Low watt hair dryer?? (3 Viewers)

[Outdoors Dad]

Well I have installed my lithium and now would like an inverter. I do very much fancy the 1000 watt renogy as I have £25 off in loyalty coupons to use before January. The problem is my dear wife would like to occasionally use a hair dryer when we are out and about. I'm limited for space near battery so the slimmer 1000 version looks ok other than that I'll need to run the cables under the cab carpet. I'm concerned the wire may get too hot under the carpet over a run of .500mm. I've discussed the issue with the better half and she thinks I'm being tight and that I never got her a 'push present'
Does anyone run a hair dryer on a 1000 watt inverter?

 

[meanders]

Sooooooooooo glad my better half rarely uses a hair dryer and certainly not while we are away. Some people are spending a grand or more on batteries inverter etc just so a hair dryer works. Sorry ladies, it's getting on for lunacy.

 

[The Wino]

Sooooooooooo glad my better half rarely uses a hair dryer and certainly not while we are away. Some people are spending a grand or more on batteries inverter etc just so a hair dryer works. Sorry ladies, it's getting on for lunacy.

I think the same. Given the number of days away and frequency of hair washing it's probably a pretty high cost per use.

 

[Onemanandhisdog]

Low watt hairdryer = Towel.

In fact, it's zero watts!

 

[Outdoors Dad]

Surely a hair dryer doesn't cost a lot??

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[tonka]

We have a cheapie ish1100w inverter and wife uses hair dryer no issue. Admittedly she runs it on the lower heat setting but copes alright. Inverter is close to batteries and I have a mains extension run up to a convenient spot.
We only have 2 x 90amp lead batteries. No fancy lithium.

 

[The Wino]

Surely a hair dryer doesn't cost a lot??

If it's the only reason you're installing an inverter and because of the load you're looking at different batteries it does

 

[Outdoors Dad]

Sooooooooooo glad my better half rarely uses a hair dryer and certainly not while we are away. Some people are spending a grand or more on batteries inverter etc just so a hair dryer works. Sorry ladies, it's getting on for lunacy.

I never said I installed lithium just to run a hair dryer did I mate! Maybe you don't have lithium but it's something you really yearn and when you see other people with new things you get jealous and childish.

 

[Reallyretired]

We use a 1200w dryer on a 1500w inverter no problem. And it's not just swmbo we both use it daily. It's less than 500w on low too.

 

[Outdoors Dad]

Balls to it I'll just get the smaller inverter and she can stick her head out of the window. I'll have a look on Amazon.

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[meanders]

I never said I installed lithium just to run a hair dryer did I mate! Maybe you don't have lithium but it's something you really yearn and when you see other people with new things you get jealous and childish.

No you did not, nor did I say you had. However, this question pops up several times a year and yes I know of at least two Funsters who paid out for Lithium just to keep the peace. It's possibly more economic to go to a hairdressers.

I certainly do not 'yearn' Lithium, and thanks for the implied insult. I was purely responding to a repeat of the same question about hair dryers being asked over the last 15 years or so. Originally, lithium was not an option. Some folks installed banks of lead acid and then complained they were overweight.

As I said, I am so grateful my better half early uses a dryer.

 

[Outdoors Dad]

No you did not, nor did I say you had. However, this question pops up several times a year and yes I know of at least two Funsters who paid out for Lithium just to keep the peace. It's possibly more economic to go to a hairdressers.

I certainly do not 'yearn' Lithium, and thanks for the implied insult. I was purely responding to a repeat of the same question about hair dryers being asked over the last 15 years or so. Originally, lithium was not an option. Some folks installed banks of lead acid and then complained they were overweight.

As I said, I am so grateful my better half early uses a dryer.

You didn't answer the question about a hair dryer and I felt you made a subtle dig. However it's gone and I've been able to get some good ideas about hair dryers from other forum members. Thanks for your input.

 

[Outdoors Dad]

For anyone interested I've negotiated with the better half on the hair dryer! Basically she needs new hair straighteners and I've offered to buy her them for a Christmas present....but I'll get her the rechargeable type. This allows her to use them in van and when she's away camping. Job done! Cloud nine straighteners apparently for anyone interested.

 

[pappajohn]

If the inverter wires get hot over ½ metre, even under a carpet, then they ain't big enough.

 

[Silver-Fox]

I’ve just done an install with an inverter.

SWMBO thought it was just for her hairdryer and straighteners.

I’ve so beaked in a microwave and hopefully get a coffee machine to keep it company.

I will swap over the batteries as they must be close to life end, they are lead acid.
That was in the plan pre inverter

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[Silver-Fox]

Why not run the cables under the van if you go ahead

 

[Outdoors Dad]

Why not run the cables under the van if you go ahead

Not a bad idea matey, it never crossed my mind cheers!

 

[Itsmcb]

My wife uses this one and is happy with it. It's 1000watt but it's the only decent 'low wattage' one I could find.
Wahl Travel Hair Dryer, Hair Dryer with Attachments, Dryer for Travelling, Compact Hairdryer, Foldable Travel Dryer, Two Heat Settings, Worldwide Voltage, Portable Travel Hairdryers, Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077Y62HGT/?tag=mhf04-21

 

[Outdoors Dad]

My wife uses this one and is happy with it. It's 1000watt but it's the only decent 'low wattage' one I could find.
Wahl Travel Hair Dryer, Hair Dryer with Attachments, Dryer for Travelling, Compact Hairdryer, Foldable Travel Dryer, Two Heat Settings, Worldwide Voltage, Portable Travel Hairdryers, Black Amazon product ASIN B077Y62HGT

Spot on that matey cheers!

