Can you help me understand voltage differences?
 

I have a curling iron from Conair that says it is dual voltage. I couldn't find anywhere on the iron itself where you "switch" the voltage when I go to Europe (Spain). When I called Conair, the rep did some searching as she didn't seem to know the answer. Then she said that I didn't have to do anything except use an adapter on the plug. She said
the curling iron could be set at any heat and the iron would "sense" the change in voltage and adjust the heat accordingly. Now this doesn't make sense to me but what do I know!? I want to see if someone else has this iron and has used it in the past (specifically I'm going to Spain). It has about 20 different settings and a black handle. Thx.

Actually that could be right. I know my electronics like computer, printer and scanner switched automoatically without flipping a switch on the item itself. However, I know hairdryers and curling irons sometimes have switches, but maybe sometimes they don't. But if your curling iron says it is dual voltage and there is no switch on the iron or on the plug of the iron, then probably it just DOES switch over automatically. I suppose you will find out when you arrive in Spain. I think it will be ok though. Have a good trip!

Don't know specifically about curling irons - but if it says dual voltage it is. My computer is dual voltage - no switch to move - just plug it in.

Have just asked other half (who is techi type) whose explanation was that it probably has a thermostatic switch that switches it off when it get to correct temp. It will jsut get to temperature faster.

Seems to make sense to me - it there wasn't a cut out it wouyld just get hotter and you'd burn your hair even at home.

Hope this helps - have a good trip

That is correct. If somewhere on the body of your curling iron it says something like 110-240v 50~60Mz, it is dual voltage. I have one like it, and I just use and adapter so it fits in the outlet. However, when you first plug it in, don't plug it on the highest setting to be safe. Just put in on a medium setting and work up to what you need. It should work fine...I had no problems with mine.

We'll be taking the battery recharger for our digital camera with us to France. If it says something like 110-240v 50~60Mz on it, does that mean we don't need to buy an adapter?

Depends what you mean by adapter - you'll need an adapter for the plug (so you can get it in the wall) but that is all - no need for a voltage adapter because it is duel voltage

<< If it says something like 110-240v 50~60Mz on it, does that mean we don't need to buy an adapter?>>

You won't need a <b>transformer, also frequently called a <i>convertor</i>.

You almost certainly will need a <b>plug</b> <i>adapter</i> (so that you can physically plug it into the outlet).

Best wishes,

Rex
</b>

Oh shoot - - screwed up the <b>bold</b> and the <i>italics</i>.

My dual voltage hairdryer has a difficult to adjust switch (think screwdriver) which must be moved back and forth between 110 and 220. Unfortunately, I don't recall which setting is for Europe (no, I have not been using it here in the US--its my compact travel appliance)!
Remind me please, so I don't blow out my landlady's circuitry in Germany in a few weeks!?

Thanks for the info about the adapter/converter!

I've never taken an appliance to Europe so I don't know much about these things.

Yup, converter converts the electric voltage/cycles, and adapters adapt to fit the outlet. Simple! :)

Strass, 110 is US. 220 is Europe. 240 (in case anyone cares) is Australia.

110 for North America 220/240 for Europe - I just remember it by thinking that the Europeans have more umpf than North Americans :-)

Crazy UK also 240 I believe

BTW, if my memory servers me correctly, there is a difference in converter vs. transformer. I think a converter is a type of transformer, but does lower &quot;power&quot; items (and it is usually not too big). I have heard of people blowing out converters with their hairdryers even. Transformers are usually pretty big and do the job on more powerful electrical items. If you need a transformer for anything, it's usually cheaper to buy the item in the country...the are very heavy and not cheap at all.

Thanks Wombat, then I stand corrected. :)

to crazymina - -

Yes, these terms are not very precisely defined. A converter IS a transformer, but as you suggest - - just a &quot;wimpy&quot; one.

I remember over ten years ago, traveling with transformers sufficient to power two laser printers (which we took with us also) - - zut alors! like a solid lead brick of 20 or 30 pounds!

Our application required custom-fit &quot;adapters&quot; to (US) letter-size paper trays - - and we were not able to simply make an adjustment at the time to get A4 paper trays to work. And amazingly, the laser printers available in Europe at that time could not accept a US letter (8 1/2 by 11) paper tray.

I'm sure that an easier solution would be found nowadays.

Actually, if you truely understand the physics of &quot;electricity&quot; you could not only change, but &quot;own&quot; most of the planet Earth.
M

No kidding Rex. A salesperson tried to point out that I needed a transformer once. I looked at it and promptly decided to buy what I needed when I got to my destination!

Usually somewhere in the paperwork on appliances that automatically switch voltage it will say to use it on low setting for 220. Most curling irons/hair dryers will not sound normal and you might think they will explode but will be fine.

