Message Forums

The new fridge is 3 way so we could run it off gas, but I have agreed to the EHU - I can see its advantages (just don't want to get into the realms of TV's etc) The EHU we have seen is from Camping International so it should be a good one - I have been reading the other threads on here and there is now way I would take  chance.

Caz - the gas powered heaters?  I have seen the 'black cat' advertised - is that the kind of thing you are on about?  They look good, although a bit pricey. 

Last question re: the EHU - can you run lights from them?  Can you get special electric 'camping' lights?

Many many thanks for all this advice - its been so helpful getting us into the modern world of camping, rather than the old ridge tents and billy cans of years back!

We save up too so that we can buy good quality camping kit. You can spend more in the long run by not buying the item you really want and need.

I`d go for the EHU in this case. You`ve already got the fridge so having an EHU seems the best step, so you can run it from any fuel. You`ll only use a heater a few times a year so it`s not worth spending a lot of money on it, and you don`t want to be filling up the car with big things you`ll only use a couple of times. We really like having the EHU...we charge the phones and camera batteries from it, run the fridge and most importantly...my hairdrier! Great not to have to trail back to the washroom to dry my hair. And Hubby was allowed the 5" B&W telly to watch the footie when there was that thing back in July (genuinely can`t recall the name!) on, but we agreed  it was a waste of time otherwise.

What I`d really like to take is a PC....lol

The EHU we have seen is from Camping International so it should be a good one - I have been reading the other threads on here and there is now way I would take  chance.

What you need is one that looks like this:

It doesn't have to be a Camping Gaz one (I bet they don't actually make them, just label someone else's).  WorldOfCamping currently have them at £75, so don't pay any more than that for one!

Caz - the gas powered heaters?  I have seen the 'black cat' advertised - is that the kind of thing you are on about?  They look good, although a bit pricey.

I think they are - but I personally wouldn't want to leave a gas/oil (etc.) heater running overnight when there's a good chance it might get kicked over (or something kicked onto it if one of the kids got up in the middle of the night.  We've gone for a cheap fan heater from Argos which we run on the hook up if it's cold.  (Like it was Friday night...) 

Last question re: the EHU - can you run lights from them?

They're basically a mains extension lead with extra safety features for use outdoors - you can run anything from them that you'd normally run at home (with the limit that your site will typically limit you to 10A which means you can't run a hairdryer and a fan heater at the same time).

  Can you get special electric 'camping' lights?

Don't know.  We use a "clip on" light from IKEA (or wilkinsons or somewhere like that anyway).  Expect to pay less than £2 and get a low energy bulb from somewhere like IKEA (£2) just to make sure you're squeezing the best value from that hook-up...

Thanks Paul - you have covered everything.  Yes, the EHU is exactly like that and is exactly £75.00!

Another shopping list in the making!  Still, its all worth it - we have only bought two things so far that have proved to be useless - Yes, a toaster! and a very plastic pink dinner set from Asda that looked like Barbie and Ken went camping!  Have replaced both now with something a little more sensible!