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I was wondering if someone could just help me out with regard to how to NOT trip the electrics. We bought our tent off a couple we know and with it came EHU and a fan heater - the heater says it is 230-240v and 3000w, my dad says this would trip the electrics. Will it? If so what am I after to avoid that? And also, although at the moment we are only intending using EHU for a heater (if at all), is there anything else I'd need to be aware of to not trip them, eg I read that you shouldn't put a kettle on at the same time as having a heater on.

Thanks

Rach

If the heater has variable heat output, then in theory, you should be fine if you only use it in the low setting.

At full power, it will definitely trip a 10amp supply!

The general rule of thumb is only to have one major heating appliance running at any time, be it kettle, fan heater or cooker/microwave.

The maximum power output on my fan heater is 2kW, and I can still plug in a thermo-electric cool box, a laptop, two low energy lights, and an electric underblanket without tripping it, as I did for the past two trips in Dec and Feb.

DK

That is extremely helpful, thank-you both very much, new heater it is!!

Rach

Quote: Originally posted by icicle81 on 13/3/2012

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I was wondering if someone could just help me out with regard to how to NOT trip the electrics. We bought our tent off a couple we know and with it came EHU and a fan heater - the heater says it is 230-240v and 3000w, my dad says this would trip the electrics. Will it? If so what am I after to avoid that? And also, although at the moment we are only intending using EHU for a heater (if at all), is there anything else I'd need to be aware of to not trip them, eg I read that you shouldn't put a kettle on at the same time as having a heater on.

Thanks

Rach

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Firstly read this page

You can plug anything you want into the sockets inside your tent as you would at home...except...that you have to work out the amps that each appliance uses and, if used together, don't exceed the amps that the campsite is supplying, otherwise you will trip the fuses.

There is a watts to amps conversion chart on the above link I have given you. The majority of campsites supply 10 amps but quite a few supply 16 amps. However, there are some which only supply 5 or 6 amps so ask the site when you book.

I think most fan heaters used for camping have a maximum of 2000w which is 8.70 amps so will still give you spare for electric lights etc; on a 10 amp supply. You can pick a 2000w fan heater up quite cheaply from Argos/Currys/Tesco etc. 

We bought this little heater - its wonderful!. We usually go for EHU 16amps....we have the coolbox plugged in as well as the heater and TV on at night (yes, TV - i like my little camping luxuries..lol) - we usually unplug the heater or TV if we need to plug the kettle in for a cuppa - just to make sure we don't trip the electrics.

http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-1428744-10294381?url=http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4110635/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CHome+and+furniture%7C14417894/Trail/searchtext%3EHEATERS.htm#pd