Why Do Hair Dryers Cause Power Surges?
Hair Dryer Construction A hairdryer is made up of two major components. A fan generates a flow of air, and a heating element provides a source of heat. Both these components have physical characteristics which can cause power line problems when they are used. When these devices are turned on, their initial demand for electricity can be quite high compared to their normal operational requirements. Universal Motors Most hair dryers are equipped with a universal motor. This type of motor has many properties that are desired in a hair dryer, including high speed rotation, low cost and ability to operate at different speeds with minimal control circuitry. Universal motors are also characterized by high start-up torque, the ability to go from stop to full speed very quickly. This rapid start-up requires a large amount of electricity. A universal motor may require ten times more energy at start-up than it does running at full speed. This requirement only lasts for the time it takes to reach i
