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Post by AnastasiaBeaverhausn on Apr 28, 2016 0:30:49 GMT
We are going to Ireland in a couple months. I have a flat iron and travel hair dryer that aren't options. I have no idea what kind of converter I need or should I just head to Amazon and buy Irish versions of my beauty essentials? I usually travel worth a power strip for recharging my phone and devices but can I attach a converter to a U.S. power strip?
I know these aren't earth shattering issues but I am curious how to prepare.
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Post by mirabelleswalker on Apr 28, 2016 2:45:06 GMT
When you buy a converter it usually says what countries you can use it in on it or on the package.
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Post by mirabelleswalker on Apr 28, 2016 2:47:28 GMT
I think a power strip might blow out a fuse or a circuit. I wouldn't try that. The adapters are not very expensive.
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julieb
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,845 
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Post by julieb on Apr 28, 2016 3:31:46 GMT
Just make sure that you get the voltage converter along with the plug converter. I thought we only needed the plug converter and my dd's friend blew up her $150 flat iron.
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Post by pastlifepea on Apr 28, 2016 3:59:49 GMT
Yeah, you might want to make sure your items also are variable voltage. If they're not, even with the converters very bad things can happen. My friend brought her fake CHI to Ireland with us. Upon arrival in Dublin, we fired that thing up and let me tell you, for about 5 minutes we had the BEST flat iron ever. Then we had no flat iron for the next 10 days. You think she threw that thing away? Heck, no. She dragged it all around Ireland and then back to South Carolina to plug it in to make sure it was really dead. It was.
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chendra
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,871
Location: The 33rd State
Jun 27, 2014 16:58:50 GMT
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Post by chendra on Apr 28, 2016 4:21:56 GMT
I've always had bad luck with voltage coverters when I travel, no matter what the packaging claims. They never seem to work quite right and the appliances haven't operated normally. And to reiterate, a converter is used in conjunction with a plug adaptor.
I just went to a chemist and bought a hair dryer when we got to Ireland. It was not expensive. Turns out I didn't need it because every hotel and B&B we stayed had one. I'm sure flat irons are more expensive to buy, but it might be better than frying yours. Or, look for some good converter reviews on line.
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Post by anniefb on Apr 28, 2016 5:23:27 GMT
We are going to Ireland in a couple months. I have a flat iron and travel hair dryer that aren't options. I have no idea what kind of converter I need or should I just head to Amazon and buy Irish versions of my beauty essentials? I usually travel worth a power strip for recharging my phone and devices but can I attach a converter to a U.S. power strip? I know these aren't earth shattering issues but I am curious how to prepare. If your appliances say 120/240v you're good to go just with a plug adapter. The plug you need for Ireland is the same as the one for the UK - 3 square looking prongs. If they're 110/120v only you'll need a converter as well and the good ones tend to be large and heavy (depending how many watts your appliances are). Might just be better to buy dual voltage appliances for traveling or look for them when you're over there.
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Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Apr 28, 2016 12:23:14 GMT
Check but, typically, hair driers and curling irons don't have dual voltage. Ireland is 230v/50Hz so you would need a converter. The plug adaptor is type G.
We are headed to Dublin this summer too - we'll be taking the plug adaptor but no voltage adaptor as all of our electronics work on both.
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Post by Merge on Apr 28, 2016 12:27:12 GMT
Even if it says dual voltage though, check and see if you need to turn a switch or something. The travel hair dryer I bought for our trip to France has a little screw that has to be turned from the lower voltage to the higher voltage - which I did not realize until I tried using it as-is and sparks started coming out of the dryer!
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Apr 28, 2016 14:07:27 GMT
My experience has been that unless hair dryers and flat/curling irons are dual voltage, you are just asking for fried appliances using a voltage convertor. Instead of spending money on the voltage convertor, look for some dual voltage appliances. They can be found for reasonable prices on Amazon. If you plan to travel abroad frequently, then go ahead and buy the 220v appliances because they work much better than dual voltage does. I kept my 220v flat iron when we moved back for that purpose. I didn't bother with keeping the hair dryer because most hotels provide one and it is one less thing to travel with. Babyliss Dual Voltage Travel Hair DryerlinkBabyliss Dual Voltage Flat Iron |
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Post by Jockscrap on Apr 28, 2016 22:25:14 GMT
Both a travel iron and a hairdryer would be cheap to buy locally in a reasonable size supermarket like Tesco. I haven't stayed anywhere for years that doesn't have a hairdryer in the room and most places have an iron and ironing board. Those places that don't have them in the room would almost certainly lend you one.
Just clicked on the links above lol...you mean hair straighteners not an iron for clothes!
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Post by AnastasiaBeaverhausn on Apr 29, 2016 0:13:52 GMT
My experience has been that unless hair dryers and flat/curling irons are dual voltage, you are just asking for fried appliances using a voltage convertor. Instead of spending money on the voltage convertor, look for some dual voltage appliances. They can be found for reasonable prices on Amazon. If you plan to travel abroad frequently, then go ahead and buy the 220v appliances because they work much better than dual voltage does. I kept my 220v flat iron when we moved back for that purpose. I didn't bother with keeping the hair dryer because most hotels provide one and it is one less thing to travel with. Babyliss Dual Voltage Travel Hair DryerlinkBabyliss Dual Voltage Flat IronWell, that is my travel hair dryer! |
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Post by AnastasiaBeaverhausn on Apr 29, 2016 0:14:47 GMT
Both a travel iron and a hairdryer would be cheap to buy locally in a reasonable size supermarket like Tesco. I haven't stayed anywhere for years that doesn't have a hairdryer in the room and most places have an iron and ironing board. Those places that don't have them in the room would almost certainly lend you one. Just clicked on the links above lol...you mean hair straighteners not an iron for clothes! Yes, hair straightener. Although for a second I wondered if I could just use the clothes iron! |
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Post by AnastasiaBeaverhausn on Apr 29, 2016 0:15:43 GMT
Thanks, everyone. I think I'll shop around Amazon UK for a bit.
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