#52 CAMPSITE EHU explained: How many appliances can you use while you're camping?
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- Can you use normal kettle, toaster at the campsite? Electrical hook up on a camping pitch is fab! Provided you have the right lead, you can enjoy all home comforts in your caravan, tent or a motorhome. EHU is great, but there is a hook with the electric hook up on UK campsites, and those of you who do caravanning a lot, know the problem with electricity on sites: the rate of supply is much lower than at home! Most of sites offer rate of 10 Amps, some, like the one we work on has 16 Amps. That means at the same time each pitch on a campsite can draw up to 3kW of power. It is not a lot, and a domestic kettle will use about 2kW alone! Bad news for those who love tea and toast for brekkie while camping: you won't be able to use a domestic kettle and a toaster at the same time in your caravan or in a tent. Such powerful appliances will cause the fuse on your hook up to trip, as the circuit will be overloaded. There are two circuit breakers which protect your unit from fire hazard: one in your caravan or motorhome, and one on EHU point outside. Tripping electrics is not the end of the world, and happens to most of campers on site, but you want to avoid it. It is not nice to go outside to flip the switch back on, and on some sites there may be quite a distance from your caravan to EHU point. It may be a serious issue in colder months, when you do winter camping. If there are many campers using electricity for heating, your supply will be reduced and it is even easier to have a power cut. If you plan a camping holiday, it is worth to buy low wattage camping appliances such as kettle, toaster or a microwave. These use a fraction of power required by domestic appliances and will not cause an overload on the circuit. Yes, a camping kettle is smaller, takes longer to boil water and is more expensive than a normal kettle, but it is a good investment, especially when you need electricity for heating. There are more camping gadgets which will be easy on camping electrics. When we first started living on wheels it was one of the first lessons we had to learn: that there is a limit to te power we can use on a campsite. It is ok to have your appliances with you when you come camping or caravanning, as long as you don't use all of them at the same time! Please subscribe to see more videos about our campsite life and work. It is free!
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Chapters:
00:25 Using electricity on a campsite is not the same as at home.
01:11 What is an EHU and what type of a power lead you will need?
01:56 How much power can you use on a campsite? How many appliances can you use at the same time?
02:55 Only 10 to 16 amps on caravanning sites, comparing to 80 amps at home in the UK.
04:00 Each caravan has a circuit breaker, our is set at 13 amps, we can use up to 2990 Watts.
05:04 What happens if you overload your electricity supply on a campsite? Fuses on EHU and inside your caravan.
05:44 Why it is a bad idea to keep tripping your electrics in your caravan?
06:23 Why a domestic kettle is not good on a campsite.
07:25 Why powering a domestic kettle and a domestic toaster at the same time will trip your EHU fuse.
08:10 What was the reason for a major power cut we had on our site recently?
Very informative.😊
Glad it was helpful!
Hello, I’m so glad I found your channel. We just bought an old (2003) caravan and our cooker needs replacing but I’m looking at alternatives like air fryers. My concern was exactly this. Using to much power at the same time. We already have low wattage camping toaster and kettle 😃
This was an incredibly helpful video. Thank you.
Thank you Tanya and good luck with your caravanning adventures! I hope you will check out our other videos too! Kat
@@FreedomSeekers-FS I definitely will be 😃
Lovely to see you in another video Kat Luv, thank you for this helpful for me :)
Thank you so much for your kind comment! I'm so glad you found the video helpful. It's always a pleasure to share my knowledge and experiences, and to connect with viewers like you. Your feedback means a lot to me and encourages me to create more content in the future. Thanks for watching, and I hope to see you in the comments again soon!
Brilliant explanation!
