Killer 240 volts in Europe made this $400 hair straightener go up in a cloud of magic smoke!

[@TheLOD2010]

But we guys in Europe have three phases in every home. Something that is not common in north America. We normally do not burn gas for cooking and use electric ovens. We can run all devices with one plug. And we do not have plugs that allow touching live metal 😂 yes we do not have polarized plugs in all countries but as German I can say, no one dies about that because we do not run hot chassis and stuff. We have our VdE in Germany that regulates all parts of the electric grid in homes and companies. And if you look at the efficiency of SMPS you'll find that the 80+ ratings at 240V are higher on the same units. We also have more restrictive rules about power factor compensation. All SMPS above 75W must have a PFC. This is Europe

[@chrisdado]

And we drink copious quantities of tea and don't want to grow a beard waiting for boiling water 😁

[@TheLOD2010]

@@chrisdado We simply use 240V Kettles with over 3kW of ratet power. 2l boiling water in less than 180 seconds :D

[@cashewABCD]

120v was for lighting, before the 240v bulb was ready. 240v is better, twice the watts with the same gauge copper. America should drop 120v with the penny, nickle, dime, miles, inches, and pounds.

[@12voltvids]

We have 240. My kitchen for example has 240 at every outlet. 240 @ 20 amps or 2x 120 at 20 amps each. There is a double plug. I can plug a single 240 appliance in or 2 120 at 1800 watts each. The outlets in the garage are wired the same. 120 each side but 240 across the hots. This has been the standard for over 60 years that i have been around. My parents had both 120 and 240 outlets. The 240 were in the garage and my dad had his power saw and woodworking power tools all running 240. 120 is a hell of a lot safer if something goes sideways and you get jolted. Europe went 240 because copper was expensive and there was a shortage of it so higher viktage less current thinner wires. That's the primary reason but keep convincing yourself that your power grid is better as everyone in north America knows that simply isn't true. We have the best of both worlds. The safety factor or lower viktage and higher voltage for things that need it. 😁

[@Rob.DB.]

@@12voltvids Yeah! You tell 'em how it really is buddy! But they were right about the penny though.

[@12voltvids]

@@Rob.DB. what's a penny? Haven't seen one of them in at least a decade

[@aquinamedia4508]

We use 230V and 400V i in Sweden. 400V is used for some appliances like ovens and so, plus if you want to get a proper welder in your garage that's fine too.

[@12voltvids]

We have 240 for everything that needs it.

[@mrnmrn1]

What I don't like about the US/Canadian power grid is that the HV line of several thousands of volts are present on every street on bare wires, and you got transformers on every few poles to step it down for only a few homes each transformer. Here in Europe we run our distribution transformers on 20kV I think, but those are several Megawatt transformers that powers entire streets (or multiple streets in smaller towns) with 3x400V plus neutral. Yes, the US/Canadian system might have lower losses (but I doubt that, since the HV is only like 6kV there I think, and smaller power transformers tend to have higher losses), but the infrastructure is probably a lot more expensive with those infinite number of relatively small transformers. But most importantly: the European system is probably more safe, because in case of a storm, it's less likely (almost impossible) for a tree branch or anything to tear off HV lines, because they are on separate, very tall concrete or steel poles, and they are present on a few streets only. And the 3x400V wires are insulated on the poles in more and more places (they are still bare wire in a lot of places though). And of course in bigger cities, they are under the ground.

[@12voltvids]

Every new area here is underground. My neighbourhood is over 100 years old. Our distribution primary on the street is 14.4kv per phase to ground or 25kv between phases. 1 transformer typically feeds 12 houses on the street. The exception is my street because everyone has 200 to 400 amp service. I'm the exception i cheaped out and only put in 125 amp service because going to 200 was about double the cost when i was building. Never had any problems and I am a big power user. Most of the residential transformers are 25 to 50 va but there is a 100 on the next street over that feeds about 20 homes. With the adoption if EV and home charging the power company is building larger facilities as everyone is using more and more power. Good thing they are building a new dam.

[@mikemar42]

I'm sure you ended an argument too. "He can't fix this thing, just buy me a new one."

[@Barbarapape]

Living in the UK I have repaired a lot of imported gear that was only for use on 100 or 110v, despite the use of adaptors they still get damaged, the only safe option is to use a transformer, but who wants to carry one when on holiday. A least this time the damage was limited to some cheap parts.