Hello, can***uphereat home (I think can*** is pejorative so I won't use it):

Do you have the operating instructions which came with the thingy? Stuff I buy these days usually has installation, operating, and maintenance instructions in English, French, and Spanish.

amy zena and wombat7 and crazymina, You have it right.

strass, Yes.

rex (1st post), You are so blnking <b>wrong</b> about &quot;transformers&quot; and &quot;converters&quot; that I shudder. I am an engineer and you are a doctor. I promise not to go cutting on anyone if you promise to just keep verrry quiet on anything technical. I really appreciate most of your other contributions to this Fodors Forum, as I am sure most everyone else does also. We've crossed many of the same paths but not in the same time wrap, or is that worp, or ? Specifically, you say the &quot;transformer may be <b>also frequently called a <i>converter</i></b>.&quot; A transformer is not a &quot;converter.&quot;

rach, All of Europe uses 220 volts. The USA is on 110. Actually, if you want to be technical about it, Europe is officially at 230 volts, -5%+10%. So the electrons coming into your stuff can be at a pressure of 219 to 253 volts. Your stuff will not know the difference, unless it can only accept 120 vols.

strass (2nd post), You are the smartest person on this thread -- &quot;I've never taken an appliance to Europe...&quot; After years of taking all sorts of electrical things to Europe to all parts of Europe I just don't take anything anymore that has to be plugged in, except a laptop for business purposes.

crazymina (post #2), You are more in error than rex! Nothing on the normal travelers gadget supply market converts cycles from 60 Hz to 50 Hz. And there are few devices which would require it, or else you would see them available. And you do need a plug adapter almost everywhere, 99.9% of the time. The plug adapter can adapt the American two flat prongs or two flats plus the round ground to any of several European models.

rex (3rd post), Change &quot;IS&quot; to &quot;IS NOT AND NEVER WILL BE.&quot; I took an HP III laser printer to Germany and used a 20+ pound transformer to power it. Transformers are made of steel and copper, not lead. Lead is used in your car battery.

There was probably never a more confusing and erroneous thread on this forum. I suggest that anyone who wants to bring any electrical appliance of any nature to Europe, do a google.com search for <i>europe electricity</i>. There is plenty of sound electrical intelligence out there.

Hopscotch,
Well put!
I can do the Nuclear stuff with ease, but electrical...Foggeddaboutit.
M

lol hopscotch...sorry, that's what my radioshack sales guy told me, as well as a few other electronics stores. So how frightening is that......

Since I really don't even understand how you mean that I was so erroneous, I'll leave the goodfolks here to your all-apparent knowledge. In the meanwhile, I'll going to go cut up some patients...

Hopscotch, I'm sure your spot on with most of your info but &quot;All of Europe uses 220 volts&quot; doesn't sound right since we in the UK are on 240V.

Maybe we often don't appear to want to be part of Europe but for now we are.

I don't know what you are talking about. Everything I said is/was accurate. I said canuck will not need a <b>transformer</b> for the dual voltage appliance - - and I clarified that the little kinds of transformers sold to the public are commonly called converters (or convertors).

And thus, I stand by this statement - - &lt;&lt;A converter IS a transformer&gt;&gt; as 100% accurate. I agree with you that a &quot;converter&quot; (or) transformer does not alter the frequency; crazymina said that wrong. It steps up or steps down the voltage.

I didn't say I used a transformer MADE of lead - - I was trying to convey that it was very heavy and very dense - - <b>like</b> a lead brick, I said.

I have no idea how you could be refuting these simple factual statements I made.

OK ok, I can see I said that wrong. But I got the high-tech jargon wrong...however someone somewhere knew what I meant (and I think I meant the right thing.) Not that it helps matters....ah well...

The bottom line...your curling iron will work with an adapter from the sounds of it. And don't take a hairdryer...my cousin nearly started a fire with hers! :)

Miss OP- I have the Conair Instant heat, curling brush, 20 settings, says 120V/240V AC,50/60HZ 75W on the back (need strong light &amp; mag glass to read). I have used it US &amp; on a ship with 220 (240, whatever) Works fine. Setting 20 is very HOT. My travel hair dryer has the switch on it. Yes, needs a pretty wide screwdriver to change.
What I need is a 1/2 inch barrel curling brush. No dual setting one that I can find. Need tighter curl as the perm gets old. I guess I could buy one when in 220 territory.

&lt;&lt;And don't take a hairdryer...&gt;&gt;

A proper dual voltage hairdryer should not be a problem unless the building has very old, bad wiring in corcuits that are not meant to handle much above light-bulb wattage. Those seem uncommon nowadays.

But yes, a 110 volt hair dryer can be a huge problem.

Rex, as someone who has talked to lots of travelers who have brought dual voltage dryers to Europe,I would say it's easier just to buy them in there. Mine cost 15 euro at the monoprix, was extremely light and functional. Even a dual voltage dryer just doesn't work to its best potential in Europe...and you're supposed to use it on a lower setting which isn't optimal for many women.

