Is it necessary to have a voltage converter for appliances that heat AND ones that do not?

Question

I will be going to England, and need to know if I need a "step-down" converter for a hair dryer and flattening brush AND a seperate one for an iPod charger and cell phone. I know I need the adapter plug, but wasn't sure about the voltage converter. Also, which is the best quality brand? Thanks!

Answer 1

Your high powered hair dryer and flattener might have switches on them to select between 120 Volts and 240 volts. read the owners manual to see if they are dual-voltage, or look on the appliances and see if there is a small switch on the handle, recessed in the plastic (it will read: 120 and 240).

If they are rated for 120 volts only, then you will need an adapter (step-down) rated for that amount of power (1500 Watts most likely?). While they are simply heater elements, they are designed for the voltage they are designed for, and connecting them to a higher voltage will vastly shorten their life (perhaps 'instantly').

The chargers for the iPod and cell phone may also be dual-voltage. For this you will need to read the owner's manual to see if this is so. *IF* they are dual-voltage or wide-range (i.e. 90 to 250 V and anything in between) then they probably automatically detect which voltage they are attached to and switch themselves over to that voltage. *IF* they are 120volt, only, then you will need an adapter, but it won't have to be a high-powered unit like the one for your hair-dryer (although you could use it for the chargers).

I can't recommend any particular brand, because I have little experience with travel 240-to-120 converters.

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Answer 2

Check the label on your iPod and cell phone chargers.
They may be rated for up to 240 Vac, in which case you only need the plug adapter, not the voltage converter.

However, I would go even further, and consider the time of use of the various devices. Charge the phone & iPod when not using the hair dryer and flattening brush, like overnight.