[@12voltvids]

This didn't even need an adapter. It was universal voltage to begin with. You are correct though. Transformer is only safe option. I have one. It does 240 - 120 and 120 - 240. I use it with my cordless screwdriver charger as it's a 240 model. I guess i could also use a plug adapter and plug it into my car charger plug as that's 240.

[@Barbarapape]

@@12voltvids Why all the countries around the world couldn't have agreed on a worldwide voltage and frequency all this hassle could have been avoided, but life is never that easy. Here in the UK some of the very early domestic supplies were DC before they all changed to AC. I have an early electric train set with 240v across the track! lethal to say the least. At least it keeps us in work when these multivoltage items go pop.

[@tedbell4416]

He's gonna be happy to not waste another $400

[@12voltvids]

Ya he was. Got my 50 bucks so I was happy, a tank of gas for my Harley and a Fatburger for lunch!

[@catsbyondrepair]

​@@12voltvidsI heard some strategically placed meows

[@12voltvids]

@@catsbyondrepair no, that was the cat annoying me. What you didn't here was me telling at home to shut up.

[@sioux22]

22:38 the white wire is a part of the ionizing system. It makes hair look better or get less damaged somehow. It goes from a hv transformer to a carbon filament brush that ionizes the air between the clamps

[@12voltvids]

Well, I guess thats why it cost 400.00! Learned something new. The women watching already knew this.

[@sioux22]

@@12voltvids I'm still baffled as to why it costs 400$. My mum bought a brand-name one with all the functions of this one for 35$ 15 years ago. I think they just overpaid or got scammed, as you can get a hair straightener with ionizing, temperature control, built-in comb and steam generation for just around 75$

[@12voltvids]

@@sioux22 it's french. Need I say any more?

[@wdavem]

Yeah this is an interesting repair! I need to watch this when my attention span is longer the 20 seconds (along with a bunch of you other vids)

[@zx8401ztv]

I think the blue diode is a Diac, breaks down at 30 ish volts, but ive never tested one to see if it has any other tricks. I remember light dimmers having a toroid wound inductance that likely smoothed the choppy waveform, caps were used as well.

[@enricoself2256]

Sorry to break the news, but 230V is common in all Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and part of south America. 110V is used in North America, part of south America and half of Japan. So yes, sure, it is us European that have chosen the wrong "standard".

[@12voltvids]

North America was electrified while Europe was still using candles and gas lights. The standard was already set at 110. Split phase was added for 220 at the distribution panel. Back in the 60s the voltage was increased to 120/240. The thing is the standard was already set 120/240 so we have the best of both. Efficebxt abs safety. Europe went 230 because there was a copper shortage so thinner wires could be used. It wasn't because it was better avs ur certainly isn't safer. I'm not talking about the plugs either but if you want to go down that road try stepping on one with bare feet. I'm talking about a fault that allows something to get energized.

[@enricoself2256]

​@@12voltvids The first step for safety are properly designed plugs, and, sorry to say, North American plugs have a terrible design; GFP is mandated since the 80's and electricity related incidents are so rare, they end up in the news when they happen. As stated in other videos on the subject 120V is not "safe", sure it is "safer" than 230V (but you too have 230V with the dual phase system) but it is still pretty harmful. On the other side, thanks to halving the current for the same amount of power, it dramatically reduces the risk of cables or receptacles or plugs overheating and burning.

[@12voltvids]

@@enricoself2256 our plugs don't overheat unless well worn and yours will to if worn our. This happens on cheap outlets that have been heavily used and there is plenty of warning. If the plug us loose use the other side and have it replaced. You will never convince anyone in north America or Japan that your system is safer because it isn't no matter what type is gfi or arc fault tegs you have. That just causes frustration with random nuisance tripping.

[@walle637]

Hey Dave, I don’t know if you’re still monitoring this video. I have an electric blanket that runs on US 120VAC at 60hz, rated at 180 watts. I’m in Spain right now, so I bought an Insignia travel power converter. I can confirm from taking it apart that it does have a 2:1 step down transformer to tune the voltage. When I plugged it in, the electric blanket controller made an odd noise, as if it was being overpowered. Then it went BOOM after just 10 seconds. When I opened up the controller, the fuse was blown, and some ceramic capacitor was blown too. That’s all. But why? It was given the proper 120 volts, so why would the controller go pop? I don’t understand what happened.

