Need advice on buying electrical converter
May 28th, 2010, 06:22 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Need advice on buying electrical converter
I know nothing about electrical converters. Are they strong enough to use with curling irons and blow dryers? And are there different ones for different countries? I am going to Ireland in July, but will visit other countries in the future. Any help or advise is appreciated.
May 29th, 2010, 12:57 PM
#3
OK - do you mean an 'adapter' -- q plug adapter so you can plug your US appliances in to the wall in Ireland??
OR
do you mean 'converter' - an electrical transformer that allows a US appliance to work on European current??
they are entirely different animals. Don't take any appliance than needs a converter -- especially one w/ heat like a hair dryer/flat iron/curling iron. They won't work well and very likely will melt/blow up/blow the fuses in the B&B/hotel/cottage.
You want either a dual voltage appliance that just needs a plug adapter -- or -- better yet, a European model that works on the higher voltage current in Ireland and the rest of Europe.
OR
do you mean 'converter' - an electrical transformer that allows a US appliance to work on European current??
they are entirely different animals. Don't take any appliance than needs a converter -- especially one w/ heat like a hair dryer/flat iron/curling iron. They won't work well and very likely will melt/blow up/blow the fuses in the B&B/hotel/cottage.
You want either a dual voltage appliance that just needs a plug adapter -- or -- better yet, a European model that works on the higher voltage current in Ireland and the rest of Europe.
May 31st, 2010, 01:52 PM
#4
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On our recent two week trip to Ireland every single place we stayed, from B and B's to fancy hotels, provided hairdryers. No need to take your own. Can you do without your curling iron? A simplier hairstyle can be quite liberating!!!
The only electronics we had were a newer US cell phone and digital camera-both had dual voltage-and all we needed to charge them was one small plug adaptor, which we purchased at Radio Shack. (Some places we stayed also provided those as well, but not all-lots of time one just has to ask at reception)
The only electronics we had were a newer US cell phone and digital camera-both had dual voltage-and all we needed to charge them was one small plug adaptor, which we purchased at Radio Shack. (Some places we stayed also provided those as well, but not all-lots of time one just has to ask at reception)
Jun 1st, 2010, 05:15 AM
#5
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My advice to you is to NEVER buy an electrical voltage converter. If you have dual-voltage appliances, you will be able to use them in Europe with just a plug adaptor (most computers and other electronics are dual-voltage, even many electric shavers).
In most cases, a voltage converter will still damage a curling iron. So your best bet is to buy a true dual-voltage curling iron (these do exist and don't really cost more than a voltage converter) or buy one in your destination, which will be relatively cheap and have the right plug automatically. I haven't stayed at a hotel in the past 10 years that did not have a hair dyer. I think it's completely unnecessary to travel with one.
In most cases, a voltage converter will still damage a curling iron. So your best bet is to buy a true dual-voltage curling iron (these do exist and don't really cost more than a voltage converter) or buy one in your destination, which will be relatively cheap and have the right plug automatically. I haven't stayed at a hotel in the past 10 years that did not have a hair dyer. I think it's completely unnecessary to travel with one.
Jun 1st, 2010, 04:35 PM
#6
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My husband fried his electric shaver in Italy 3 yrs ago when we as newbies didn't realize that an adaptor was just that not a voltage converter that we should have had. In Cuba in May and brought that same converter to charge our camera batteries.
Jun 2nd, 2010, 04:02 PM
#8
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Visit the websites for the places you'll be staying (or send an email) to confirm that they provide hair dryers. Most will. I travel a lot in Europe and a number of years ago bought a small hair dryer so that I didn't have to bother with adapter plugs (or badly designed hair dryers).
However, note that the 3-prong adapter plugs in the U.K. are completely different that the 2-prong adapter plugs used on the European continent. Revlon makes a dual-voltage curling iron that's less than $15.
Most hardware stores and luggage stores will sell adapters--they're not different for every country, but are similar for regions, i.e. the U.K., continental Europe, Asia, South Africa and so forth. Hong Kong uses U.K. style plugs as it was a British colony--history is often the determining factor.
However, note that the 3-prong adapter plugs in the U.K. are completely different that the 2-prong adapter plugs used on the European continent. Revlon makes a dual-voltage curling iron that's less than $15.
Most hardware stores and luggage stores will sell adapters--they're not different for every country, but are similar for regions, i.e. the U.K., continental Europe, Asia, South Africa and so forth. Hong Kong uses U.K. style plugs as it was a British colony--history is often the determining factor.
Jun 2nd, 2010, 04:40 PM
#9
>>>In most cases, a voltage converter will still damage a curling iron.<<<
Not if you buy a high-low voltage converter and have your curling iron set on low. Old voltage converters didn't work on high and low watt appliances and could only handle appliances that were 50-1600 watts. Then they came out with voltage converters that had a switch and could handle 0-1600 watts. You had to flip a switch on the converter for low watt appliances (0-50) and high (50-1600). The newest converters switch automatically and can handle 0-2000 watts.
Picture of manual switch high/low:
http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=7329318
Picture of auto-switch high-low converter.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...dingMethod=rr&
You need to read your appliance to see the wattage rating if using a high-low converter. Curling irons can vary from as low as 20w to 110w. It will be listed on the appliance right after the voltage is listed and will typically look like:
120V AC 60HZ 20W (V=voltage, W=watt). Select the appropriate setting on the converter for your appliance and always set you appliance to low heat if there is range of settings on the curling iron.
Not if you buy a high-low voltage converter and have your curling iron set on low. Old voltage converters didn't work on high and low watt appliances and could only handle appliances that were 50-1600 watts. Then they came out with voltage converters that had a switch and could handle 0-1600 watts. You had to flip a switch on the converter for low watt appliances (0-50) and high (50-1600). The newest converters switch automatically and can handle 0-2000 watts.
Picture of manual switch high/low:
http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=7329318
Picture of auto-switch high-low converter.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...dingMethod=rr&
You need to read your appliance to see the wattage rating if using a high-low converter. Curling irons can vary from as low as 20w to 110w. It will be listed on the appliance right after the voltage is listed and will typically look like:
120V AC 60HZ 20W (V=voltage, W=watt). Select the appropriate setting on the converter for your appliance and always set you appliance to low heat if there is range of settings on the curling iron.