Glad you liked it! Thank you! 😊
Good morning electricity at the campsite is important, so you have to be careful not to accidentally throw it out by turning on the electric jug probably better on the stove to boil water but I know that the electric can be faster, Does the amount of electricity for the caravan and the Camper at the campsite differ? Probably not, but it's worth asking Have a nice week Greetings
Good morning! Thank you for your comment. Yes, electricity at the campsite is very important, and it's a good idea to be careful not to overload the system by turning on too many appliances at once. Regarding the amount of electricity for caravans and campers, it generally doesn't differ much between the two, but it's always a good idea to ask the campsite staff if you're not sure about the available power supply. Have a great week, and thank you for the greetings!
i watch a lot of electrician channels and it looks like there will be a new type of 16amp socket coming in where it will not switch on unless the plug is inserted into the socket once on it locks the plug in so it can't be removed until it's switched of which it looks like that they are making it that campsites will have too use those somthing to be aware off
That's interesting! Thanks for the heads up. It's always good to stay informed about new developments, especially when it comes to safety and regulations. We'll keep an eye out for that! 🔌⚡️
Hi I been watching your videos. I'm interested in buying a caravan and also living in it. But don't really know where to start. You have a new subscriber
Thank you so much for tuning in and subscribing! It's wonderful to have you join our community. Starting the journey of living in a caravan can indeed feel overwhelming at first, but you're in the right place for guidance. I would suggest beginning by researching potential residential sites or considering the option of working at a campsite, as this can offer both a place to park your caravan and a job opportunity. I actually have a video where I discuss the legal aspects of living in a caravan, which might be helpful for you. Feel free to check it out, and if you have any further questions along the way, don't hesitate to reach out! 🚐✨
really great, helpful video, as i have been wanting to get a kettle , but knew it had to be low wattage, finding one that isnt tiny is difficult.
we live in Devon, so would love to come and visit your site please, can we bring our dog?
thanks.
Hi, lovely to hear from you :-) Yes, the site is dog friendly. Drop us an email kmfreedomseekers@gmail.com so we will organise something :-) Kat
Awesome video and really cool story in the end))) Quick question though, maybe you can help me. How do I buy an adapter/converter from this camping power plug to a regular household power socket to provide electricity to my tent? Maybe there's a special name or a standard I should look for? Are these sockets differnt accorss the EU campings? Because I'm going to the campsite in Italy and emailing them a week now. So far they sent me a photo of the EHU socket instead of its name or a standard..
Hello Kosta! Thank you for your kind comment! There are a few questions, so let's deal with them one by one:
1) How do I buy an adapter/converter from this camping power plug to a regular household power socket to provide electricity to my tent?
- You need a Mains Supply Unit like this one: amzn.to/43daBfC. There are cheaper alternatives, but I would suggest buying one like the one in the link, which has 13 amp splash-proof sockets, a 10 Amp double-pole main circuit breaker, a 25 amp RCD, a 15m cable with a UK site plug, 13 Amp Sockets to IP44 240v plug to IEC/EN 60 309 Cable to HO5 VVF. It is fitted with a correct polarity warning light and a clip for keeping it off the floor.
2) Are these sockets different across EU campings?
- It varies from campsite to campsite... Most of them have the same EHU connectors as you can see on UK campsites, but from time to time, you might need an adapter like this one: amzn.to/3BTdZ32.
Hope that helps! Have a nice day!
@@FreedomSeekers-FS Huge thanks!
Lack of power is one of my hates about campsites. You need to take a generator.
Thanks for your comment! Power can be a challenge at some campsites. A generator is a great solution, but be sure to check the site's rules about using them. Happy camping!
What if I like live on camp site in my caravan and use electric heater most of the time - is that possible at all? Whats cost +/-, thanks...
Living on a campsite in your caravan and using an electric heater most of the time is possible. However, it will depend on the campsite's electric hook-up amperage and the wattage of your heater. Make sure you have a sufficient amperage hook-up to avoid overloading the circuit. The cost will vary based on electricity rates and your heater's power consumption.
