Will USA stuff work in the UK with an adapter?

[Maxf]

I have a US visitor later in the month, and she's on about needing hair dryer, straightener and curling iron (wtf - pick either straight or curly) for her stay.

Will her US voltage stuff work here with a simple travel plug adapter, or does she need specific travel stuff (or UK stuff)?

This appears to be a hugely important issue!

[miniman]

Electronics normally will (e.g. laptops, phone chargers) will because the transformers are multi-voltage.

Hair maintenance products will NOT work because they run at mains voltage and they are essentially heating up a coil. If you put 240v onto a heating element that is designed to use 110v it will not go well!

[Maxf]

Thats what I thought! Best to check though before we spend money on UK stuff.

[Bluebarge]

Maxf said:

Thats what I thought! Best to check though before we spend money on UK stuff.

Eh? tell her to buy her own at the airport!

[MOTORVATOR]

Tell her it's fine. In fact she'll be able to do her hair in exactly half the time that it takes at home due to our better quality electrikery.

[ViperDave]

For simple electrical like hairdryers that are not voltage switchable you can get a mini travel transformer to step down the 240v to 110v with a US socket and various plugs, Wal*mart, Target all sell them for about $20 - $30.

They are no good for more sensitive electronics as they are not very accurate in their voltage but a heating element and fan should be OK, just make sure its rated for enough power.