|
 Topic: Winter Caravanners - a Question
|
Page: 1 2
  |
26/11/2014 at 8:27pm
Location: Cornwall
Outfit: Outwell Carolina M Outbound Cheetah 4
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 08/9/2008 Gold Member 
Forum Posts: 318
| Site Reviews Total: | 6 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
I am going to be new to caravanning in the spring and all going to plan will be residing in it full time but I have a question to all who spend time in their vans over the winter, colder months.
I understand about EHU and was wondering, with it being colder how do you ensure you don't trip the hook up as I assume you would be using more electric than you would in summer.
What would you use on the EHU and what would you use on gas? I am thinking cooker, heating, fridge, water heating etc.
I read somewhere about using the heating on a mix of gas and electric for optimum results??
I read on a campsite website that they requested all vans use their gas for heating when visiting over winter to prevent tripping the electrics.
Any advise on what others have done to create the best use of equipment/gas/electric to make life easier would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
-------------
Sue
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
|
26/11/2014 at 9:17pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 05/11/2013 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 6360
| Site Reviews Total: | 18 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 2 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 2 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 2 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 7 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 8 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 12 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 18 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 21 |
|
Hi Sue, what you can use on EHU will depend to a large extent on how many amps the EHU can supply. Some sites only have a 6 amp supply, which won't allow you to use very much. What you have to remember is that any electrical device that contains a heating element will be very power-hungry, but things like TVs, radios, and certain types of lighting, will not be so to the same extent.
I personally would use the cooker, water heater, and fridge on gas, but split the heating between gas and electric, if the supply was sufficient to do so.
-------------
Best Regards,
Colin
|
| Discounted Insurance Quotes for UKCampsite.co.uk visitors! Up to 12.5% off! |
|
|
|
26/11/2014 at 9:51pm
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 31/10/2014 Gold Member
Forum Posts: 217
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
It depends on the amperage of ehu. 16amp then use what you want but not all together. If you are going to stop on a site all winter then really you want a site that offers 16amp ehu. If unmetered 16amp ehu is offered then it would be pointless to use gas for heating, it is expensive. Fridge uses hardly anything on on electric, nor tv & neither do lights especially if led & nor do phone chargers/laptops etc.
Appliances that get hot are what would trip ehu if used all together so use singly. These would be elec kettle & fan heater, for example, anything with a heating element. Even if ehu is only 10amps, elec heating is still doable with care. If you are paying for unmetered ehu then use as little gas as possible. Used just for cooking a gas bottle will last for ages, use it day & night for heating & you will do a bottle in a few days.
|
26/11/2014 at 10:52pm
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 03/11/2014 Platinum Member 
Forum Posts: 724
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
when away in our van over the winter months, yes we use the whole lot! but of course n o matter what supply of watts we just make sure that everything isn't on at once~! would it really harm to turn the heating off for 3 mins while the kettle boils? nope! basically there are only 3 things you need to concern yourself over, and that is don't have the heating, the water heater and the kettle on at the same time
|
27/11/2014 at 7:39am
Location: Luton (no jokes plea
Outfit: Coachman and Hyundai
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 05/6/2006 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 12817
| Site Reviews Total: | 388 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 25 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 26 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 37 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 26 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 11 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 30 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 119 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 119 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 154 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 140 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 63 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 132 |
|
Nor the microwave, if you have one. As others have said, try to choose a site with the highest unmetered amperage possible.
Anne
|
27/11/2014 at 2:17pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: Adria Altea 542DT
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 28/2/2012 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 1246
| Site Reviews Total: | 4 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
We have never tripped the electric on any site yet and we use the electric heating and water heater during the winter months.
However, we do use the gas hob for the kettle.
|
27/11/2014 at 9:40pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: Elddis accordo Motorhome
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 27/4/2006 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 1170
| Site Reviews Total: | 8 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
I thought iron was an Apple device for women tee hee
(i-ron)
|
28/11/2014 at 12:06am
Location:
Outfit:
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 09/9/2009 Gold Member
Forum Posts: 450
| Site Reviews Total: | 3 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
look at appliance wattage,normally caravan and camping stuff is lower wattage than household.Look at what you are running and simply divide the wattage by voltage to give ampage.Eg,2000 wattsdivide by 240 volt will give 8.3 amp.Then you know if you might trip it or not
-------------
i dont sell cheap tat.I sell tat cheap
|
28/11/2014 at 2:49pm
Location: Bolton Lancs
Outfit: Bailey Orion 430-4 & Mitsubishi PHEV
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 25/12/2012 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 876
| Site Reviews Total: | 1 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Quote: Originally posted by fleck2 on 27/11/2014
I thought iron was an Apple device for women tee hee
(i-ron)
Anyone who pays the inflated price for an apple device is known as an I-diot
|
01/12/2014 at 9:19am
Location: Aberdeen
Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 460 VW Tiguan Moti
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 26/8/2007 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 1595
| Site Reviews Total: | 13 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 7 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
We have found that apart from really really cold nights once the van is heated up on gas the electric fire can be used on the lowest setting and still keep the van nice and warm.
-------------
Robert (BoB)
|
07/12/2014 at 3:46am
Location: Ayrshire Scotland
Outfit: Santa Fe CRDi + Swift Conqueror 645
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 26/1/2004 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 1127
| Site Reviews Total: | 2 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
The only month of the year my caravan isn't used, is December.
If you're going to be living in the caravan permanently, I would suggest you find a site with a 16amp supply.
The only thing I use on gas is the cooker, and although my present and previous caravans have/had the electric hotplate, I've never used them.
The only concession I make because of the lower level of power is not using the microwave and kettle at the same time. Other than that, it's all systems go!
-------------
David.
I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure!
|
|
I thought that was a swear word
