Hi all im looking for electric hookup cable for my tent just need some advice which is the best one to buy and what cable i need to go hookup also if there is a way to test the cable before going on the camping trip. I also want to ask can you leave a mini fridge running on the hookup when left the tent through the day or do i need to switch it of?
Thanks :)
You can buy proprietary hook up cables from anywhere eBay etc.
What I use, because it's neater, is a 4 way extension lead reel and swapped the normal 3 pin domestic 13amp plug with a industrial 16amp plug I aquired from my work. I use my tent when on my motorbike so it needs to roll up neatly. I use my hook up to power a fan heater. Keeps everything dry and warm. Can get too hot. You pay for the hook up so use it. I have left my fan Heater on a low thermostatic setting all day before and have come back, on a rainy day to a dry warm tent. Works especially well when there is a frost.
Some of my motorcycling friends bring their George foreman grilles and electric kettles.
The hookup socket should have a Earth leakage breaker incorporated so it's quite safe.
If you are using a fan heater though put it on a tin tray or back packing table off the ground sheet. I melted a hole in my ground sheet once.
Something like these units, with built-n MCB and RCD and a decent length of cable (at the very least 15m) which you should be able to get for around £30-40.
You could use an adaptor like this to test it at home (I've used an EHU cable and unit as a lawnmower extension, for instance)
Shouldn't be any problem leaving a mini fridge connected, though you might want to turn it off overnight if it's noisy!
If you buy a properly manufactured mobile power unit such as this you won't go far wrong. There are different designs but make sure it has the MCB and RCD cut-out switches.
Do not be tempted to buy anything that does not have the protection of MCB and RCD switches. The campsite supply pillar may well have a breaker on it but you have no way of testing that. Better to have your own protection which you can test rather than hoping the campsite supply is properly maintained and fully working.
Most good EHU units will have a 20 metre orange cable which will be more than enough length on most sites.
"The hookup socket should have a Earth leakage breaker incorporated so it's quite safe."
That isn't necessarily correct.
Only campsites wired to the 17th edition wiring regs must have an RCD at the hookup post that provides personal protection.
The older sites RCD at the post can be time delayed to discriminate with the campers hookup and doesn't trip fast enough to provide personal protection.
saxo1
"You could use an adaptor like
this to test it at home (I've used an EHU cable and unit as a lawnmower extension, for instance)"
Be careful when using it for tools etc,the RCD in a camping hookup is a passive type and only operates on an earth fault,if the supply goes off then when supply is restored any tool connected if left on will start up. RCDs used for power tools should be Active and need resetting when the supply is restored.
saxo1
Even that link doesn't provide the essential info.
It quotes a 25A RCD,the amperage is irrelevant the relevant bit is that is should be double pole with a trip rating of 30mA.
saxo1
Dont buy some of the cheap crap ones off ebay. This is one bit of kit you dont want to scrimp on. Other bit of advice I would give is if you go for the 3 sockets in a row one, dont do what we did and get one where the sockets are going downwards as you cant get 3 plugs in it. Get one where the sockets face sidewards like in the pic that hacksaw bob & bobmel posted. If you want to test it at home just get one of these. We usually use it on the lawn mower just to check the unit is working ok before we go away.
I better add. If in doubt consult a qualified electrician 1st.
Quote: Originally posted by geoffprinter on 18/5/2015
Dont buy some of the cheap crap ones off ebay. This is one bit of kit you dont want to scrimp on. Other bit of advice I would give is if you go for the 3 sockets in a row one, dont do what we did and get one where the sockets are going downwards as you cant get 3 plugs in it. Get one where the sockets face sidewards like in the pic that hacksaw bob & bobmel posted. If you want to test it at home just get one of these. We usually use it on the lawn mower just to check the unit is working ok before we go away.
I better add. If in doubt consult a qualified electrician 1st.
Where do you live?
The photo appears to be a French adaptor!
saxo1