Wed Jan 2, 2013, 03:30 AM
Fridays Child (23,998 posts)
A family member is traveling to Paris, soon. I have an electrical adapter question. :)
I've seen American/French adapters at Radio Shack. Is it sufficient to get one or two of those?
My family member will be taking some electric hairstyling tools, including a curling iron, a straightener, and a blow dryer. Should she have something more than a simple adapter in order to operate the blow dryer? It is labeled 125/250 V AC 60 Hz 1875 W. That's the styling tool I'm most concerned about because it has a motor. The straightener is labeled both 120 V~60 Hz 177 W and 120 V~60 Hz 44 W. The curling iron is labeled 120 V AC 60 Hz 14 W. She will be staying with a host family in what I assume is a modern flat. I want to ensure that she doesn't catch anything on fire or short out her family's electrical system. Any advice from fellow DUers with experience in this area would be so appreciated. Merci. ![]()
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7 replies, 2711 views
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Replies to this discussion thread
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Author | Time | Post |
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Fridays Child | Jan 2013 | OP |
TreasonousBastard | Jan 2013 | #1 | |
Fridays Child | Jan 2013 | #2 | |
TreasonousBastard | Jan 2013 | #3 | |
Fridays Child | Jan 2013 | #5 | |
ginnyinWI | Jan 2013 | #4 | |
Fridays Child | Jan 2013 | #6 | |
GoneOffShore | Jan 2013 | #7 |
Response to Fridays Child (Original post)
Wed Jan 2, 2013, 04:18 AM
TreasonousBastard (41,226 posts)
1. If the blow dryer is rated 125/250...
it should have a switch somewhere to change the voltage. In this case, any old high current capable adapter should do. If there's no switch, it could automatically sense the voltage and deal with it, although this might not be something to be trusted.
European frequency is 50 Hz, but rarely does that cause a problem with modern motors. Besides, it's possible that the motor is DC and then it makes no difference at all because the dryer converts it internally. The instruction book (if you still have it) or maybe some online instructions or FAQs or a call to the manufacturer, will have any other info you need. Plan B might be to buy one locally and gift it to the host family when leaving. on edit... The other two gadgets are 120 only, so a voltage reduction adapter will be needed. If it's big enough it could also power the hair dryer on 120v but the ones with that kind of wattage cost bigger bucks. |
Response to TreasonousBastard (Reply #1)
Wed Jan 2, 2013, 05:08 AM
Fridays Child (23,998 posts)
2. Thanks for all of the good information.
There is a voltage switch on the blow dryer but it seems unclear as to how it operates. We will call Conair about that in the morning. I copied all of your advice and will take it with me to Rradio Shack.
Many thanks! |
Response to Fridays Child (Reply #2)
Wed Jan 2, 2013, 05:36 AM
TreasonousBastard (41,226 posts)
3. You're welcome, and it just occurred to me that...
the French family just might have this stuff already-- you can often buy US appliances at half the European price, and many visitors here have "shopping lists".
Anyway-- Paris, eh? Your sister, daughter, niece, or whatever should have a fantastic time. I loved Paris many years ago when I was there, and still enjoy European vacations (cheaper ones, though). Hope she has time to see the countryside, other wonderful (and, yeah, friendlier) places. And maybe a few other countries a couple of hours' bus or train ride away. |
Response to TreasonousBastard (Reply #3)
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 10:02 PM
Fridays Child (23,998 posts)
5. It's not the first time they've hosted a student.
If I were hosting foreign students, I think I'd get the necessary items to ensure that my electrical system remained safe. But we did go ahead and pick up a few things, just in case. This will be her second visit to Paris but the first one lasted only a few days. She may get the chance to take some great trips around France and even to another country or two.
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Response to Fridays Child (Original post)
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 12:24 AM
ginnyinWI (17,276 posts)
4. this one worked for us
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YN01X4/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00
We used it in the U.K. as well as France. |
Response to ginnyinWI (Reply #4)
Fri Jan 4, 2013, 10:06 PM
Fridays Child (23,998 posts)
6. Hey, I used to have one of those.
Maybe it's still around here somewhere.
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Response to Fridays Child (Original post)
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 11:29 PM
GoneOffShore (16,519 posts)
7. Leave the appliances at home.
Even the hair dryer.
Really. If she's staying in Paris she's not going to need all those things. And if she leaves them home she'll have more room to bring back clothes and souvenirs. |