12V Hair Dryer

Batch · 02-15-2008, 04:01 PM

Ladies! Any experience with a 12V hair dryer? Thanks!
dottie

wheel interested · 02-15-2008, 04:47 PM

Hey Dot, welcome! Congrats on the brand new Airstream. I haven't tried any 12 volt appliances but I think I read the general word out is that anything that has a heating element and is run on 12 volt is not that great and takes a long time. But if someone chimes in with a good word I may just order one myself. I could use a better coiffure.

TomW · 02-15-2008, 07:00 PM

Most modern-day, hand-held, home hair dryers are rated around 1500 watts. Run it on 120 vac and its no problem.

To get the same hair-drying capability on a 12 vdc circuit would require 125 amps of current which would result in the cord being thicker than a great set of battery jumper cables.

Since the bath outlet is only rated around 20 amps or so of DC current, rewiring would be necessary for care-free hair drying.

So, any 12 vdc hair dryer available will probably only be good for around 240 watts of hair-drying capablility.

FWIW, when I was a little kid with short hair, my mom's 500 watt hair seemed like a waste of time. I could stand in an open doorway and dry my hair just as quick.

I doubt you will be happy with a 12 vdc hair dryer.

Tom

overlander63 · 02-15-2008, 10:08 PM

They are better than nothing. I got one for Marie for when we are at rallies or boondocking. It takes about 3 times as long to dry your hair with it, but it does work. I got a 12volt coffee maker that performed horribly.
Another cool item I got us was a 12 volt hand mixer, it actually works fairly well. I'm now in the market for a Nutone so I can crush ice and blend drinks for our happy hour get togethers...

ROBERTSUNRUS · 02-15-2008, 10:57 PM

Hi, I use solar power to dry my hair; I stand in the sun for a few minutes [5 to 10] usually does it. It takes about double that for my wife to dry her hair. [this is a male concern too] Most of the time we use a 110 Volt hair dryer from home, if we are hooked up. And I never use my hair spray inside of my trailer. Of coarse, in your neck of the woods, [forum members in areas that have winters] the solar system may take much longer or might not work at all.