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Subject Topic: Electrical Hookup - will it overload? Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonGranty1
21/5/2017 at 5:07pm
 Location: Cleethorpes
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Hi, this is probably quite basic but I'm not sure what can or can't be used, i read somewhere about the electric tripping and aren't there specific kettles etc for camping which are low power, I mean I couldn't plug a 32" TV and a PS4 in could I?
I searched the forums and couldn't really see an answer so thanks in advance for any help


PersonMarshmallowqueen
21/5/2017 at 5:40pm
 Location: Nottinghamshire
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Generally, on campsites you have a total of 16 Amps for all appliances being used on the pitch at any one time, before the supply trips. It is worth asking the warden at check-in what your pitch is as some sites are 10 amp or lower.

Therefore you need to know how many amps each appliance uses. There is a table on one of the links below to help you convert or use the formula -

watts = volts x amps
Or
Watts / volts = Amps

Wattage is marked on many appliances.

A general rule I've learnt from this forum is only have one electrical appliance on at any one time that generates heat eg heater, kettle, mini oven, hair dryer .

Thes articles may help:

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=81http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/helpandadvice/gettingstarted/campingequ........


PersonGrampian91
21/5/2017 at 5:44pm
 Location: Midlands
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TV's are fairly low power couple of hundred watts or less. Same with games consoles, under 100 watts.

You need to find out what the sites max power limit is. Some are only 6 amps which will give you a max limit of 1440 watts. All your devices will have the wattage on them. Add everything up plugged in at the same time and it should be less than that.

Mostly 13A is the limit which is just over 3000 watts.

The proper circuit breakers will be 16Amps but if you keep everything under 3000 watts you wont be tripping it out.

Beware that some devices have a high startup current.

A 700 watt microwave will actually use approx 2200watts from the mains. And draw more than that at startup.


PersonGranty1
21/5/2017 at 5:48pm
 Location: Cleethorpes
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Thanks MarshmallowQueen and Grampian91 you've helped a great deal there :)


PersonHighSlayer
21/5/2017 at 6:15pm
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Bear in mind also that many EHU kits are 10amps so unless you are sure yours are more then it is worth sticking to a max of 2300watts regardless.

As said, always check what the site supply is. Most of the ones I've been on have been 10amps

It's worth getting a camping kettle as kettles are often very high users. Everything else, you can usually get away with as long as you dont combine too many at the same time.

I have a camping kettle but regular toaster, coffee machine, multi cooker, heater (actually it is a camping make but its a 400w/800w one) etc.

Also, dont forget things like fridges or cooler boxes which run 24/7

-------------
A slightly younger Victor Meldrew


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Personfloyd47
21/5/2017 at 6:31pm
 Location: SE London
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Find out the total wattage of items you can use at the campsite from the ppl that run the site
That way you will know what items you can have on at the same time
All your items should have something on them telling you what wattage it is
That way you can work things out from there
Things like TVs and game consoles hardy use much wattage
As long as the items you have on at the same time dont exceed the tottal wattage of your electric hook up you will be fine
Sometimes this will mean juggling things around and not using say a electric frying griddall at the same time as say the kettle for example
I go to Sandwich Leisure Park in Kent and i know the tottal wattage i can use is 2,300 watts


Personpaul+kate s-o-t
21/5/2017 at 7:09pm
 Location: stoke on trent
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If you've got the genuine tent ehu
These only allow 10amps and not the full 16amps from the bollard
If you've got a smart phone then download an app think it's just called ehu app

-------------
April Peak District Beech Croft Farm
May Peak District Duke of York
May Holland Delfse Hout
June Cotton Arms Nantwich
july/aug Cornwall Pentewan Sands
And quite a few local weekenders


Personfloyd47
21/5/2017 at 7:30pm
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All us people using electric hook up
People like Ray Mears and Bear Grylls would call us pussys lol
I say i go camping but i know its not camping as such but how i do it is how i like it
I call what i do a poor mans caravan/static lol
As far as i concerned im still in the outdoors, it might not be camping as people would perseive camping but its how i like it
I mean i even take a satellite dish with me lol lol


PersonBob61
21/5/2017 at 9:03pm
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First of all, have a read of this page and towards the bottom is a watts to amps conversion chart which you can print off and take camping with you for reference. You could if you wish, mark the amps on each appliance so you can see at a glance what each one will draw.

Most campsites in my experience supply 10 amps, although more and more are increasing that to 16 amps. You need to ask when booking. As already mentioned though, most EHU units are only 10 amps so it would be best to stick to 10 amps.

10 amps equates to 2300 watts so basically you can use as many appliances together as you wish providing they do not exceed 2300 watts in total.

For instance a 2000 watt fan heater draws 8.69 amps so you still have 1.31 amps left out of your 10 amp supply.

A mini fridge may be 60 watts so that will draw 0.26 amps. As you can see, there is no problem running the heater and the fridge together because you will still have 1.05 amps remaining of your 10 amps supply.

Hope that makes sense   

With regards to ordinary household appliances like electric kettles I would buy the highest wattage you can get below 2300 watts. Low wattage travel kettles are fine but take forever to boil. I have a cheapo Tesco kettle which I think is 2200 watts. Just make sure you turn off other appliances for the few minutes it takes to boil it.

Post last edited on 21/05/2017 21:31:35


PersonFrancais
22/5/2017 at 2:59pm
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Can't do the Linky thing, but check out my post "EHU Amp Monitor"

A simple plug in device that informs you of the amps that you are drawing.


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PersonFrazzle-
23/5/2017 at 10:54am
 Location: Hampshire
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Bought a cheapy electric kettle - Wilko or Tesco value one. It has less power than our normal home one, so good for camping - though it takes longer to boil. However everything takes longer when you are camping - so we just go a bit slower.


PersonHairywol
24/5/2017 at 8:24pm
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At the end of the day either the campsite EHU or your own unit will trip, and neither is the end of the world because you just lessen the load and flip the switch back again.

I have a caravan and do this from time-to-time, especially on 10 amp sites.

If though your own EHU cable doesn't have a trip or rcd, then that's a different and more serious matter.

-------------
Camping Gear expands so as to fill the space available for its transportation.



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