Travel Technology - Dual voltage appliances in Europe

Does anyone know how to use a dual voltage appliance with a country electrical adapter. I have burnt out three curling irons in Europe using the electricity adapters and need to find something that will work. I have four curling irons that I have brought home from whatever country I was visiting. Surely there is some new technology out there for this problem? Thanks.

you need a converter thats rated for higher wattage.
Typically you'll find something thats rated for 1000Watts or 1600Watts.

These are voltage step-down converters designed for heating
appliances.

That should work!

example: http://www.shop.com/op/~50_1600_Wall_Dual_Voltage_Converter_Kit-prod-19785254-27168756?sourceid=298

(I found this through google)

you need a converter thats rated for higher wattage.
Typically you'll find something thats rated for 1000Watts or 1600Watts.

These are voltage step-down converters designed for heating
appliances.

That should work!

example: http://www.shop.com/op/~50_1600_Wall_Dual_Voltage_Converter_Kit-prod-19785254-27168756?sourceid=298

(I found this through google)

Are you saying that my Sharper Image converter, bought 5 years ago, can't handle the wattage of my curling iron? I thought converters were all alike.

Are you saying that my Sharper Image converter, bought 5 years ago, can't handle the wattage of my curling iron? I thought converters were all alike.


I dont know which one you have, but there is a difference.
The converters that work for low power devices probably wont
work for the high power devices.

please check the ratings on them to see if they would.
Sometimes you get a little switch to switch them from
low power to high power. but I have yet to see one
that works on both without any manual switch.


Only thing that would work for low as well as high power device is
a true transformer. It would weigh about 4-5lb atleast. not a good
solution for travel.

Why do you need to use a converter with a dual voltage iron? All you need is a plug adapter for different kinds of outlet holes. I've never had a problem with my dual curling iron anywhere in the world.

Why do you need to use a converter with a dual voltage iron? All you need is a plug adapter for different kinds of outlet holes. I've never had a problem with my dual curling iron anywhere in the world.


err... i misses that part.

mphall,
So your iron has a switch for dual voltage? or is it rated for
100-240VAC? (or similar voltage range)

If thats the case, all you need is a converter, just like what linsj has suggested.

I have a dual voltage travel kettle which I bought in the UK. It used to take ages to boil in 110V countries.

It was 2 years before I noticed it had a switch. I'd stupidly assumed that as with mobile chargers, laptops etc., it auto-sensed or otherwise fixed things in electronics. I realise now this is not so efficient/easy with high wattage appliances. I'm a highly qualified engineer so naturally I didn't read the instruction booklet.

It was OK for me... but if you bought a dual voltage product in the US and took it to Europe then you would be in trouble if it had a switch which you didn't set.

As for transformer-adapters, most travel transformers WOULD be too low power to convert irons, tongs, kettles etc. It shouldn't be necessary to use these with a dual-voltage product if the volatge is correctly set first.

So normally you would just use the the dual-voltage product with simple adapters which just physically convert the pins. These can take quite a current and should be OK. I've certainly used 2000W. If there was a problem with an underrated adapter, it would normally be the adapter that burns rather than the product.

So in summary, the only "burn out scenarios" would normally be where you use a transformer that's not rated highly enough or its a dual voltage device set to 110V being used in a 220V (etc) country without adequate transformation. In the latter scenario it could take a physical adapter with it.

A transformer that can properly step-up/down 1000W is huge if it is to run for any length of time. I suppose a hair dryer wouldn't be used for too long so you can get away with a small one. There's some stuff on this site:

http://www.walkabouttravelgear.com/elect.htm

But have never bought anything from them. Note the size of the transformers right at the bottom when you scroll down.

As I say, I don't think you need to go the transformer route. For a physical adapter, I travel with the "All in one surge protector" that is shown on that site. (Sold inflight by some airlines.)

In fact, this laptop is connected via two of them! I use one to connect this laptop's european plug to a UK socket. The UK socket is on a gang of 10 with surge protection. The UK plug on the gang is connected via the second adapter to the Taiwanese US-style wall outlet!

Thank you. I think I will go to Brookstone and buy a new converter. It now offers a low and high switch for different appliances. If I don't get this right, I will be walking around a small town looking for a hardware store that sells curling irons. My last curlining iron purchase was in Dinle, Ireland. By the way this is not uncommon as I have several girlfriends who have lost their curling irons to bad electricity.

Actually the curling tongs I've seen (don't use them myself, you know... my curls are 100% natural!) are pretty small. Maybe easer to just buy some more when you arrive to avoid having to use an adapter? Have a set of tongs for each country so you're all tonged up whereever you go?

(Just one thought though,... if you bought your last ones in Ireland (230V) and used them in Europe (230V) you would only have needed a physical adapter. They would have burnt out if you plugged through a 110V/230V transformer.)

UK, Ireland, Malta (plus a few other places eg Hong Kong) use "UK style" 3-prong chunky plugs. But the voltage should be near enough the same as the rest of Europe where they use round pins.

I travel alot but have never yet needed a transformer. Stuff will either take any voltage (eg phone chargers) or are switchable (my kettle).