Bear with me because I have already confused myself!

It's been a few years since I have been in Europe so I forget how this works. I have a voltage converter that changes voltage from 110 to 220. If I remember correctly, I just stick my normal US plug into the coverter and I guess all is well. Except that my curling iron glowed red in Istanbul, even when using the converter :)
It looks kinda like this:


How about when I have an appliance (curling iron) that has a switch on it to change from 110 to 220? Do I still use the converter or do I just stick an adapter plug on it? And is this the right one:




I also wonder if I did something wrong which caused my curling iron to glow. I also remember blowing out the electricity twice on my deck on the Song of Flower. Perhaps I have a faulty converter?

Karen - there's a difference between a converter & a transformer. Most of europe is on 220/240 volt electric; the US is on 110/120 volt (ie, about half the power).

If your appliance is dual voltage (ie, it can run on either current), a converter is all that is needed. It is designed to run on either current.

Your curling iron should work if it's got a 110 or 220 switch. First, switch it to 220 v and then use an adapter plug so the prongs will fit in the outlet. If you use it with the switch at 110, the appliance is getting pumped with 220 volts when all it wants is 110. Hence the red glow and the blowing out of the electricity on the Song of Flower decks. If you had the switch at 220 and you still had the red glow and blow-out, it could be the 220 volt capability wasn't working properly.

I did the same thing with my battery recharger on our last trip. I thought I plugged it into a 110 outlet over in asia; instead, it was a 220 volt outlet. We were saying "sayonara" to my battery recharger and the outlet didn't work correctly after that. I've subsequently gotten a dual-current recharger.

Cheers, Anne

Now I am really confused :)

What does my converter do, if not convert electricty from 220 back down to 110? Editing to add, I just checked the box and it says that it converts foreign electricity 220/240 to standard US 110/120

I looked at my travel appliances, they convert from 110 to 220, so it says on the handle. Why would I need a converter for those appliances that convert, wouldn't I just put the proper adapter on my plug?

Aloha

Karen, The converter will lower the voltage from 220 to 110 Volts but you have to also have to concider the "Watts". The converter is rated as to how many " Watts" it can accept.Watts are determined by : Voltage x Current = Watts.

Your curling iron is a heating device and therefore will have a higher wattage rating than say a Radio or DVD. So you need to look on the converter to see how maney watts it will deliver. Then look on the device (curling iron)to see how many watts it uses. this number must be lower than the converter number.
If the curling iron has a switch (110/220)just use the adapter and not the converter.

That said, on board the ship, the outlets in the cabins can't handle a large load such as a travel "clothes" iron (650-800 watts). Thats why they don't want you to use them in your cabin.But your curling iron should be fine.

Since you said you had a problem with the converter on the Song of Flower, I would think it's a gonner.

John

Karen,

I only know about converters( to change from 110 t0 220) and adapters( to adapt the american plugs to European plugs)

The plugs you picture look like the ones I used in Italy and Spain.

I have a flat iron that is dual voltage and the only thing I need is the adapter.

I also have a flat iron that is only 110 and last year I bought a converter in Radio Shack and brought it with me to Italy. It wouldn't do anything with it! Not even warm! I brought it back to Radio Shack after my trip and bought the dual voltage flat iron.

For your appliances that convert to 220 you should only need the adapter. If your curling iron converts to 220 definitively do not use the converter!

Karen, John has the right answer. I blew out a lot of things when I moved to Europe. You need to get a converter that matches wattage.

If you have, as you stated, a dual voltage hair dryer or curling iron, it will work in most outlets with JUST an adapter. I found that the appliance did not operate in the same manner...speed or power though.

I purchased a 220 hair dryer and curling iron to take with me. It is more efficient.

I find this shocking!

Thanks everyone, that makes it a bit clearer.

Aloha
Just to add that there is also one other factor involved "Frequency". No, not that kind of frequency !!
In other parts of the world the operating frequency is 50 hertz or cycles per second. Our system in the USA uses 60 hertz. So if you try to operate some appliances on the 50 hertz system that were designed for 60. They will not be as efficient or will not work at all. Appliances such as an iron, which is a heating device is not affected by this. But a device with a motor such as a blow dryer will be affected. A TV set, well, let's not go there.

