Check it out! Our very first video post from Hannover, Germany!
Apparently, European outlets kick out a vicious 220 volts of electricity. Sissy American appliances, like my electric razor, are only designed to handle 110 volts. I was told by several people (I’m looking in your direction, greasy electronics nerdling from Fred Meyer) my appliances would be ruined if I tried them in Europe. Before I moved, I bought a dozen grounded European to American outlet adapters from Amazon.com for $1 each. These adapters very specifically say, “This will not convert the voltage from 220V to 110V,” so I was expecting a real fireworks show.
When I arrived in Germany, I tried one out and did my very best to destroy my electric razor. Here is the video.
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Oh God, My Wife Is German. 
I have used lots of American appliances in Germany and, with only one exception, have never had a problem. The problem I had was with a hairdryer that had some sort of a switch specifically for 110 volt/220 volt conversion. I still had to use an adapter just to get the plug to fit into the German outlet, however. I forgot to also set the switch on “220” and the dryer immediately got fried. So, all said, it seems that the less sophisticated appliances (the ones without the 110/220 switch) actually work BETTER because you don’t have to remember to change the setting. Just another example of how an attempt to ‘make something better’ actually makes it worse – likely thought up by someone who doesn’t have a clue about ‘Human Factors Engineering’ (also know by the less sexy term of ‘Common Sense’).
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Haw haw haw haw! Great comment, Jaton. And so true. :)
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Hehe, I think the razor sounded like it was on speed. If anything you will have a really fast shave from now on. Keep us updated how the razor is holding up under the continuous strain of 220 Geman volts.
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Haw! I noticed that too! Maybe it will burn out sooner than it would have in the States.
Great observation Sandra!
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