Message Forums

Barbie

It will depend on how many amps the supply is. Now just the other day someone had kindly worked all this out for us so either a search or some kind person will point to the link. (Well done that person as well)

David

Hi Barbie, it's up to you, apart from electrical consumption, you need to think about wieght. Provided you don't overload the sytem on the site, anything goes, but if you have the kettle and the toaster on whilst your drying your hair, you could trip out the whole site and then you find you're not popular. Even tripping your own pitch can  earn you a lecture from the warden or owner. So try to keep the wattage low. Oh, and don't be fooled by 650w on microwaves, there true consuption is much higher.

I think be careful is the watchword.

best of luck,

 Allan

from PC

E  IS FOR
ELECTRICITY
Today, all caravans use 12 volts direct current – DC. Additionally, over the past 20 years or so, 230 volts alternating current – AC – electricity has become standard. The 12V supply comes from the leisure battery and is used to power such items as the lights, water pump, 12V sockets, TV aerial booster and caravan mover if fitted. Theoretically, you can power the 12V equipment using the mains, which is then distributed via the battery charger, but it’s possible that some items may become damaged if powered in this way. The mains is used to power the battery charger, mains lights, fridge, gas/electric water heater, the heating elements in blown-air heating systems and any mains appliances. However, parks and sites often limit the amperage, so it is likely that you will only be able to use a certain number of mains appliances at any one time.

your not really recommended to use house hold appliances but if theres no other options and you cant get your hands on some travel equipment then i guess theres no other option just dont use them all at once and i'm sure you'll be fine!

 Hi I think the fomula for working out the power of appliances is Watts divide by volts will give you amps

eg 1000 watt kettle divide by 240 volts you would need 4amps to operate

hope this is of some help to you Alan

We use a 1000 watt travel kettle, its full size so takes a while to heat up, ive rarely been on a site that will let u use a 3000 watt modern kettle without tripping out, its using  12 amps and your trip on the fuseboard for your sockets is probably 10 amps, unless u have a foreign van or a new bailey that are using 16 amp trips.

U can still get what used to be the standard home kettle of around 2000 watts, that will pull 8 amps, so on some sites it wont work either, i was sited on a seasonal pitch on the solway at powfoot & there the site trips were set at 4 amps max, cos he didnt have enough power to run the site properly

hi we also use normal electric things ie.kettle / hairdryer / tv / phone chargers / ect.we did use a slow cooker before today,that is until we got a new van with an oven.we do take care not to use all at once.lucky for us it trips out the caravan before the site box so we do not need the warden.as said the kettle is the main one that trips the box out.most club sites now have 16 amp.

hi there

 ??why are the trip boxes not left open ? then you dont have to go looking for anyone.. you just go outside and reset and dont trip again  and save everyone a lot of trouble -simple.

             harry.

Hi Michael glad that you are all well as we are.

I have a key that fits four different kinds of meter box but the normal type of keyhole defeats me

They are left open on some sites (where we go in Brittany for example) but that is open to abuse as well etc.

In Prague it required a 13mm spanner and the removal of 4 bolts 

If the box is accessible and there are no signs telling you to KEEP OUT then I would have thought that the warden would appreciate not having to come to re-set the trip

When we were in France we tripped out the box and it had the caravan of a travelling gentleman plugged in to it.

There was a large padlock on the box but aforementioned gent had removed nuts and bolts and replaced with very loose wood screws.

We were thus able to leave the site in one piece(us that is !)