vabarone

I purchased 1875 watt international converter to be able to use my 1875 watt dual voltage hair dryer for a trip to the UK and Paris. Before anyone suggests just using the hair dryer at the hotel, I have super thick curly hair and need to use a diffuser and have not been able to find one that fits the usually small travel dryers in hotels.

My questions are...should I change the switch from 125v to 250v on the hair dryer? And on the converter itself there are two settings HIGH / LOW, which do I select?

fmpden

You just wasted your money for not understanding how things work. Your current hair dryer is a dual voltage and can be used on 250 with just a plug adapter. HOWEVER, do not under any circumstances use your hair dryer with the converter.

Nutella

If your hair dryer is dual voltage, you don't need a converter. You just need an adapter plug to fit the wall socket. Not sure, but chances are that when you turn the switch to 250 for Europe, it might only work at low speed. It wouldn't be a bad idea to purchase a hair dryer in Europe, you can get a decent one at a department store for about 20 euro.

vabarone

So switch to 250v, plug into adapter only, and run on low? What's the point of the converter? Last visit here the same hairdryer blew out two adapters? Was it simply I didn't switch the voltage?

janisj

If you need a high powered hairdryer you really should buy one in Europe. Did a salesperson convince you to buy the converter? If so return it and tell them they are looney toons. (If you bought it w/o input from the sales staff -still take it backbut forget the 'Looney toon' bit)

But if your main concern is a difuser - get one of these or similar.

http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Sock-Diffu...0260252&sr=1-4

That's what I use and it fits any hairdryer I've run across.

vabarone

I was persuaded to buy the converter and will definitely return it. Annoyed given its bulky and heavy, and could have used the space packing. I've tried the sock but my hair got super frizzy.....I need the little fingers for the curls to wrap around.

Just to confirm....switching to 250, right?

And will the same be the case in Paris?

fmpden

You will need a different plug adapter in France from the one used in England. All of Europe runs on 240 - 250 volts system so switch it to 250. Depending on how the internal conversion handles 240 volt you may find that the hair dry does not perform as well.

fmpden

PS. You cannot blow out adapters because there is nothing to blow out. Just slightly redirects the electrical connections. So I don't understand you comment about blowing out two adapters. And yes you switch to 250 in Europe and back to 120 in the US.

kybourbon

Yes, you switch to 250 and operate the hair dryer on low speed (not the converter which you don't need). I've used multiple dual voltage hair dryers in Europe and they work better on low.

You will need two different plug adapters, one for UK and one for Paris.

http://www.frys.com/product/1769498?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

http://www.frys.com/product/479215?s...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

You can find individual ones like above at Radio Shack, Walmart, Target, etc. You can also buy a set that will include about 5 plugs for various countries.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...uctId=11278753

Converters are only for things that aren't dual voltage.

Don't forget to switch to 250 while in Europe and to switch back once you return to the states or you will fry the dryer.

vabarone

By blown out I mean when I turn on the blow dryer whil plugged inthey first started smoking then the dryer shuts off and nothing further plugged with it works. So far at 250 on low no fire alarms going off. And I'm using the £1 adapter from the hotel not the $52 converter from Best Buy at the airport!

Southam

kybourbon's point is worth repeating: North American dual-voltage machines will only operate on their low setting in Europe. If you need a hurricane, pay for a blower in Europe.

vabarone

It worked! Certainly took longer than usual, BUT now fire alarms this time!