France Expat Forum

Voltage Converters

1/18/2023 16:57 EST

A member posted this in yesterday in answer to a report question. We're posting it again as a new question: Add-on question: I know American TVs don’t work in France. But, using voltage converters (not just plug adapters), what about:
1) American stereo equipment;
2) American kitchen appliances, like blender, mixer, toaster, foodsaver, waffle iron, etc.
3) Table lamps (mine are early 20th century art glass that I really don’t want to part with…)
Thanks for your input!
BC

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ellenyparis

1/18/2023 19:41 EST

Thinking that my lamps would need to be rewired, I left some expensive one in the U.S. and packed only one fave. To my shock (no pun intended) only a plug adapter is required.
I didn't mind leaving applliances (too bulky/heavy), But check your hair dryer - it may be dual voltage. (I bought one here that's billed as a travel hair dryer, and it is dual voltage,)

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sxyknikrs

1/19/2023 06:40 EST

Yes, you can use a voltage converter but there’s lots of information you will need before you can make an informed purchase or should I say, purchases, as you will need several in order to accommodate the wattage of all the appliances you mentioned. And they are not cheap. First of all, you need a step-up voltage converter, to go from 110-120 voltage up to 240 voltage. It is strongly recommended that you use a converter that will handle 2 1/2 times the wattage of an appliance. So if the mixer you want to bring uses 1500 watts, you can be safe with a minimum converter of 4500 watts.
On a personal note, I know of several Americans who bought homes when they came to France and asked their licensed electrician to install a circuit that would handle the 110-120 voltage of American appliances. I think the cost and convenience of having that circuit instead of relying on voltage converters makes much better sense.

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ellenyparis

1/19/2023 08:38 EST

I like the elctrician solution, though doubtless costly.
Put (heavy, bulky) US applicances on eBay (etc) and buy new ones here?

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