Well.....presumably if you use an electric cooker you`d have to cook inside the tent all the time, no? I`m not keen on that because of the fire hazard, though I suppose an electric cooker would be a bit safer than a gas one for that.
The thing about a gas cooker is that you`re not dependent on a hook up. Yes most sites have hook ups but sometimes they can be on hard standings and only for caravans etc, or there are only a few availible for tents and you have to book them weeks in advance. Being entirely EHU dependent limits your options, especially if the wally in the next tent overloards the hook-up point, trips it out and plunges your entire tent into darkness half-way through cooking dinner.I think most folk that are entirely electric carry some sort of back up like a leisure battery. This wouldn`t do over a very long period of time though...would need recharging.
I think (correct me if I`m wrong here folks) that the vast majority of tenters use gas cookers. Some folk cook inside their tents, but the feeling is that you have to be extremely careful about this and if you have young children then it`s regarded as safer to cook outside a tent under a gazebo or similar. Not everyone agrees and it`s one thing you really have to make up your mind about...whether it`s going to be the kids out in the rain while you cook, or the cooker! A synthetic tent can catch fully alight in seconds.
Worth considering when you`re deciding which fuel to use because as I said at the beginning, you probably will have to keep an electric cooker under canvas, while with gas you have the option.
we have a 3year old with a serious problem in that she NEVER looks where she's going!!!
We survive using EHU with an electric fan heater to cool / warm tent. We have a basic gas stove and all cooking is done outside of the tent (morning coffee with bleary head poking out of tent, child being restrained by change of clothing!!).
We usually buy a couple of disposable barbeques and spend an hour cooking and repeating the mantrea 'Gabby keep away from the fire!'. Wouldn't seem like a holiday if she wasn't finding new ways of terrifying us!!
Most sites have a limit on the number of amps from a hook-up. These are usually between 6 amps and 16amps. I would imagine that a two ring cooker and kettle would use a lot of electricity, and would therefore probably trip out the ehu. I use a gas cooker, and this is far more versatile. You can't always get a hook-up.
Gas stove seems to be the best bet - eleccy everything else !
By the way, did anyone see the article in the paper where the lady returned her disposable BBQ. When asked what was wrong with it, she complained there was no food supplied... When the refund was being given, the supermarket noticed there were another 2 on the receipt. When asked where these were the lady replied "at home...in the freezer...."
Actually I've just bought a EHU from GO in Coventry and we're planning to use it for the first time this weekend. I've got a little 2.4 kW fan heater for the tent and hope to run a Coolbox off it too. The cooking is gas as is the lighting.
Is there anything to know about EHU? Just plug it in? I read somewhere about twisting it? Mind you the campsite should tell us what we need to know.
Prozac
------------- If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
you might find that you won't be able to run a 2.5 kW fan heater and a coolbox at the same time, you need to check the amp supply at the camp site you will be going to. If you can run the heater on lower setting, ie 1 kW you should be ok.
There is a previous thread about this, suggest you do a search and check it out. A tip - put the plugboard bit into a plastic box to keep it off the ground and damp. Not all sites have hook-ups, you need to check this b4 you go.