I'm just posting this in travel because technically, I'm traveling back and forth to the States & Germany trying to move my crap here. :) Can I just vent about the power conversion?

I have gone through 2 hair dryers trying to figure out how to get them to work. The first one...I thought we busted so I threw it away. Turns out, we need a heavy duty convertor of some type to get the amps powered for the dryer.

So, we bought a new hair dryer and threw the first one away. Well, for our 2nd attempt (before we figured out about the heavy duty converter) we just plugged the dryer into an adapter. DB said to turn on the dryer and it sent an electric shock through me! My arm was dead for about 10 minutes :gaah

So I'm living without a hair dryer now and I HATE it!!!!!!!!! Half of the housing here at the Garrison is rennovated and has both European and US plugs in it. Ours is old and only has the european plugs. So its either hope for a heavy duty converter or just buy a cheap hair dryer in a German store that will work for now.... UGH! :sigh Kind of frustrating!!! Oh and we blew both the adapter and the converter so I can't even use my straightener until we get new ones. We're sharing one converter for 2 computers, printer, TV, playstation, phone chargers, and sound system....SUCKS ASS!!!

Okay..I'm done now.

Since when did they stop giving out the converters? Years ago (I was raised in Europe - military family) every single time you moved to a new base over there they supplied you with at least 2 converters. Maybe it was because we always lived off base though? Something worth checking into. lol You will get use to it though. We never had a phone until we moved to the US when I was 12-ish. I remember hearing the phone ring for the first time. It took me years to stop running at break neck speed to answer the phone on the first ring. lol But I would ask around. I'm sure your neighbors wouldn't mind giving you some advice on the subject. GL!

Housing should be supplying you with two converters if there is no american power. And yes, hair dryers require a VERY heavy duty converter as they draw enormous amounts of power. I'd definitely suggest letting your hair air dry or buying a european model.

Watch how much power you are putting through the other converter, as you don't want to blow that one too. Most laptops, etc can be plugged into european outlets with plug adapters because they auto switch between 110/220. Just make sure you check first.

And hoesntly...it's not that housing is outdated, it's EUROPEAN. Living overseas it's a total bonus if we live in housing that has american power in it. It shouldn't be expected. Your best bet is to buy as many european appliances as you can, as using the converters can get very annoying and drains a LOT of power.

It took me a while to get used to using the adapters when I first got here. I ruined lots of things to start with. BUT i have gotten used to it over the past few months. I reccomend buying a european hairdryer.

Housing should be supplying you with two converters if there is no american power. And yes, hair dryers require a VERY heavy duty converter as they draw enormous amounts of power. I'd definitely suggest letting your hair air dry or buying a european model.

Watch how much power you are putting through the other converter, as you don't want to blow that one too. Most laptops, etc can be plugged into european outlets with plug adapters because they auto switch between 110/220. Just make sure you check first.

And hoesntly...it's not that housing is outdated, it's EUROPEAN. Living overseas it's a total bonus if we live in housing that has american power in it. It shouldn't be expected. Your best bet is to buy as many european appliances as you can, as using the converters can get very annoying and drains a LOT of power.

:thumbsup

Thanks for the great advice on the converters. DB has always lived on base but now that he is an NCO they threw him into the off-base housing. They just happened to throw us in the one out of 3 that have not been renovated so we still have the European power supplies.
I'm thinking a European model of things like hair dryers and appliances is a good idea too. We'll need it in Italy. It will just suck going to the States and starting over.

I'm so new to all of this and DB is so new to not living on base that I don't know if he realized we get 2 converters for free. Right now, we are using a converter that has only one plug. So when I say we are sharing that one converter, it means we have to unplug one thing to plug in another. We blew the adapter he had, and to tell you the truth, I haven't made much effort to locate another.... :shrug Just part of the getting used to living overseas. At least I'm in Germany right?!!! :jump4joy

It took me a while to get used to using the adapters when I first got here. I ruined lots of things to start with. BUT i have gotten used to it over the past few months. I reccomend buying a european hairdryer.

Do you know any online website I can order stuff from? I'd like to be able to look at a variety of models if possible...

Do you know any online website I can order stuff from? I'd like to be able to look at a variety of models if possible...

no, sorry. we just go to the mall and buy stuff from the electronics stores here.

no, sorry. we just go to the mall and buy stuff from the electronics stores here.

My hair dryer necessity is annoying to DB, I can tell. He needs to get over it but I figured if I could find an electronics store I can walk to or order online from, it would alleviate some of the annoyance for him. I'm off to research!

:thumbsup

Thanks for the great advice on the converters. DB has always lived on base but now that he is an NCO they threw him into the off-base housing. They just happened to throw us in the one out of 3 that have not been renovated so we still have the European power supplies.
I'm thinking a European model of things like hair dryers and appliances is a good idea too. We'll need it in Italy. It will just suck going to the States and starting over.

I'm so new to all of this and DB is so new to not living on base that I don't know if he realized we get 2 converters for free. Right now, we are using a converter that has only one plug. So when I say we are sharing that one converter, it means we have to unplug one thing to plug in another. We blew the adapter he had, and to tell you the truth, I haven't made much effort to locate another.... :shrug Just part of the getting used to living overseas. At least I'm in Germany right?!!! :jump4joy

At least here, you get the converters. The ones they have here look like giant neon blue boxes and weigh a TON, lol. Have him contact housing to know.
Also, your base exchange should carry many european appliances like hair dryers, crock pots, blenders, etc. and those are a lot easier than going out in town to find!

At least here, you get the converters. The ones they have here look like giant neon blue boxes and weigh a TON, lol. Have him contact housing to know.
Also, your base exchange should carry many european appliances like hair dryers, crock pots, blenders, etc. and those are a lot easier than going out in town to find!

We went to the PX and bought the 2nd hairdryer and it wasn't European. So I am going to just buy off of the economy. I can't wait to get to Italy so you two ladies can help me out! Sarah is going to HATE me! :lol And Jennifer..you're far enough away that you'll just have a vacation spot to visit!

We went to the PX and bought the 2nd hairdryer and it wasn't European. So I am going to just buy off of the economy. I can't wait to get to Italy so you two ladies can help me out! Sarah is going to HATE me! :lol And Jennifer..you're far enough away that you'll just have a vacation spot to visit!


aww I wont hate you... lol. I cant wait til you get here:D

We went to the PX and bought the 2nd hairdryer and it wasn't European. So I am going to just buy off of the economy. I can't wait to get to Italy so you two ladies can help me out! Sarah is going to HATE me! :lol And Jennifer..you're far enough away that you'll just have a vacation spot to visit!

lol, you just have to look carefully, and sometimes ask.

I don't know if we will be vacationing up there at that point since we'll have about 6 months left until we leave.

We went to the PX and bought the 2nd hairdryer and it wasn't European. So I am going to just buy off of the economy. I can't wait to get to Italy so you two ladies can help me out! Sarah is going to HATE me! :lol And Jennifer..you're far enough away that you'll just have a vacation spot to visit!

when do you head to Italy and where about will you be based?????????? i am so jealous!!!!!!!!

when do you head to Italy and where about will you be based?????????? i am so jealous!!!!!!!!

:) We're headed to Vicenza next spring! I'm excited!

I had to buy a European hair dryer that doesn't use a converter on the economy. Well worth the headache elimination...