i am soooo confused. i read that dual voltage is 110-220. the hair dryer i bought says it is dual voltage (for europe) and switches from 110 to 250.....250? what happened to 220?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32499 posts
mary, Electrical equipment is usually designed to operate on a nominal voltage, between a low and high value. For example, a device that's specified to operate on a nominal voltage of 115 VAC is normally designed to function from about 105 VAC to 125 VAC. The voltage provided by the power company is rarely an exact 115 VAC, and can vary depending on load, time-of-day, location and whether there are Tap Changers (or other voltage regulating devices) installed on feeders. Based on the information you've posted, it sounds like your Hair Dryer will function just fine in Europe. Is there a switch to choose voltage, or is this done automatically? Don't forget Plug Adapters! Happy travels!
Posted by
OP
spokane, washington, usa
43 posts
Canada to the rescue! thanks Ken. yes, there is a switch...will remember to use it :) and I have ordered adapters...this will be my first trip to Europe since 1971....I am, indeed, planning on being very happy! thanks again, Mary
Posted by
Berlin, Germany
337 posts
"... what happened to 220?" It was changed into 230V (for both continental Europe which used to have 220V and the British Isles which used to have 240V) in 1987. 230V was a compromise that was inside the tolerances for both old systems. The 250V is the maximum voltage, because now the norm is 230V with tolerances of +/-10%.
This means that an appliance build for Europe must work with any voltage between 207 and 253V.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19448 posts
I don't know if this is still the case, but the "nominal" voltage in western Australia used to be 250 VAC. I found this out the hard way when I worked for a company that made a 220V version of our product for Europe. Marketing said they wanted the 220V version with a special cordset for western Australia. We found the cordset and put it on the 220V machine. Ops! In a few month they started coming back with the motors burned up. That's when I got a copy of "Voltages Abroad" and found that the voltage there was 250V.