hatman Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Has anyone got any suggestions about where Mrs H can get a 12v hairdryer that actually does what its supposed to do without overloading the wiring on a Fiat Autotrail Scout. The one she currently uses neither gets hot nor does it blow well. She's quite happy to use the one in the toilet block on a site, but occasionally we stop otherwise than on a site with hook-ups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 You will not get a 12 volt hair dryer of the same power as one designed for the mains. You need to look at the Mrs home hair dryer to determined the number of watts it consumes. If you cannot always park where there is a hookup then purchase a BIG 12 volt to mains inverter of sufficient rating to power it (like 2000 watts), then fit a second BIG battery with associated heavy cables and then nag her so she doesn,t run it too long. Or Convince her she will look fantastic with very short hair Or Use a towel like the rest of us! C. These are your choices. C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkle Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 hatman - 2008-11-23 10:08 PM Has anyone got any suggestions about where Mrs H can get a 12v hairdryer that actually does what its supposed to do without overloading the wiring on a Fiat Autotrail Scout. The one she currently uses neither gets hot nor does it blow well. She's quite happy to use the one in the toilet block on a site, but occasionally we stop otherwise than on a site with hook-ups If you find one then please let us know, as mine is about as useful as a chocolate fireguard - Bruce may as well just blow on my hair for the effect that I get from it. I find its just far easier to take a proper travel one of normal voltage and use that on site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neillking Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 A bit of a hardy perennial this one. The simple answer is that you can't get anything like mains style power out of 12v (except maybe in very short bursts). Power is the operative word and you need it in plenty for heating and cooling.My wife's home hairdryer is 2400 Watts, you don't need to know anything technical about watts just how big the number is. A 12 volt hairdryer is maybe 400 Watts max - so near useless for drying anything but the shortest hair.Why is it so low powered? Because as the Yorkshireman says "you don't get owt for nowt". Consider this, you reduce the voltage by 20x from ~240v to 12v) so to maintain power you must compensate by increasing the amps by 20x - in this case from 10 Amps to 200 Amps ... This is more than you use to start the engine and have you seen the size of those cables? This is never practical of course so the product has reduced power instead ... result - useless!Consider this too when thinking about relative power. One unit of mains electricity costs 10p or so and our electric bills are testamemt to just how many units we all consume. How does this compare? Well a fully charged leisure battery contains about one domestic unit (yes 1 unit, 10p worth,) of electricity!A battery really is a very weak source of power and it's something of a miracle that we all manage to do as much with it as we do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 I'm still working on the gas-fuelled hair-drier that I mentioned years ago. This combines a powerful 12V fan with an adapted Campingaz stove. Development has been slow as testing can only be carried out infrequently when our cat's fur has grown back to a sufficient length. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usinmyknaus Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Just to support what has been said already - we bought one with a load of other items when we first kitted out the van 18 months ago. It is wholely ineffective and a waste of money and weight allowance. My wife has a short hair style and she rates the dryer as "useless". Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 I do have a gas hair-dryer / styler. It works off little gas cartridges and has two different brushes which can be used. I think it is a Babyliss but not sure as it is in the m/home parked elsewhere. Years ago I did buy a 12V one in France and promptly blew the fuse in the m/home because the engine is supposed to be running before plugging in. Can't actually comment on its efficacy though - I think it went in the bin. Husband was not impressed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapido-lass Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Best advice is let it dry naturally and then use gas powered styling brush - mine is made by Braun (and only gets used very occassionally) and you can replace the gas cylinders which you can get in certain supermarkets etc. Better still don't look in the mirror and don't bother what anybody else thinks - spend the time enjoying where ever you are! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Rapido-lass - 2008-11-24 12:46 PM Best advice is let it dry naturally and then use gas powered styling brush - mine is made by Braun (and only gets used very occassionally) and you can replace the gas cylinders which you can get in certain supermarkets etc. Better still don't look in the mirror and don't bother what anybody else thinks - spend the time enjoying where ever you are! You've reminded me now - yes, mine's a Braun too and you can get refills from Boots. Haven't used mine very often but I think it is better used if hair is a bit damp at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayjsj Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Derek Uzzell - 2008-11-24 8:43 AM I'm still working on the gas-fuelled hair-drier that I mentioned years ago. This combines a powerful 12V fan with an adapted Campingaz stove. Development has been slow as testing can only be carried out infrequently when our cat's fur has grown back to a sufficient length. This made the mind boggle, I'm sure a viable (safe for cats) version COULD be designed and made if there were a ready market for it. But the threats from the dreaded 'Health and Safety' aspect have probably put MOST inventors (apart from Derek) off. PS. I bet the cat LOVES you