[@12voltvids]

Possible because it was expecting 60hz not 50hz used in Europe. 180 watts would require a fairly big transformer. Those little units that plug in the wall are generally 50 watts. The ones rated higher are not transformers but like the one shown here. A proper unit is a big box with a cord and weighs a few kg. If it was a proper transformer it wouldn't have blown unless the controller couldn't handle 50hz.

[@walle637]

@@12voltvids Interestingly the converter is rated at 2000 watts max (they recommend no more than 10 minutes). I don’t see any mention in the specs about stepping down the frequency from 60 to 50 hz, though, so I’ll assume that was the issue. In your opinion could that have blown the capacitor? Bc that capacitor epically split apart in about 5 seconds

[@12voltvids]

@@walle637 Europe uses 50 hz. If it is really a transformer than this could be the only thing. How big is it? Does it plug in to the outlet or is it in a separate box with a cord. If it's a transformer it will be in a box with a cord. If it plugs into the wall it isn't transformer as the small ones that do plug in the wall are rated under 100 watts.

[@tonymanzo3766]

Just use the plug without the adapter, I used a power strip to charge my phone and camera batteries, since the chargers were dual voltage.

[@12voltvids]

Yes I know. It was the messed up waveform from that adapter that caused it to go boom.

[@pmatrisotto]

Do you take donor items for your repair videos?

[@12voltvids]

yes

[@marklatimer7333]

Who in their right mind spends $400 on hair straighteners - they saw you coming Mate.

[@DeadKoby]

It's got a French word on it....... therefore it's a luxury item. Even though it's made by the usual suspects in Asia.

[@12voltvids]

@@DeadKoby 😁

[@gavincurtis]

$400 for a hair straightener? Where is the Apple logo? My wife has $80 universal world travel curling iron with digital controls and works 120-240 volts.

[@12voltvids]

So does this one.

[@KingNast]

That's not even their most expensive one.. there's one for $600 on their website!

[@Rob.DB.]

$400.00 for a hair straightener?! O. M. G. !

[@12voltvids]

From the comments the manufacture has a 600 model. Must be nice to have that kids if money.

[@DeadKoby]

You never know if you can solve it until you try.......... that's how I approach things like this.

[@catsupchutney]

I assumed the European logic was higher voltage means they save on copper. Eh, whatever.

[@12voltvids]

Well distribution here is 14.4Kv / 25KV and the low voltage to the house is split 120/240 or 120/208 (single phase vs 3 phase) Perhaps the branch circuits in the home can be smaller gauge.

[@yannkitson116]

which software do you use for drawing those diagrams?

[@12voltvids]

I downloaded it from Google. The image not the software.

[@nicks4597]

whats all this music in the background????

[@12voltvids]

Its a radio and its outside believe it or not. Big door is open.

[@markmarkofkane8167]

Now this different! 👍 Fantastic! Edit: that gave me an idea! Cooking tongs! (It's probably already been invented) 450°F? They would cook food.

[@Washing95]

Hey Dave! I have a wm-f100II that doesn’t play the radio very well. Would you be able to repair it, or if not would you be able to point me in the right direction?

[@FunzieOne]

man, imagine if the WHOLE world just went with the same electrical system. same plugs and everything. imagine how much more convenient that would have been. but noooOoo humans gotta be humans

[@WillemdeBoerCoaching]

Voltage-wise, the US are the odd man out here!

[@tacofortgens3471]

Happy Wife, Happy Life I always say.

[@Swenser]

I'm frustrated with having to know how long a Mile and a foot is. I used to think Americans had 12 fingers. Is metric gaining popularity?

[@gavincurtis]

Metric is for commies. You wouldn’t happen to have a 1-37/64” socket would you?

[@12voltvids]

Im not an american. Here in Canada we use the metric system. We can drive 120 on our highway through the mountains.

[@Swenser]

@@12voltvids sorry. My bad.

[@cyb3rk3v]

Dang. You could reflow with that thing.

