Going away for our first full weeks camping on the 2nd August (2 adults and 2 children aged 7 & 9) and although i've read a few things about electric hook ups, I am a little confused at what is a good idea to take and not.
We are not taking everything as we are camping after all, but the site we are going to is 10 amp, so what are the dos and don'ts?
I think the first thing to do is read this page and make sure you have a proper camping EHU unit with the protecting fuses and not just some cheap made up jobbie which might not be safe.
Then, if you look down towards the bottom of that page you will see a Watts to Amps conversion chart. All electrical appliances will have their wattage written on them somewhere. However, when using electrical appliances they are drawing 'amps' from the campsite supply so you need to know how many amps the campsite is supplying you (ask them) and how many amps each of your appliances are going to draw. That's where the chart comes in handy.
For instance, a 2000 watt fan heater will draw 8.69 amps so you know that you can use one of those on a 10 amp supply with 1.31 amps to spare. You can run more than one appliance together providing the total amps they draw together does not exceed 10 amps. So, for instance, you could run your fan heater (8.69 amps) together with a 100 watt light bulb (0.43 amps) making a total of 9.12 amps. Hope all that makes sense.
I usually take a fan heater because even in summer it can be cold in the evenings. I take a toaster, but can't run them both together because that would exceed the 10 amp supply and trip the fuses. I also take an electric kettle but again can only use one at a time.
Some people take mini ovens, microwaves, hair dryers, hair curlers (I don't take those) and all manner of things...just remember to work out how many amps each item will draw and don't exceed the total amps of the campsite supply.
Theoretically you could take whatever you wanted to if it enhances your camping experience but you wouldn't be able to use everything at once. The best rule of thumb is to switch off one thing before you use another, especially with high wattage appliances like kettles and fan heaters, as otherwise you'll trip the electrics; eg turn off the heater before you put the kettle on.
------------- Tigermouse
I have a very temperamental personality - 50% temper and 50% mental
We are going EHU this year for the first time ever so will give this a read. Got an electric coolbox plus will have phone chargers and tablet chargers too (obvious not all on at the same time).
Quote: Originally posted by NuCampers on 28/7/2014
We are going EHU this year for the first time ever so will give this a read. Got an electric coolbox plus will have phone chargers and tablet chargers too (obvious not all on at the same time).
You should be fine to have your coolbox on, charging up all your devices and still have one appliance that heats (kettle/toaster/heater)
------------- Nick
2017
April - New Forest(9)
May - Dorset (9)
August - Camping Le Pin Parasol, Vendee (18)
October - East Mersea (8)
and five nights in the one man tent!
Agreed as above. If you work out how many amps each appliance/charger uses you can use as many as you like at the same time providing, when added together, they don't exceed the campsite supply, which is more often that not 10 amps.
You could mark the amps on each item with a marker pen so you can see and remember what each is, then quickly add up what you are using. Also, print off the conversion chart and take it with you, you can quickly add up what Watts you are using and convert it into amps.
After a few trips it will become automatic and you will remember what you can use together and what needs to be used separately. Electric coolboxes and electric lights usually take very little power so can normally be left running while using more powerful appliances.
Quote: Originally posted by NuCampers on 28/7/2014We are going EHU this year for the first time ever so will give this a read. Got an electric coolbox plus will have phone chargers and tablet chargers too (obvious not all on at the same time).
You should be fine to have your coolbox on, charging up all your devices and still have one appliance that heats (kettle/toaster/heater)
Excellent, thanks for the advice Nick.
We have had the coolbox on to test it out and it seems to be a little noisey, not massively but feel like we would notice it on a night - would you advise unplugging it at night or move it as far away from the bedrooms as possible?
I think that it would partly depend on night time temps and how much the noise impacts you. If you can keep it away from the bedrooms and switched on then all the better. You will probably find that the noise it gives out is or a frequency that your brain will block it out after the first night.
------------- Nick
2017
April - New Forest(9)
May - Dorset (9)
August - Camping Le Pin Parasol, Vendee (18)
October - East Mersea (8)
and five nights in the one man tent!
Quote: Originally posted by NickH on 28/7/2014
I think that it would partly depend on night time temps and how much the noise impacts you. If you can keep it away from the bedrooms and switched on then all the better. You will probably find that the noise it gives out is or a frequency that your brain will block it out after the first night.
Trial and error on the first night and see how we and the kids get on.
Our coolbox is from aldi, and has been great. 2 weeks in the vendee with it swtiched off overnight, temps ranged from 30 degrees in the day down to around 15 to 20 degrees at night, no probs with food going off/warm milk. Butter was pretty solid too.
Still, might as well have left it on as people would shower at 2am and we were pitched next to the shower blocks so no sleep anyway!