Derek. >:-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Meldrew Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Generator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertieburstner Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 turned on hairdryer, worked ineffectually for about 4 seconds, fuse blew all lights went out in motorhome. Threw it away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 A simple answer. When ready to leave site, wife washes hair, drive away with wife's head protuding out of the roof light, any complaints wife is navigating due to driver having misty eyes from laughing, hair dry in 15 minutes, result, one happy wife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWO Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 Hi all As a supplementary question sort of tied in with this tread. Does anyone know if there is such a thing as a low wattage mains hair dryer. If you could get something that was about 800/1000 watts, then it would do a half decent job of drying the hair, and the genny or inverter would not have to be so big and eye-wateringly expensive. I did a quick google and looked in the Argos book ect, but one did'nt jump out at me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 HWO - 2008-11-26 4:19 PM Hi all As a supplementary question sort of tied in with this tread. Does anyone know if there is such a thing as a low wattage mains hair dryer. If you could get something that was about 800/1000 watts, then it would do a half decent job of drying the hair, and the genny or inverter would not have to be so big and eye-wateringly expensive. I did a quick google and looked in the Argos book ect, but one did'nt jump out at me. Just found this one on Ebay if you are interested: Cute Hot Pink & White 800W Playboy Bunny Hair Dryer Item number: 280287965944. Starting bid of only £1.99. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWO Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 Thanks Patricia I will give it a try.An't to hot on e-bay but there is always a first for everything. Hope the rest of this thread don't start bidding the price up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 HWO - 2008-11-26 5:25 PM Thanks Patricia I will give it a try.An't to hot on e-bay but there is always a first for everything. Hope the rest of this thread don't start bidding the price up. I think it had two days to go so don't be in too much hurry to bid otherwise the price might go too high. You could click the "watch this item" button and just keep an eye on it. Or you could email the seller and ask if they will accept a sell now price. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neillking Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 HWO - 2008-11-26 4:19 PM ... Does anyone know if there is such a thing as a low wattage mains hair dryer. If you could get something that was about 800/1000 watts ... and the genny or inverter would not have to be so big and eye-wateringly expensive. Upwards of 85 amps out of the battery so do make sure you have suitable cables and fuses for the inverter - and remember you'll have maybe 20 mins to a completely flat 'standard' battery! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Swift Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 Towsure do a 12v Sanwich Toaster which will not only dry her hair but straighten it too! Suggest you remove any melted cheese first :-> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 Derek Uzzell - 2008-11-24 8:43 AM I'm still working on the gas-fuelled hair-drier that I mentioned years ago. This combines a powerful 12V fan with an adapted Campingaz stove. Development has been slow as testing can only be carried out infrequently when our cat's fur has grown back to a sufficient length. Maybe you could also run a hair regrowth experiment in conjunction with dryer, try slapping different chemicals on post dryer cat to see if any work :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minstrel Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 I've got a 1200w Boots hairdryer, not quite as low as was wanted on this thread, but useful if foreign hook up isn't very high amperage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted November 26, 2008 Share Posted November 26, 2008 HWO - 2008-11-26 4:19 PM Hi all As a supplementary question sort of tied in with this tread. Does anyone know if there is such a thing as a low wattage mains hair dryer. If you could get something that was about 800/1000 watts, then it would do a half decent job of drying the hair, and the genny or inverter would not have to be so big and eye-wateringly expensive. I did a quick google and looked in the Argos book ect, but one did'nt jump out at me. I have a 600 watt travel hairdrier which I use with an inverter which dries my hair satisfactorily. Found it by searching google few years back. Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 I have a Remington travel hairdryer which I bought years and years ago so this particular model probably went out of production a long time ago. However, there might be other models. Noticed this morning that as well as folding, light to hold and being dual voltage, it has three heat settings 300W, 600W and 1200W. Had a quick look just now and could find travel dryers with two or three heat settings but the wattage is not quoted. It has just occurred to me that this dryer is at home and I have a power-hungry one in the motorhome! Doh!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyishuk Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 50 MPH Window Down Head out. Rgds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted November 29, 2008 Share Posted November 29, 2008 Colin, Our cat Scorchy (renamed from "Corky" shortly after the gas hair-dryer experiments began) has become habituated to the testing and now positively looks forward to it. To counter any accusations of cruelty I need to emphasise that only Scorchy's long fluffy tail is involved in the testing and, at worst, only ever gets a light frizzling on its outer hairs, so hastening fur re-growth is not really practicable. The reason Scorchy has become keen on the experiments is undoubtedly because, after each test, he is awarded his favourite meal of two lightly-poached chaffinch chicks in a creamy baby-dolphin sauce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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