[@KSJAFN]

I say this tongue in cheek but if you do a google image search for "countries using imperial units" you'll find places like Myanmar and Liberia (and others) not really following the standards either :p

[@jeremiefaucher-goulet3365]

That was a lot more interesting of a fix than I was expecting. I hope you tested your fix properly, sacrificing your hair in the process for science ;-) :XD

[@12voltvids]

I was going to make a joke here but I'll bite my tongue on that one because some would take it the wrong way.

[@leaveempty5320]

What about Europeans and those from many other countries having to use the non-standard (to them) voltage North America chose?

[@12voltvids]

At least out 120v won't destroy their device that is plugged in. If you saw the pissed off people I had to deal with that took a vacation to Europe with their expensive camcorder in the 80s and bought the wrong type of converter only to have their charger or worse blown up, no warranty and having to shell out between 100 and 200 for a new one. Ask any of those people what they think of Europe and their killer voltage. One customer plugged their adapter in unknowingly only to have it catch fire and burn the bed in the hotel he was staying which he had to pay for. Not everyone is aware of the voltage. They buy a plug adapter and plug it in. The number of blown power supplies i used to see. Of course the standard response from the guys on the service counter was too bad so sad.

[@Pulverrostmannen]

Guy brags about flawed 120volt system that is so weak it takes ages to use an electric kettle to boil a cup of water, they sooner had to find a way to get more power because 120 is not enough and use phase split for 240 for double the power for special appliances like stoves or radiators, but I got news for you bob. 240 is a standard for all units here and when that is not enough we have 3-Phase power with 400 volts which can give you more than 10KW power in a standard home on 16amps to power a stove, house heating, compressors and large EV chargers with ease. or some cases 2-phase 400V for some radiators or so just leaving out one phase in the same cable. we have 1-Phase kettles with up to 3000watts of power for instant hot water, that is superior lol

[@12voltvids]

My electric kettle boils water very fast. It's 1800 watts on a 20 amp circuit. We have 240 for everything that needs it. Hot water on demand, radiators HVAC, ev chargers. My neighbour just built a new house. 400 amp service is what he has. Even has an elevator on his place. Nothing wrong with split phase. It's actually better than 3 phase as it's only 208 between phases. One of my other neighbours that has 3 phase service running down the street just got 600 volt service for his residential fast charger for his stable of Tesla's. He has 3, an S Y and X. Let's a his buddies charge up too and gets paid when they use it. Don't know what that cost him to have installed but i bet it was close to the price of a Tesla.

[@Pulverrostmannen]

@@12voltvids naturally there are ways to go around but as everyone in Europe see it this is our norm here, we don’t really need to install as thick wires to get high power. All our outlets are 240 and none between. For the highest power we have the 3-phase that can be used as two as well depending what you wanna do with it. If you use one of these wires and the neutral we get the 240 as well. The infrastructure here is usually built with a huge stationary transformer that usually powers the whole surrounding Neighbour hood in a certain area with direct feed to houses via the 3-phase output. As I seen it is common in USA to have your own transformer in the house with a split phase. And you need big fuses and thick wires for the high current to power ratio. The most common main fuses we use are 3 x 16 amps and it is usually enough to power everything we use in excess of 10KW of continuous power as a standard. I just think things are easier our way since it been our standard for over a century to take whatever appliance we have and just plug it in any outlet we have and it gonna work. When I was in school my electric teacher had USA as an example for how much copper and power is wasted because of the lower voltage Due to higher current more copper is needed and it still gonna provide more losses in the wiring than with the same power with higher voltage. In the end what works for you is fine. But I think the outcome would been different if a choice was to be made today than when you decided wether to use AC or DC in your lines back then :)

[@12voltvids]

@@Pulverrostmannen Power grid dates back to late 1800 here. There was the big debate over ac/DC too and even the frequency. Started at 25 hz. 60 was chosen over 50 as it is more efficient so smaller transformers can be used. Single transformers feed entire streets in the city and urban areas. Rural areas the transformer may only feed a single house or a few because it is more efficient. Losses are higher at 120/240 that. At 14.4kv which is out primary voltage. 120 is far safer then 240. We don't need plugs that are 5cm across and 2cm deep. If you get jolted on 120 it's just a minor inconvenience. 240 your dead. Step on one of your plug with bare feet and you win a trip to the ER. The 3phaae is a moot point as it is available here too for those that need it.

