I found a hair dryer that is 220v and is 2000watts of power - it is a brand used in Spain - I am going to Spain and wanted to buy a 220v hair dryer to avoid the issue I had LAST time where my hair dryer from home burned out w/ the converter. Do I need to worry about the wattage if it is a 220v hair dryer? Will some hotels not be able to 'handle' the wattage even though it is a 220v hair dryer?

Hi es,

The wiring in my house in the US is up to current code and uses 15 amp circuit breakers; that's about 1600 watts.

I think that you are going to blow fuses if you use your 2000 watt dryer almost anywhere.

Actually now that I look again it's 1900W, I have one in the US that's 1875 watts that I use every day without issue - so thought it would be ok....but maybe it's too much for Spain? I figured since it is used there, it should be ok but maybe not?

It should be fine. If you have bought it, you might as well use it. If you haven't actually bought it, then I suggest that you don't.

Things like hairdryers are cheap enough. Why not buy one in Spain for use in Spain?

1900 Watts in Europe is only 9amps due to the higher voltage. So if the circuit is rated to 15amps then you'll have no problem. One needs to know both the Spanish electrical code (amps), as well as the vintage of the wiring in the actual hotel. It may be far less than current standards.

On a recent trip to Italy the apartment in which I stayed had both 8A, 10A and 15A circuits. (breaker panel in a hallway)

Well I didn't want to mess with buying one when I got there - so you suggest buying one that is like 1600w? (220v so I know it can be used there)

I live in a 1960ties appartment in Munich. (230Volts) Ratings are 2x 25A, 1x16A this used exlcusively for the electric oven. So there's plenty of room to expand.

However, who could possibly know how things are in your hotel in Spain??

Many hotels have a hardwired hairdryer. See if yours does before hauling your two kilowatt machine over there.

The way to calculate whether or not you can use it safely is to use this formula:

VA=W, or Volts times Amps equals Watts.

Assuming the Amperage on a 240 volt circuit breaker is at least 20 Amps, that means you can use an appliance with as many as 4800 watts, so NO PROBLEMO.

Even if the circuit breaker is only a 10 Amp breaker (unlikely) that's still 2400 Watts, so you're covered.

Do you know at any time, how many other appliances are working on the same fuse at any given time (TVs, fridges, whatever...) One more may just be the on to many ;-)

I'd definitely check with the hotels and/or apartment rentals to see if they provide hairdryers. In Germany and Austria, our hotels had them and they were middle-of-the-road level places.

2000 watts is going to blow the electricity in a lot of older hotels and apartment houses in a lot of places in europe.

So - either contact the places you will stay and ask them - or just get one in Spain with less power.

Let's put it that way: "Outside of western Germany", you never know

I was so excited - I purchased an ionic travel hair dryer that has dual voltage for Europe and US. I have used it quite successfully in Amsterdam, Rome, Venice and Paris (haven't been to Spain). It's an "E3" brand and was a bit costly at around $130, but I have already got that much good out of it being able to use a dryer that works just as well overseas as it does here!! I purchased mine at Sephora (in most malls and on-line).

> a bit costly at around $130,

That's an understatement. My Lady Wife bought a Vidal Sassoon Dual Voltage 1600W dryer that is compact and lightweight for about $10 at WalMart.

She says that it is quite satisfactory.

Ah yes, but mine is IONIC..... that means they can stiff me I guess!!

Hi Q,

You've got a point there. Them ions can be quite expensive.

It'll probably get swiped out of my hotel in Sao Paulo this November.... I hear they steal anything that's not tied down.

Probably 15 years ago or more I purchased a little hair dryer at an "electrics" shop in Cascais, Portugal. I've used it in France, Spain, Italy, Andorra on all various trips. It is a mainstay in our "Vacation Box". That way, you don't have to worry about blowing fuses