Electrical Appliances in the US

[nic3c]

Will my electrical appliances work in the US? I'm mainly talking about my hairdryer and hair straighteners? I've got a little adapter plug but have heard there might be problems with the voltage?

[dzug]

They will work, but they may not heat up enough or run at a fast enough speed to be any use. You are better getting cheap straighteners when you get there and any decent hotel will have hairdryers.

You won't damage them by trying to use them.

[JonnoGenie]

The voltage in the US would be lower, and the wattage of the appliance fixed, so surely the ampage would be higher and cause the appliances to overheat?

I thought it was assumed plugging something like a 240v hair dryer into a 110v supply was a seriously bad idea.

[Dee Sa]

buy a proper adaptor for the US try Argos and if not they always sell them at the airport [ well at Gatwick & Heathrow], also take a travel kettle and some tea bags, dont bother to take an iron most US hotels have one in the room or will bring you one on request [ dont forget to tip].most hotels also supply a hairdryer too.

[nic3c]

I guess i'll take them and try them. I'll probably use the hotel hairdryers and if my straighteners don't work buy some travel ones somewhere. Thanks.

[JonnoGenie]

Background from a US perspective...
http://www.franzus.com/electricity.htm

Which Magazine from a UK perspective...
http://www.which.co.uk/reports_and_campaigns/t ravel_and_leisure/reports/equipment/other_equi pment/Travel%20hairdryers/travel_hairdryers_pr oduct_report_574_80234_3.jsp

So it looks like your appliances will operate at 1/4 of their UK performance, if you simply plug them into a US 110v supply. You could get a converter, but note a convertor or transformer for something drawing 1500w or so (a hairdryer) can be very heavy. (I bought a 1kW up/down transformer about 8 years ago, and it weighs about 20lbs. Not exactly a travel accessory!)

[nic3c]

Thanks JonnoGenie, that clears everything up! I may just have to wait a little longer for my straighteners to heat up.

[Dee Sa]

its cheaper to buy the adaptor here and if you buy a universal one you can use it wherever for les than a tenner, than to buy straightners in the US that you may never use again.

[JonnoGenie]

Don't confuse a converter plug (ie pins), with something that needs to convert (ie transformer) a current.

[munchie63]

guess I'll be waiting a while for my camcorder batteries to recharge then guys

[Dee Sa]

have been travelling to the States for a very long time and always take a travel plug/ adaptor which states you can use it there, never had any problems or burnt out hair tongues/straightners. I always take two because then I can use the kettle at the same time. I put it all in my suitcase not my hand luggage.

[thugulike]

I always take a 4 gang socket so I only need one adapter. Then you can have any appliances and recharge your batteries at the same time. I do have american appliances such as a hair dryer (bought for �4 and fantastic) and a coil for heating water in a cup rather than a kettle (also bought there very cheaply) I do travel to the Americas quite frequently though so it was worth it.

[nic3c]

I've just got back from the US and would like to report...

Don't take a UK hairdryer unless it's one where you can change the voltage otherwise it works at half power and is pretty useless.

Hair straighteners work fine, they just need a couple of extra minutes to heat up.

Most chargers for mobile phones, camera batteries, toothbrushes, etc. work for both voltages (read text on plug) and shouldn't take any longer than usual.