alanRow

Converters and high wattage devices do not go well together unless you pay for an expensive (and heavy) converter

kybourbon

>>>There are usually dryers in the rooms but they are always so bad and I have thick hair so like my own.>>Converters and high wattage devices do not go well together unless you pay for an expensive (and heavy) converter

Elizabeth_Eriksen

Thanks for your advice. The trouble is, I'm going with a group of students with EF Tours and I don't think I'll have much free time to go out looking for one there. I would really like to bring one with me. It doesn't have to be great, I just want one to work.

jaja

They have an assortment on Amazon.com and you can always find them on eBay.

Heimdall

>>Converters and high wattage devices do not go well together unless you pay for an expensive (and heavy) converteralways have heavy-duty transformers. As a matter of interest, I just put a 1000W autotransformer I use in my home on my bathroom scales, and it weighs 18 lbs — you wouldn't pack that in your suitcase. ;-)

kybourbon

>>> The solid state converters in kybourbon's link will damage electronic devices,

MmePerdu

I suggest the obvious, curly hair for the former, clothes that don't need ironing for the latter.

Heimdall

Kybourbon, you left out part of my quote: "... and eventually any appliance with an electric motor."

A 240V hair curler or straightener would probably cost less than your Conair voltage converter, anyway, so what's the point in buying a more expensive converter? Most chargers for phones, cameras, tablets, etc are 100-240V these days, and only need adapter plugs (you need to check the specs to be sure, of course).

As an experiment I once tried using an electric window fan with one of those converters, and it damaged the motor within a few hours. I threw the converter in the trash. Usually the damage to an electric motor, e.g. hairdryer, will occur gradually, so it's not immediately noticeable, but will shorten its life. One only needs to read the 1 and 2 star reviews on Amazon.com to see that many people have problems with them.

BTW, here is an example of a hair styler where the owners manual states:
"13. DO NOT operate with a voltage converter."

http://www.qvc.com/html/hb/pdf/InStyler_Manual.pdf

flpab

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Health-Beaut..._ssn=verde1171

I bought a hair dryer from him for Germany. He has curling irons.

janisj

>>Hair dryers/curling irons/flat irons are not electronic devices. Husually work. But trust me, all you need is one failure to change your opinion. I traveled w/ dual voltage hair dryers and curling irons and later flat irons for MANY years and 95+% of the time - no problem. But I've had two really dramatic failures - one melted, and one blew all the circuits in the guest house. (the other guests were not at all happy about that one). Two other times the hairdryer just stopped working and smelled like it was burning but no other damage . . .

So I completely solved the problem by buying a hairdryer and hair straightener overseas.

spaarne

Heimdall on Mar 10, 14 at 2:32pm
As an experiment I once tried using an electric window fan with one of those converters, and it damaged the motor within a few hours. I threw the converter in the trash.

See http://tinyurl.com/luva2b3 for reasons why travelers should avoid converters, especially since there are safer alternates.

Heimdall

Hi spaarne,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for that very useful reference!

As I wrote, I only tried using the converter as an experiment on a cheap window fan, and quickly unplugged it when I saw signs that the motor was being damaged. I am an American who has lived in England for many years, but still have some 110V appliances which I use through heavy duty transformers scattered around the house. These are perfectly safe, as John Bermont wrote in your reference. Everything I use for travel is rated 100-240V 50/60Hz, so I don't need converters or transformers away from home.

I have a thing about Fodorites passing on bad advice, especially when it has safety implications. If kybourbon won't believe me, maybe she will believe John Bermont. BTW, have a look at the 1 and 2 star reviews in http://www.amazon.com/Travel-Smart-C...owViewpoints=1. If that won't put someone off voltage converters, I don't know what will!