Amy288

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to find a voltage converter to use my curling iron and hair straighteners here. I replaced my hair dryer and my cheaper curling irons but I have a few that are too expensive to replace. None of them use a huge amount of power (nowhere near the 2000 watt limit on most of them) However looking on Amazon most of them say not for use with electronic controlled heating appliances. Am I missing something or do I need a special kind? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Pulaski

You need a step-up transformer (to run 240v appliances on a 120v supply), not a voltage converter, which is for rinky-dink, low power things, like elecronics.

To ensure safe operation I recommend that you buy one rated for twice the power rating of the most powerful device you will use it for - e.g. a 2kw transformer for a 1,000w device.

Amy288

That would be why I'm having no luck then! Back to Amazon I go! Thank you

Pulaski

You're welcome.

OldJuddian

something like this (get the one for the wattage you need)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MXW85A

I have always used Power Bright, both in UK and here. I'm sure similar designs work as well.

excpomea

Eventually you will give up, drink the Koolaid and just buy new 110v devices.

uk_grenada

You have no idea from the amazon site whether its a nasty cheap crxx EI transformer ot a decent torroidal / donut supply. This makes a huge difference to ITS power consumption, noise, heat etc.

Be smart - buy a high efficiency torroidal device.

uk_grenada

Always, AxV=W and that you want 150-200% oversizing. Transformers are usually rated in VA ie 5kva which means it can deliver in the us ??x120=5000. about 40 amps so dont exceed 20 amps...

Pulaski

Not ones suitable for home use in the US, they're rated in watts, which amounts to the same thing, of course.

uk_grenada

Why do you say not suitable for use in the us? Is it a certification thing or ? I know 120v is a bit weak b ut it must be safe for some load?

Pulaski

I didn't. Read it again, as a direct response to your post that I quoted.

uk_grenada

Nope, sorry, not getting it, why is VA an unsuitable way of specifying a transformer for use in the us would you care to elucidate?

Very happy if america uses different physics or even nomeclature, but please say why?

Pulaski

I didn't say that either!

uk_grenada

Ok, thats cool, if obfuscations your thing Mr Trump, carry on.

Pulaski

I was kinda busy, and hoped that if I got you to reread what I had originally said, you would realize that you had simply misunderstood. But apparently not.
The transformers that are sold in the retail market in the US are rated by watts. I'll break down what I said into clear words and phrases:

I disagreed with you -> "Not"

I specified ones that are sold in the US for home use -> "ones suitable for home use in the US"

Then I told you that they're rated in watts.

Is that clear now?