What do you think about solar panle on u park and like look in to solar on u CZcams channel 😀
Solar panel investments take a couple of years to pay back. And it's not really possible to run electric heaters from solar panels because they draw too much power
Well maybe you should get your customers in solar panels
Solar panels on the roofs of their motorhomes and caravans are used by some of our guests. 😊👍
This has left me so confused i plan to to away in my campervan for the first time soon with my girlfriend soon it has a 130 ah battery ehich powers everything but it has a diesel heater lights tv fridge ect ect ? I literally thought we could pull up there with the fridge and lights on , turn on the diesel heater to keep us warm put or laptop on charhe and sit there eatching netlfix all night gut after this... this makes me think this just isnt possible i thought my van plugging it in qoukd just he chatging the batter up and i wouldnt have to worry about this but now im mega confused, we wanted to hsve the frifge on all the time which is on when not hooked up anywah , have laptops and phones on charge and led spot lights watching movies with the diesel heater on , like thatd the bare minimum we want ? But thats alot of atuff hut kaybe they're all low power consumers or maybe theyre the complete opposite, also the campsite we plan to go to is 10amp, didnt know about any of this stuff and now its making me not even wanna bother going as i was under the assumption plugging in takes all your worries away about batteries dying and worrying about what you can use ect ect does this just mean about actual plu in items in the camper and not things that aren't wired in or ? Because plug in wise all we will be plugging in is 2 phones and a laptop , not all at the same time though
It's completely understandable to feel confused about campsite electrical hook-ups (EHU), especially if it's your first time camping with your campervan. Let's break down what you can typically expect with a 130Ah battery and a 10amp EHU:
- Charging the Battery: Plugging into a 10amp EHU will certainly charge your campervan's leisure battery. However, it may not charge it very quickly, especially if you're running other appliances simultaneously. It's a good idea to monitor your battery's charge level.
- Running Appliances: Your 130Ah battery can power various appliances, including lights, TV, fridge, laptop, and LED spotlights. It's important to note that different appliances have different power consumption levels. LED lights and modern laptops, for instance, are relatively low power consumers. Your fridge might be more energy-hungry, but it usually runs intermittently and shouldn't drain your battery quickly.
- Diesel Heater: Diesel heaters are generally efficient, but they do consume power. It's advisable to use it judiciously, especially if you're running other appliances.
- Phones and Laptop: Charging phones and laptops typically doesn't consume a significant amount of power. You should be able to charge them without any issues.
- 10amp EHU: A 10amp EHU provides a certain amount of power. If you plug in your campervan and use appliances that collectively draw more power than 10amps, you may trip the circuit breaker at the campsite's power source. However, for charging phones and laptops, this should not be a problem.
In summary, you can still enjoy your campervan adventure with a 10amp EHU. It's all about managing your power usage effectively. Prioritize essentials like heating, lights, and the fridge, and you should be able to enjoy your movie nights without any worries. Just be mindful of your battery's charge level, especially if you're planning to use several power-hungry appliances simultaneously. Enjoy your trip! /M
@@FreedomSeekers-FS Hiya sorry for some many spelling errors in that last one I was typing fast and mis pressed buttons and the correction didn't pick up on it , we are at the campsite right now and have stayed last night on the hook up , had the heater on for 15 mins then off and repeating everything 30 mins , fridge is a 12v low power fridge so was okay , we had the laptop on and on charge and phones charging , our little usb neons on and the fridge and all was well , I'm pretty sure alot of my set up is energy efficient low wattage stuff most of its 12v low power like the spotlights ect ect , we had no issues at all and nothing tripped out , I don't have anything in my van to show me the charge level , just a switch board with a circle window screen withing in It that sits at what ever volts and then raises when you start the van up when charging , all night we were there when had it plugged in it was sat at about 13.6 v when unplugged would drop to about 12.8 , the only other thing I have is a little unit that basically has led lights that says " solar charge " fully charged , AGM battery , gel, lithium ect ect , but what I do know is after a 15 minute drive after we drove off from the site the green fully charged button had came on , so I think we're all good , I think it would be a different scenario if we were trying to use household things like hairy dryers , straighteners , kettle ect ect as they are power hungry