Can you take a 60Hz blow dryer to Europe and use it in a 50Hz outlet?

Answer 1

It would be very strange if moving from 50hz to 60 hz would cause a problem but beware. When a transformer like the one powering a tube in a microwave oven is designed for 60hz is then run at 50hz it may run to hot. generally you can go 10hz higher with little safety concern but if its designed for 60hz don't even try 50hz unless its specified by the maker.

Also beware that the magnetron may overheat at 60hz if you don't put in a smaller high voltage capacitor, the power output of a microwave oven is controlled by the line frequency and the capacity of the capacitor so if you go from 50hz to 60 the capacitor is being charged and discharged 10 more times per second, hence the magnetron is firing 10 more times per second. If the oven is rated at 1000 watts at 50hz it might put out 1200 watts at 60hz. To counter this and run the magnetron at the proper power you need a matching smaller uf rated capacitor, say the current one is a 1uf you would have to drop to a .8 or .85uf one for the proper oven wattage at the higher frequency..

Answer 2

I would not recommend this. It is true that your blowdryer will run on 50 hertz but because of the lower frequency, if you use it for even the normal amount of time you normally do...The motor that drives the fan would overheat eventually and quit working.. You might be able to buy blowdryers that say they run on 50 or 60 hertz and it would be fine. That away when you got back home you could use it without any problems.

Answer 3

Yes, of course...giving 10 volts less is perfectly safe.

Answer

The standard voltage in the UK is 230 V (+10%/-6%) -in other words, it is allowed to vary between little over 216 V and 253 V. So, as you can see, it is perfectly safe to operate a 240 V device on a 230-V system.

This standard was introduced in accordance with 'European harmonisation' requirements, but it has been little more than a paper exercise to satisfy EU dogma (hence the +10%/-6%!). In fact, no changes have actually been made to the previous standard, which was 240 V (+/- 6%).

Answer 4

In general the answer is: "Appliances designed to run on 110 - 120 volts won't run on 230-240 volts in Europe if they have been designed to run only on the lower voltage, i.e. only on 110 up to 120 volts, and nothing else."

Some small appliances - such as electric shavers, chargers for cellphones and camera batteries, etc. - have been designed to run safely on different service voltages. If that is the case, the appliance's rating plate will state the range of voltages it was designed to accept.

A licensed electrician or professional electrical engineer would be able to consider whether or not a particular 120 volts-only appliance could be modified safely to run at the higher voltage, but it won't usually be worth the cost of doing the work. That's because, in many cases where the power needed is low, such as (say) less than 30 watts, a cheap and simple "International Travel Adapter" is all that is needed to make it work from the standard power socket outlets in the country your are visiting.

But bear in mind that the mains frequency in Europe and other 230 volt areas is 50 Hz (cycles per second) compared to 60 Hz in US, Canada and other 120 volt areas. Some 60 Hz appliances will work fine but others with simple motors will run too slowly on the lower frequency of 50 Hz.

It is not possible to use a standard kind of International Travel Adapter for high-powered appliances - such as electric kettles - because the current they take is much too high. 120 volt appliances having powers from (say) 100 watts to 2000 watts (2kW), or more, would need an expensive item called a "Transformer" or "Auto-transformer" to enable them to be used on a 230 volt supply.

Such Transformers are much bigger and heavier than an International Travel Adapter and also, it must be said, they are much more expensive: depending on the power to be converted, they can cost from US$100 upwards, even second-hand.

So most folks would just buy an appliance locally in the 230 volt 50 Hz area. After all, in Europe a cheap electric kettle can cost less than US$20 and a really fancy 230 volt, 3 kW kettle can be bought for under US$100.

Another answer

This is from a different user: SOME small low-wattage appliances or electronics items have built-in converter circuitry with semiconductors, transformers and resistors, etc. inside them. This is why you can plug such low-wattage appliances or electronics items into your wall and not have them "fry"... The built in converter circuitry converts the supply voltage to the right level.

Answer 5

It is not recommended to use a 60Hz blow dryer on a 50Hz outlet in Europe as the difference in frequency can damage the appliance and pose safety risks. Additionally, the voltage difference between the US and Europe can also affect the performance of the blow dryer. It's better to use a blow dryer that is compatible with the local frequency and voltage in Europe.

Answer 6

Could you please give us a name of a 240 V 60 Hz microwave? Thank you

Answer 7

Check the manual for your microwave. But most appliances are rated for 50/60 hz 110/120 VAC.

Answer 8

Yes, you can.