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Hope somebody can help me. I'm going to sound a bit ignorant here but i just know absolutely nothing about this. I have just got myself a motorhome. Its got 1 12v socket which is one of those 2 pin ones. All of my appliances are 240v (3 pin plugs). Is there an adapter or something i can buy which means i can be running off leisure battery but still use my 3 pin appliances in a 2 pin 12v plug? I have been looking on the net for various bits but everything seems to need to connect into a cigarette lighter which looks different from my 12v plug.

Also is there a 12v adapter so if i do get myself some 12v appliances i can run 2 or 3 at the same time. And save myself the money of having to get some more 12v plug sockets fitted.

Can somebody give me some nice simple advice for this nice simple girl please.

Hello girlincamper.

You can't run your 240v appliances on 12v directly.

The ciggy lighter appliances can be altered to 12v plugs.  (Be aware that some ciggy lighter plugs incorporate an inline fuse.  An equivalent fuse should be included in the circuit somewhere if the plug is changed to 12v 2 pin.)

The device to enable you to run 240v appliances off a 12v supply is an invertor.  George will be able to better advise on that one.

I am sure we will try and keep it simple, but there are so many variables that these things can become a bit complex when all options (and opinions) are considered.

What sort of van do you have?

---

Steven 

Hello Girlincamper,

Firstly a very warm welcome to the UKCS.

As has been said you could run some of your 240v kit on 12 volt thru an invertor but why?

If you hook up to the site via your electric hook up lead, EHU, then you can use 240v in the motor home.  Just plug in as you would at home.

If you are not going to be using sites with an EHU then best get telly etc that use 12volt as the battery will last longer than 240 volt on an invertor.

When you are on site on the EHU your battery will get charged aswell.

What sort of camping will you be doing, where and what "stuff" do you want to use. We can give a better answer then.