of over loading the wire? Would I need to buy the socket thingy that the bulb screws into from the US or could that also be British?

Some things I own like a UK hair dryer and plug in fairy lights don’t work properly here even with a plug adapter because the voltage just isn’t high enough for the appliance. Would the same be true for light fittings or would it be the actual lightbulb itself that determines the voltage required rather than the wire and fitting?

I would be really grateful if someone could help me figure this all out - the sight of the tatty old glass flush mount boob light is depressing as hell! Thank you.

the voltage doesn't matter technically for a lighting flex. The insulation is probably tested to about 500v which is more than enough, but they probably don't have a certification recognised by the country you are in so are probably not permitted.

The amperage on a domestic ceiling lamp is trivial, especially if it is fitted with modern LED or energy saving bulbs.

You should not use electrical fittings such as ceiling roses or bulbholders that do not conform to the standards of the country you are in, so don't use british ones. They may need to be wired differently in your country.

I expect your country has some regulations saying who is allowed to do electrical work, and what standards they must follow. I have no idea what they are.

European bulbholders, even if Edison Screw, are not quite the same size as American ones, so the bulbs may not quite fit correctly.

Thank you so much PigletJohn, that is incredibly helpful.