Obviously my cousin did something wrong when she burned holes into the linens in her room though. Personally, I'd just rather throw my hair in a ponytail. That hairdryer I bought ended up being mostly used for drying underwear and socks

Canuck- (isn't it amusing when non-Canucks think the term Canuck is pejorative?-go figure!)

Rex is correct. A converter/transformer (the term is interchangable in this context)-&quot;steps down&quot; the higher voltage of Europe's power systems either 240/230v for U.K. or 230/220v for continental Europe - for appliances using 110v.
As far as having extra &quot;oomph&quot; Wombat, you're absolutely right-240v/220v does have extra &quot;oomph&quot; because it is FAR MORE DANGEROUS in terms of electrical shock-but the higher voltage is also much more efficient from a power systems point of view, accordingly, European power systems designers decided to trade off the safety hazard of higher voltages in order to opt for greater systems efficiency. Because of the greater danger, I'm very careful when using plugs etc. in countries with the higher voltages. Myself, I'll take the 110/120v. lower &quot;oomph&quot; electrical current anyday. (which is of course not saying that 110v can't kill you-it can-but it is far less dangerous than 220v-for this reason American power system designers opted for the lower voltage).

Thanks everyone..I'm set-I'll take curling iron and all the places I'm going have hairdryers..all is well with my world! well, except one thing - I can't figure out what &quot;OP&quot; means - that's what janeg addresses me by and I can't for the life of me figure out what it means? C'mon hopscotch...you can call me canuck-I've been called a lot worse!

OP = &quot;original poster&quot; - - the person who asks the first question on a &quot;thread&quot;.

OK canuck. It looks like you have yourself fixed despite the &quot;help&quot; on this thread.

Some people use the terms transformer and converter as if they were the same thing. This doesn't make it so.

My 1,000 watt converter weighs about 3 ounces. I opened it and it has a couple of diodes and electronic widgets inside.

My 50 watt transformer weighs over a pound. It is full of steel plates and copper wire.

They are both about the same size physically, a little bigger than 1&quot;x1&quot;x2&quot;.

These things are not the same.

Okay... I've got a question. I have the Samsonite converter/adaptor kit but do not have the instructions. But inside is a label indicating which pieces are for which countries. The big, heavy converter piece is labeled &quot;Europe&quot;. There is also a much smaller adaptor piece labeled &quot;Europe, Africa, Asia, Middle East&quot;. I know if your appliance is dual voltage that you can skip the convertor and just use the adaptor. But if your appliance is not dual voltage, can you just plug the appliance into the convertor and then the convertor directly into the wall (Europe only)? The prongs look almost exactly the same on my convertor as they do on the &quot;Europe&quot; adaptor, but there are little slits in the prongs on one of them (don't remember which one right now). If that question makes sense to anyone, thanks in advance for a reply. If not, sorry to further boggle anyone's mind today.

One more verification...after reading this thread, am I correct in assuming that since my curling iron says 120v/240v AC 50/60hz 85w and my hair dryer says 125/250v AC 60hz 1875w all I need is a plug adapter? Thanks!

Hi euro,

&gt;am I correct in assuming that since my curling iron says 120v/240v AC 50/60hz 85w and my hair dryer says 125/250v AC 60hz 1875w all I need is a plug adapter? &lt;

Yes.

One caveat, you have one of the newer high power hair dryers. The wiring in an old building in Europe might not be able to handle it.

You will know if you start it up and the lights go off in about a minute.

Hi Ira,

Thanks for the info. I think I may leave the hairdryer at home...it's kind of big anyway...plus having light is important to me ;-)

The older dual voltage appliances have a switch on them that you turn to the correct voltage. The newer dual voltage appliances automatically switch.

You are all amazing. I was just having this discussion with my husband who said that all we need are adapters. I have a Conair Travel Hair Dryer that I like to take even though most places have one. I like this one. Since it is an older model I doubt that it is dual voltage. From reading this thread I assume that I will also need a converter to use this product. Do all things then work if you use a converter and an adapter.

We are leaving on Saturday for Berlin so would appreciate fast answers.

Thanks

Spiegelcjs - You dryer will have the voltage on it somewhere so if it is just says 110-120 you will need the converter. Not all converters are created equal! The first time I went to Europe my curling iron simply would not heat but my blow dryer would work. Before my 2nd trip I looked at converters again and discovered that you needed to also look at the wattage on your appliances. Some converters are rated for low wattage(25 or 50 - battery chargers, shavers,etc.)and others for high wattage (50-1875 - curling irons,etc). There are also converters which will handle both and have a high-low switch or newer ones that automatically switch from high to low and will say so on the packaging.

For my 2nd trip I bought one with the high-low switch and my curling iron worked! Your hair dryer won't work the same as it does in the US and you may have to use it on low only. Many hair appliances sound like they are going to blow up or fry when using them with converters.

It may be time to retire the old hair dryer and buy a new one that is dual voltage. Probably cost the sanes as buying adapters and converters.

Thanks