Explain dual voltage for international travel
 

I have a small hair dryer with dual voltage. It has a switch for 125V/250V. I used it in Europe, as well as the US with success. Last trip to Italy, I took a flat iron to straighten my hair. It didn't have dual voltage so I plugged it into a converter. It melted the flat iron. So...I purchased a Secu Revolution Shortie Styler with the words "dual voltage for travel" on the box. It's very, very small (the size of a mark-so-lot). It doesn't have any type of switch to alternate from one voltage (US) to another (Europe). What gives? Is there such a thing as an automatic dual voltage, built in such that I don't need to adjust it? I'm suspicious that it will really work (i.e. not melt). Electrician experts - I welcome your input. (My hair thanks you.)

AGES ago I had a dual voltage curling brush that "automatically" used the correct voltage. All I did was use the appropriate plug adapter; it worked like a charm.

Actually, the brand is "Sedu", not Secu

Those converters are illegal to use (and that is for a reason!). You can buy a transformer, which will be rather havy. If you're wise, you'd buy your stuff in Europe.

Don't see why it would not work. I looked up the thing online, and it clearly says it has an automatic dual voltage feature for 110/240 volt services. I would think all you would need would be the appropriate plug adapter, and you are ready to go.

But what would I know, being a guy with almost no hair.

:-)

I tend to stay away from dual-voltage appliances (whether automatic or switchable) for high-wattage application like a drier, curler or straightner. Even if they don't melt, they often don't give optimal performance when used at a different voltage to the 'home' voltage. Much better to buy a suitable appliance in Europe for 220V use and keep it for future trips.
No problem using dual voltage item for low current application like charger, shaver etc.

Some small appliances like this billed as dual voltage have a switch you toggle for the voltage where you are. Others will accept input over a range that accepts US and European voltages. If you look on the label (that really tiny print) it should say something like "Input 110-240"

Convertors are iffy - better to go with appliances that operate on the voltage where you will travel.

I asked the same question a month or so ago regarding a curling iron that stated it was dual voltage but had no switch (every dual voltage appliance I've used previously had a switch). Fodorite's answer: it will switch automatically. Real-life application answer: it will switch automatically. It worked just fine in France, Belgium, and England with the proper prong adapter. This particular curler has 20 heat settings - I kept it on setting 5 or lower just to be sure I wouldn't melt my hair. It did get hotter on those settings than it does at home.

I have a Sony automatic dual voltage battery charger that works just fine with just a plug adapter.

I might sound funny, but contrary to common belief, your insurance company knows local laws and unfortunately will follow them totally, disrespecting your feelings or experiences. They are just so mean! So please, try to avoid setting the house on fire. :D

Yes, it does have in small print on the appliance "110-240V". Yes, I agree that buying one in Europe would make the most sense, but I saw this online and ordered it without thinking through the consequences. So...if others have had a similar experience with other appliances, I'll trust this works. I am curious, though, about the "converters are illegal" comment. That is news to me. We use converters to charge cell phones, small DVD players for the plane, this type of thing.

All legal transformers carry the "CE" mark. The rest is up to you.

"Much better to buy a suitable appliance in Europe for 220V use and keep it for future trips."

I so found this out the hard way several years ago. I almost blew up my hotel in Assisi because of converter problems. Not a happy day.

I did buy a curling iron (or what passed for one) eventually while in Rome, but have not been happy with that particular product and would like to look for something else the next time I am there. I was told you had to go to what I would call an appliance store in Italy to get these products, and that is indeed where I found the one I have (that I dislike). Any hints on where to go to find a better selection of these products over there?

I'm trying to understand the terminology. When you say "the rest is up to you", are you saying the rest is up to me to understand? I don't know the difference between a converter and a transformer. The device I purchased at Radio Shack is a converter. Are you saying there is a different product I need in order to change the voltage from US to Europe? I'm also not understanding the CE mark. Is that something printed on the appliance somewhere to indicate it's okay to use in Europe? I'm amenable to complying, I just need to know how! Thanks!

>illegal
Actually, if you use a product that doesn't carry the "CE" mark, you yourself certify that it free of any faults, does accord to specifications and that you are liable 100% for any harm to people or things that may occour during it's use.
So, if you chose to use the product, you guarantee for it's safety. You will not get punished if nothing happens using the product! If people are harmed, you legally are the producer of the unit. It doesn't help to say, "I didn't know".

>printed on the appliance somewhere to indicate it's okay to use in Europe?
Exactly, you'll find it on the plug or the appliance.

Now we're getting somewhere - yes - the flat iron has printed on the side "CE" - so I should be okay. Helpful info - thanks.

Simply said, if you use it and it doesn't carry the "CE" mark, your insurance won't pay!

Perfect! No need to worry!

Sometimes in older hotels the problem is not the voltage but the total wattage. Older buildings often just don;t have enough power for heating appliances that pull a lot - and then it fries the appliance or the connection in the building. I would just get one in europe made for the local conditions.

I wouldn't worry so much about insurance as I would about burning down the hotel. You can get smart on electricity in Europe at http://tinyurl.com/2y9zvv.

As for legality, it appears that it is only illegal to sell non-CE items in Europe but not illegal to use them. This site has techno-legal info, http://tinyurl.com/yvk8kq, if you are interested.

I support the idea of buying small appliances once you are in Europe. They are more expensive than you would pay for similar items in the USA but the cost is inconsequential in the whole context of your travel budget. Besides, you get the experience of shopping in a European department store.

Not sure I understand the advice to buy the device in Europe. The wife and I use a whole gaggle of dual voltage appliances in Europe that were purchased in the US without a problem. Computers, Playstation 3, Wireless Router, Hair Dryer, Flattening Iron, DLP Projector, Electric Toothbrush, and more. Using them in Europe is as simple as plugging in an adaptor or replacing a cord so that the plugs fit.

If you can find a dual voltage device in the US that otherwise meets your needs, then I don't see the problem. Indeed, I really don't understand why you would buy separate devices for Europe, when you can buy a single device that you can use for worldwide travel, or even every day. Just be careful when shopping. Most products don't tell you it is dual voltage on the box, but all will list the voltage somewhere on the device itself, usually near or on the power source. Take it out of the box or look at the display model and you should be able to tell pretty readily. Look for something like "Input AC 100-240V".

Spot on Travelgourmet and all due respect nytraveler but you'd have to be in a very archaic building that did not have a system capable of feeding a hair drier/straightener.

The reason your earlier hasir drier melted dorky was just that it was designed for 110/120v and with 240/250 there'd be twice as much current running through it being ammount of current that determines heat.

The multi voltage units are designed for either without overheating.
As for converter transformer, one and the same you either convert or transform power at one voltage to another and you have one in the boxy thing that has the labelling about voltage and CE.
An adaptor people refer to is just what you have that can plug into a Europe/UK power outlet and so you can connect your unit.

Is the CE label something that is fairly new? My 2 dual voltage appliances (steamer & hair dryer) which are at least 10 years old (the kind that have the switches to change to the appropriate voltage) don't have the CE label. But - the new flat iron with (evidently) built in dual voltage does have CE on the side. I'm comfortable with my appliances after this helpful thread, just learning as I go.

Well, rather new. but older than 10 years. But most likely they aren't certified at all. The thing about CE is that in case of trouble, the manufacturer certifies that it does work in the EU and that he is legally liable for it. It does protect the consumer (=you) (From the lawyers too. Just imagine you lend it out to someone and this person gets hurt because of a manufacturing fault).

I just wouldn't take them with me, should they lack this mark. Anyway, I've never seen a converter with a CE mark anyway, only transformers!