I have a chi straightening iron and plan on straightening my hair in the car on a long drive by plugging?

Question

an AC Adapter in the car. Will this be too much voltage for the car (i'm not sure if voltage is the correct term). My boyfriend who is driving wanted me to make sure it was safe before I did it. I'm pretty sure we have done this before but he doesnt remember

Answer 1

What you need to convert DC (from the car) to AC is an inverter.  The term AC adapter is often used for something that converts in the opposite direction.  Cars are 12 volts, DC.  Regular electric outlets in your home are AC and a voltage determined by your country (120 in the U.S. and Canada, 230 or 240 in Europe, 100 in Japan, etc.).  You need an inverter that (1) plugs into the cigarette lighter socket in the car, (2) produces the same voltage as the hair straightener uses (not more and not less), (3) produces as much current (amperage) as the hair straightener uses, or more.  

Car sockets that do look like car cigarette lighters, but do not like cigarettes are fused at 10 amps, which corresponds to 120 watts.  Actual cigarette lighters can go higher briefly, but probably not continuously.  If the hair straightener requires more than 120 watts, do not proceed with your plan.

Bring a set of jumper cables in case you drain the car battery.

Make certain that the electrical cords will not prevent you from getting out of the car in an emergency.

Make certain that the hair straightener, the inverter, and the wires do not get hot enough to start a fire or to burn you.  Simply keeping them from touching your skin is not enough; if the car crashes, you may get pushed against them.

Answer 2

It will most likely blow the fuse because the amps on the iron will be to much for this circuit....

Answer 3

if that works tell me cause thatd be awsome if i could!!

Answer 4

Check the amp rating on his adaptor.  That's the only SURE way of knowing.  If the iron's amperage does not exceed the rating on the adaptor, it should be fine.  Not all DC to AC converters are the same.

Answer 5

If you are using an AC iron you need an ac to dc converter.  This will pull about 2 amps, then you need to calculate the amount of amps the iron is going to use.  If it is about 50 watts dc that is about 5 amps so you will be pulling, if that wattage is right, about 7 amps.  This should be fine whilst car is running.  If you are plugged in to the cigar lighter for your converter that circuit will probably take a 30 amp load.

Answer 6

You need to know the amperage draw of the iron,   and buy an invertor big enough to handle this with spare.    Invertors of more than 400 amperage size cannot be plugged into the lighter socket,  but must be hard wired in.    Not worth the effort or extra expense.   Try leaving earlier so you have time to do your hair when you get there.