[@Pulverrostmannen]

@@12voltvids lol, you are thinking about the stupid British power plug. Here we have the European plugs which won’t kill your feet and it’s also non polarized so you can plug it in any orientation and is very slim. And I been jolted by 240 many times and are still alive. And some people still gonna take a bath with their mains plugged devices no matter if it is 120 or 240. But There are different safety standards for appliances here that regulates how things are built with double insulation. However in China things looks very different regarding safety. But stupid people still gonna hurt themselves no matter what voltage you give them, it is maybe just a little less dangerous with less voltage. You should see what voltages my amplifiers work with and it makes 240 seem like putting a stamp on a letter when compared, in that case you probably only going to get shocked once if you touch the wrong spot

[@12voltvids]

@@Pulverrostmannen Well my tube gear is in the 500 range too. My old tube rf amp for the old hf radio is a couple kv. Nothing wrong with split phase. We all have 240 here in every home for the devices that need it and everything else does fine with 120. I wouldn't knock everything from China. I have seen some pretty good devices.

[@KoelAnderson]

Mission accomplished ✅ well done

[@joshhoman]

Jensen? I thought they made speakers.

[@12voltvids]

They do.

[@joshhoman]

My grade school's music room had them, that is where I remembered the name from.

[@jameskrivitsky9715]

Home Shopping network advertisement......."It's a hair iron--- it's a solder iron..... it's BOTH. It can be yours for the low price of $400....but WAIT. It can be yours for monthly fee of $49.95. Now about that $400........it may be needed to keep a $ 400, 000 happy TROPHY WIFE ! BIG DAVE saves another marriage ! CROWD APPLAUSE ;-)

[@gregrorabaugh564]

Everyone in America has a $400 hair straightener!! Not. Even if I was a multi-millionaire I would never spend $400 on any hair dryer or straightener.

[@MrNeverseeme]

Dang! $400!!! DollHairs for that?

[@tacofortgens3471]

I know right?!? 🧐😂

[@Synthematix]

But electricity was discovered in europe lol, so its america thats doing things wrong

[@12voltvids]

Last time i checked Benjamin Franklin was an American and he is the one credited with discovering electricity. The scent Greeks may have known is static ejectricitys presence but Franklin discovered positive and negative charges.

[@Synthematix]

@@12voltvids Nah, it was in 1600, that William Gilbert, an English physician, used the word "electricus" to describe the force generated by rubbing two materials together. And a few years after that, Thomas Brown used the word "electricity" in his experiments, based on Gilbert’s work. Ancient Egyptians used the Electric Nile Cat Fish to trigger shocks in humans to treat headaches and nerve pain. And around two thousand years ago, Ancient Romans and Persians made batteries that generated 0.5 volts for several days, using sheets of copper in pots and vases. Fansworth also took credit for inventing the CRT however scottish Logie Baird made one at the same time as his spinning disc tv.

[@12voltvids]

@@Synthematix but the Greeks discovered static electricity by rubbing amber on fur in 500 BC. They just didn't know what this mysterious force was and neither did Europeans. Since the dawn of man they had known about this myaterical force that could make a spark in the sky but it was Ben Franklin that discovered positive and negative charges is you believe history books that is.

[@tinicum54]

Good job, now you can get your hair did!

[@norfolkngood8960]

Yeah yeah America is amaaaazing except for your useless plugs, optional Earthing and the 240v is only if you wire up appropriately with another different socket type. It's not like you can just bung 240 out easily anywhere. Yeah phases are very clever we have the option of 3 phase power here if u want to pay for it and some new installs are getting it by default. Fact is no system is perfect higher voltage power current. Try running a few gaming pcs off your 110v outlets on the same circuit and see how far you get lol. See if everyone on your street starts pulling loads of demand on the 220 side of things there and the utility companies will be peed off having to rapidly upgrade all their gear

[@12voltvids]