 

[Silver-Fox]

Not a bad idea matey, it never crossed my mind cheers!

Lots of cables are run under A class vans, no doubt most vans.

Obviously avoid sharp edges and nice and tight under the floor.

The cable I used is really flexible multi strand.

Good luck with it

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[Outdoors Dad]

I’ve just done an install with an inverter.

SWMBO thought it was just for her hairdryer and straighteners.

I’ve so beaked in a microwave and hopefully get a coffee machine to keep it company.

I will swap over the batteries as they must be close to life end, they are lead acid.
That was in the plan pre inverter

Yeah my van old LA batteries where not at full capacity especially one that was really goosed so I had to change them. It made sense to put a lithium in. Although changing all the lights to LED really helped in the short term. The inverter is really for heating and alternative cooking especially on winter trips.

 

[Silver-Fox]

Yeah my van old LA batteries where not at full capacity especially one that was really goosed so I had to change them. It made sense to put a lithium in. Although changing all the lights to LED really helped in the short term. The inverter is really for heating and alternative cooking especially on winter trips.

Me being me I went big on the inverter, it’s just in my nature

We do have a lot of garage space and no where near weight capacity.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Balls to it I'll just get the smaller inverter and she can stick her head out of the window. I'll have a look on Amazon.

Well it's better than the alternative, that being a swift knee in the goolies from the wife and the wife then drying her hair in your expelled gasp of pain, but probably just about as effective as those 12v hair dryers.
Mike.

 

[stuartholmes]

My wife uses this one and is happy with it. It's 1000watt but it's the only decent 'low wattage' one I could find.

So here's an ignoramus question for all you electrical whizz-kids with A levels to laugh about...

If I have a 240v mains-powered hair dryer that has a switch on it for adjusting to 110v, (at which setting it appears to run 1000watts) would turning the switch to 110v and plugging into the 240v ehu-powered socket in my 'van result in early death or a hair dryer that works fine but just not quite as fine as it does at home?

 

[scotjimland]

would turning the switch to 110v and plugging into the 240v ehu-powered socket in my 'van result in early death

lemme think..

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[Yorick]

Why not start the engine, get it warm, then tell her to sit in front of the cab heaters?

If you turn all the others off, you'll get a nice blast from the middle ones

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

So here's an ignoramus question for all you electrical whizz-kids with A levels to laugh about...

If I have a 240v mains-powered hair dryer that has a switch on it for adjusting to 110v, (at which setting it appears to run 1000watts) would turning the switch to 110v and plugging into the 240v ehu-powered socket in my 'van result in early death or a hair dryer that works fine but just not quite as fine as it does at home?

Bye, it's been nice knowing you. Can we have an address for the flowers.
Actually, I had a senior moment myself recently, I wanted to de-scale an iron we bought on our travels when in Mexico.
Following the product advice I filled it with a water de-scaler solution and waited for it to heat up, which it did ,pretty damn quick. I was suffering from a cold at the time, and whilst I could just about smell the acid working on the iron, the smell of melting element in the kettle completely alluded my sick nostrils. Luckily, other members of the household alarmed at the pong in the kitchen where I was about the task hot footed it in to see what was the reason for the hideous pong.
Nothing blew, but the 110v iron, was completely kaput, well there's £5.00 wasted.
Mike.

 

[autorouter]

So here's an ignoramus question for all you electrical whizz-kids with A levels to laugh about...

If I have a 240v mains-powered hair dryer that has a switch on it for adjusting to 110v, (at which setting it appears to run 1000watts) would turning the switch to 110v and plugging into the 240v ehu-powered socket in my 'van result in early death or a hair dryer that works fine but just not quite as fine as it does at home?

Setting the hair dryer to 110V and plugging in to 240V is definitely not a good idea. 240V is about twice the voltage, and this would cause twice the amps to flow. The combined effect would be that about four times the correct power would be generated (watts = volts x amps), and this no doubt would cause things to melt, or a fuse to blow.

Actually, it's not totally hare-brained - the opposite idea, running a 240V hairdryer on 110V mains, like in the USA, would generate a quarter of the power, which might just about be acceptable and would certainly not blow any fuses.

 

[stuartholmes]

240V is about twice the voltage, and this would cause twice the amps to flow. The combined effect would be that about four times the correct power would be generated (watts = volts x amps), and this no doubt would cause things to melt, or a fuse to blow.

Thank you all for all the lovely caring responses.

I did say 'ignoramus'! To be more specific, I never quite understood the difference between available electrical power and flowing electrical power. Which is how I came to be thinking that if you turn the switch on the device to 110v, maybe that means it'll do something internally (like cut off half the heating element) so it only draws half the current/watts/amps/joules/kangaroos or whatever...

Apparently not.

 

[Downsie]

Never seen such a lot of chauvinistic and judgemental replies to a thread. Personally, as solo lady, I can see no point in having a TV (read a book anyone?) a coffee machine, an air fryer or any of the other stuff often mentioned. However I do want a hairdryer, that’s my choice.

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