A surprising number of the violet wands for sale in the UK were made in America, where the mains is around 110–120 volts. UK mains is around 230 volts, roughly double. Plug a 110 V wand straight into a UK socket and it will very likely burn out, and could easily start a fire. So the first question for any wand is: what voltage was it built for?

Find the rating#

Look on the handle, the label, the case lid and the leaflet for something like:

  • "110 volts", "110–120 V", "115 V AC" (American)
  • "220 V", "230 V", "240 V", "200–250 V" (British or European)
  • "AC only", "AC or DC", "AC/DC"
  • a frequency, such as "60 cycles" or "50 ~"

Write down exactly what it says. If there's no rating at all, treat it as unknown, and assume it's 110 V until a qualified person says otherwise.

The four likely situations#

1. A UK wand rated 230–240 V#

It was built for our supply. You don't need a converter, though it still needs a safety check before it's plugged in (see Violet Wand Safety).

2. An older UK wand rated 200–250 V, or some odd number#

Before the national grid was standardised, British voltages varied from town to town, and some areas had DC (direct current) supplies well into the twentieth century. Older British wands may be marked for these. A wand rated somewhere in the 200–250 V range will often be fine on 230 V, but that's a call for the person who assesses it.

3. An American wand rated 110–120 V#

You'll need a step-down transformer to bring 230 V down to around 115 V. Not a cheap "travel converter". Which Converter or Transformer Do I Want? explains which kind.

4. A wand marked DC only#

Very rare, but they exist. A DC-only wand mustn't be connected to AC mains at all without expert advice.

What about 50 Hz and 60 Hz?#

American mains alternates at 60 Hz, ours at 50 Hz. For most vintage wands, which use a vibrating interrupter with its own natural rhythm, this matters less than the voltage. But any transformer or coil designed for 60 Hz will run a little warmer on 50 Hz. Worth mentioning to whoever overhauls it, and another reason for short running sessions (see How Long Can I Run My Violet Wand?).

Plugs#

Many imported wands have American two-pin plugs. Don't use a plug adaptor to push one into a UK socket. An adaptor changes the shape of the pins, not the voltage, and it's the voltage that matters.

When a wand is overhauled, the restorer may fit a UK plug (with a suitable fuse) on a step-down transformer and leave the wand with its American plug, or fit a new cord. Either way, it should be clearly labelled with its voltage so nobody plugs it into the wrong thing later.

Label everything#

Once you know what a wand needs, label it. A tag on the cord saying "110 V only, use with step-down transformer" can save a future owner, or a relative clearing your collection one day, from a very nasty surprise.