John

I've read through this thread twice and my brain (fuzzy as it is!) is now totally numb!! How's this for a solution.....upon check in, isn't it reasonable to ask the conceirge for a converter/plugger/whatever that would adapt/convert our American appliance to European or Asian. Better yet, ask to borrow one of their blow dryers?

My brain is numb too. I'm just glad I usually air-dry my hair, and when I need a dryer, they have one that's completely adequate for me on the ship!

RSSC's hair dryer is usually quite weak and is an effort with thick hair. . So, they are not great for thick hair. In France, my 4 and 5 star hotels did not have either an adapter or a converter for US hairdryers/curlers/straighteners. While most of the hotels in France (Provence, Lyon and Paris) had good hairdryers for your use, in Italy, the 5 star hotels' hair dryers were not great. That's why I gave up and purchased my own. I use a hair straightener and those were never available. London had good hair dryers in their hotel rooms.

Like Wendy I will do the air dry thing till I get on the ship - I have thick hair but not long did not find any problem with dryers on the ships -

Well if I wasn't confused before I started reading this thread, I sure am now!!

I too have a curling wand and after reading the blurb in my documents, understood it to mean that I could use either wattage. No? Mine is 220 and I have a plug to fit my plug into so that it fits in the socket in the wall (clear as mud?). Do I need something else? If so, if someone would kindly tell me exactly what I have to get and where to get it in New York or New Jersey, I shall have No 1 son do some shopping for me before I arrive, rather than try to find it here.

Thanks in advance!

Lee

Lee,

I'm not sure if the outlets on the ship work on both 110/220 voltage. If they do then you only need the plugs but if the current is only 110 then I guess you'll need some sort of converter.

Hopefully somebody more informed than me will chime in!

Ricky's in NYC has European voltage appliances.

I found curling irons at Walmart (Conair) that have switches to change to 220. So I think all I need now is the adapters for the plug, which I have.

My blowdryer I had already had the voltage switch on it so hopefully that will work as well.

Karen; Lynn uses a 1500 watt curling iron and they don't work very well with those converters such as the one you pictured. We have found that the hotels wherever we have traveled will loan you a good converter that will not blow or burn up your appliances. We don't even take one with us anymore.

Doug, I have been many places where they don't even have adapters to loan you let alone converters so I never leave home without them!

Now that I have the dual voltage curling iron, I feel a bit better.

You can get adapters at RadioShack.

Andi, I have enough adapters to provide them to my whole town. They are in my luggage, junk drawers and I even found a European one in one of my purses.

Aloha
Lee, first let me thank you for the help you gave us before our trip to Sydney. We had a great time in your country and have planned another from Sydney /Auckland in Nov. 06 ( Mariner ).
As to your question,you have the opposite situation.
For your time on the ship you will have no problem, since these ships will have the two prong plugs you are using in Australia (220).
When you are in a US hotel you may have a problem. In the US we use a flat, two prong plug ( 110v). You will find a US plug to have 3 prongs if a ground is needed (not needed if double insulated). Anyway,maybe in a travel store in Sydney you can find a conveter that is the opposite of what we are talking about here for US people going to Europe.I hope this helps, if not just ask.
John

The airports and planes sell universal adapters for Australia to the US, if all else fails.

Karen; Just ask the concierge at any 4 star or better hotel and I'm sure they'll accommodate your needs re electrical needs. Don't know about the lower priced hotels. We have always used RSSC hotels and have never had a problem getting one. In Hong Kong we were on our own at the Harbour Plaza HK and they sent one right up to the room. 'Tis a mystery!

Doug, I have had problems getting adapters at 4 star or better hotels. You have just been lucky so far.

For example, the Conrad Hilton in Istanbul, which was my hotel that I booked through Radisson.

Karen,

My wife has curly hair. What we did was to go to a store over there and just purchase an European Curling Iron that we could use in all of our travel. I think the one we last purchased was about $35 and it works all over Europe and has the heat essential for what you need. On the ship you can use your US one.

I think Fred has a great idea and one I did when my flatiron broke in England. If you have time, it is cheaper to purchase abroad.