In my house I sure can and most houses built in the past 40 years also likely on the kitchen outlets. I have an adapter cord that plugs into the top and bottom outlet and has a 240 plug on the other end. Even the outlets in the work shop are wired that way, well at least they used to be but i needed the double breaker for my car charger so I rewired the outlets for just a single 120 circuit for the bench plugs. There are 3 outlets in my kitchen. 3 double breakers. 120 or 240 available at each. One has 3 circuits as a dedicated run for garbator went to this double box. So I got a switch / outlet combo and converted that one to a 240 dedicated with a 120 tied to the garbrator. I have a commercial counter top oven on that 240 20 amp circuit and the kettle uses the 120 side shared with garbrator. Modern homes in north America are wired so you can have 240 pretty much anywhere you could ever possibly need it. Kitchen work shop. Laundry room ect. Even my media room has 240 to each outlet so the big power hungry plasma gets its own dedicated branch and the other equipment and lights the other side. I have never popped a circuit in the 20 years since i built the place. This is to code now. I can't comment on stuff built 50 years ago but anything built in the past 25 or more years has been wired this way. You can even get 3 phase. I have a friend that has 3 phase as he has a big compressor and car lift in his house. It cost him a small fortune to get it because the 3 phase feeder was a block away. They put the transformers on the next street rather than run the primary up his street and he has a big honking 208 3 phase quadplex running from the transformer to his house. Big heavy twisted cable with red, blue, black and white wires all twisted running pole to pole above the distribution line 4 spans from his place to the next street with 3 phase. Don't know what it cost him but I would guess several thousand to have placed.

[@clevermusicbox3630]

The only 240v headache is for travellers from North America or Japan. The rest of the world seems to do quite well with a more efficient network grid, and metric. You're such a square! Get, hip, Daddy-o

[@12voltvids]

We do have 240V here. Believe it or not every home has 240 volts right there at the main panel. Its a split system so you have 120 for small devices, and 240 for large power hungry appliances. My cars charge on 240, my HVAC runs on 240, as does my hot tub and water heater. I have a 240 volt outlet in the kitchen so I can use an industrial appliance. My garage has a 240 outlet for the heater I use in the winter. Split phase operation, 120 between either phase and neutral or 240 between the phases on a single phase circuit. For those that have 3 phase powewr supply they get 120 / 208 service.

[@robot5573]

The grid is the same, it’s just the last leg from the pole transformer to consumer that is different. I think 120v is probably better for most uses.

[@clevermusicbox3630]

@@12voltvids Our 'domestic three-phase is 415V up to 70kVA, with single-pahse up to 100A. 3-phase is usually a specialist order, for EV or similar. The ring-main system came about due to copper shortages in WW2 and the more efficient use c/w a spur system, and an advantage of distributed load, so you can run several high-current loads up to 30A on one ring. Ground floor has one ring, first floor its own ring, kitchen its own ring. Cooker its own breaker, showers generally up to 8-10kW. Fundamentally it means more power can be delivered without having specialised circuits, and less frequent overload. We just don't have overloads on home mains. One plug can have 3.12kW safely, with a 16A absolute rating. For homes that don't have gas mains or LPG tanks they have storage heaters. These work on an off-peak tariff at night, with a pulse system sent over the netwrork to trigger a dumb meter/switchover dedicaed to the storage hearters. HVAC is very uncommon. Most homes have gas-fired CH/HW - some on-demand, some storage tanks. Cooking is gas or electricity. There are occasional gas leaks leading to homes being destroyed.

[@gavincurtis]

We have 120 and 240 and have in wall wire that allows 240 or 120 at the outlet. What we are behind on is only having single phase instead of 3 for most homes.

[@12voltvids]

@@gavincurtis In europe they only have single phase to most homes.

[@jonwhite2706]

wow every time you said $400 i was like no way sure enough google soleil hair straightener thats crazy :p not much there at all

[@12voltvids]

They have a 600 unit as well.

[@MrJDNJ]

You should have take advantage of fixing it by actually using it to straighten your hair. It could have saved you Salon Costs.

[@Sans_Solo_]

Good one! Dave for the save

[@soluzaroi]

Wow! and woo hoo!

[@metingokbulut837]

🇹🇷💯👍

[@AL197845w34832479823]

the extremily necessary hair straightner ON VACATION lol

[@12voltvids]

And they didn't even need a viktage adapter as it would work on 100 to 240v

[@gordselectronicshobby3853]

How do you work with all that crap all over your work area is beyond me.

[@12voltvids]

It's easy actually. You should have seen the bench at the shop i worked at. 10 times worse. The 2 other techs were slobs. My bench is cluttered because it is too small. I do know where everything is and never lose anything