Will my curling iron work in Great Britain/Paris?
I was looking at the adapters that are for sale on this website. It says that I need to make sure that my appliances have built in 110/220 volt converters. I don't understand what this means. I have my curling iron and on it it says 120/240 VAC. I have no idea if that is even related to what I'm trying to figure out. Basically what I am wanting to know is if I buy the adapters on Rick Steve's site (the continental and britain one), will I be able to use my curling iron in Europe? ANY help would be greatly appreciated!
Amy
Chicago, IL 3/8/10
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Amy,
To begin with, you might want to delete your duplicate post before it attracts any replies.
Regarding your Curling Iron, you will most certainly need Plug Adapters to use this in the U.K. and Paris. They're designed to adapt the North American style plug to European receptacles (the UK style has three large rectangular pins while the Euro style has two round pins).
In order to comment on whether your Curling Iron is designed for use on 220 VAC electrical systems, it would help to have more specific information on the "120/240VAC" that you mentioned. There should be a nameplate somewhere on the device which states "Input Voltage". If you could post a reply on what's listed on the nameplate, that would help.
Cheers!
I take my Conair dual-voltage curling iron -- then I just need a converter plug -- not an adapter.
Even if it is dual voltage, it needs to be at a lower temp because they have a tendancy to burn out regardless of the "dual voltage-ness".
Janis,
a "plug adapter" is a passive device, with two round pins (cont. Europe), that plugs into the wall and accepts the two flat blades of an American plug. A "voltage converter" is a transformer or solid state device that changes the 230V power from a European receptacle into approx. 115V for American single voltage appliances.
Read here for more information.
Yes, Lee, I know the difference between an adapter plug and a converter. I was merely suggesting it might be easier to take a dual voltage curling iron which would then only necessitate the need for an adapter plug(s) -- because that would be less cumbersome than also having to take the converter.
If you have a dual voltage it should work. I had some teens try to use hair applicances with converters and had a lot of whining about how their appliances were fried.
My Conair Dual voltage curling iron from Target has made several trips to Europe and seems to survive just fine.
Just dont turn it up to full power, even if it is dual voltage.
Buy one there and then you know it will work.