We will have EHU for the first time on our next trip.  I'm looking for a kettle and toaster that will be suitable without blowing the site.

So how many watts am I looking at?

I have my EHU cable - yes I did get a proper camping one and not one of the super cheap ones off eBay

So if I buy a normal (budget) toaster and kettle but only run one at a time then I'll be ok?  The only other things we will run off the EHU is an electric cooler box thingy, a light in the tent (25w bulb) and a lap top.

WATTS TO AMPS CONVERSION

60 Watts    =    0.26 Amp

100 Watts    =    0.43 Amp

200 Watts    =    0.87 Amp

300 Watts    =    1.30 Amp

400 Watts    =    1.74 Amp

500 Watts    =    2.17 Amp

600 Watts    =    2.61 Amp

700 Watts    =    3.04 Amp

800 Watts    =    3.48 Amp

900 Watts    =    3.91 Amp

1000 Watts    =    4.35 Amp

1100 Watts    =    4.78 Amp

1200 Watts    =    5.22 Amp

1300 Watts    =    5.65 Amp

1400 Watts    =    6.09 Amp

1500 Watts    =    6.52 Amp

1600 Watts    =    6.96 Amp

1700 Watts    =    7.39 Amp

1800 Watts    =    7.83 Amp

1900 Watts    =    8.26 Amp

2000 Watts    =    8.70 Amp

2100 Watts    =    9.13 Amp

2200 Watts    =    9.57 Amp

2300 Watts    =    10.00 Amp

2400 Watts    =    10.43 Amp

2500 Watts    =    10.87 Amp

2600 Watts    =   11.30 Amp

2700 Watts    =   11.74 Amp

2800 Watts    =    12.17Amp

2900 Watts    =   12.61 Amp

3000 Watts    =    13.04 Amp

3100 Watts    =    13.48 Amp

3200 Watts    =    13.91 Amp

3300 Watts    =    14.35 Amp

3400 Watts    =    14.78 Amp

3500 Watts    =    15.22Amp

I find it easier to work the other way. The supply at the site is rated in amps and will be 16, 10 or (esp. in France) 6 amps. However, most EHU units for tenting are limited to 10 amps.

Where the site has a 16 amp EHU you have 16 x 230 to play with = 3,680 watts - add up the wattages on the items and you'll see what you can use in theory, but as your EHU will probably only be 10 amp and/or the site only has 10 amp then you are really limited to 2300 watts. So don't put the kettle and toaster on at the same time.

6 amp is 1380 watts.

Much easier than working out the amps of all the items.

NB Domestic kettles used to be mostly around 2000 watts (= 2 Kw) but now many in the shops are as much as 3000 watts (3 Kw) and these would be too powerful for EHU.

Quote: Originally posted by bordercaz on 20/7/2010

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NB Domestic kettles used to be mostly around 2000 watts (= 2 Kw) but now many in the shops are as much as 3000 watts (3 Kw) and these would be too powerful for EHU.

Post last edited on 20/07/2010 21:57:05

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If you stick to the budget or 'value' Tescos or Argos ones (~£5) you should be fine.

And don't get too bogged down in the detailed maths, because there are many variations and unknowns with the electricity values. Round numbers and allowing a margin for error is much easier on the brain.

• Rule of thumb when you are deciding what appliances to take camping: each 1kW draws about 4A.
• Rule of thumb when on site: Only one heating item at a time, and you should be able to leave everything else running.

Hope this helps.

I've been looking at normal domestic kettles on the internet, most of the lower ones tend to be 220w - will this be ok?

Quote: Originally posted by James Watt on 24/7/2010

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Hello Mandy.
            Did you put the decimal point in the wrong place? 220 watts instead of 2200 watts.

A 220 watt kettle would take a little while to heat the water.

Or is this the new 'minimalist' model? LOL

Regards James

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Yup, your right

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.203-7540.aspx