Usually it’s plug in and go. In this case, it looks like one socket is live, and the other off - the breaker switch on the left is down (off). Often the site management prefer to handle this themselves; but if the box is open, then there’s usually not an issue with sorting it yourself.
However, I would advise checking if the switch is in the 'on' position once plugged in.
A CAMC club site I stayed recently provided specific instruction on hooking up, including which end to be plugged in first, followed by flipping the switch to make it live.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
All switches need to be in the up position. I did come across one with one switch went down & off when ehu plug was removed. So when a new camper plugged in they would have to put the switch in the up position to get power on.
Quote: Originally posted by SueMacD on 11/8/2025
Thank you! It will be my first time solo camping, so feeling pretty anxious about everything - want to get things right!
You will be fine.
I would suggest arriving in good time so that there will be campsite staff on hand to help you. Check the opening and closing times first in case they are not the usual 17:00/18:00 closure.
Otherwise, ask your fellow campers for help if you are stuck - campers are usually very helpful.
I struggled with EHU connection on Saturday just gone, arriving shortly before 17:00 after the campsite staff had knocked off for the day at 16:00 at weekends (I did not notice the earlier closing time in their e-mail, DOH), and the gentleman from a neighbouring pitch who is an electrician, came over and offered help and assistance.
I was 95% certain what was wrong so I declined his offer to help, and fixed the loose wire connections in the plug that I re-wired myself for ease of packing up the 25m cable with the cable wheel.
Good luck with your first solo trip - nothing wrong with making mistakes as I am still making them after all these years, such as wrongly assuming the office closure time being 17:00/18:00 twice in the past 30d; and not realising a site has no facilities block, luckily I have onboard facilites of my own and it was for an overnight pit stop on my way home from Scotland.
DK
Post last edited on 11/08/2025 14:45:00
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
We just plug in & turn on the microwave. It should make a loud “peep”. If not, I tell OH & he looks for that very switch on the stanchion.
If flicking it in the opposite direction doesn’t work, it might be the whole sector has gone down, so ask your neighbours if they have electricity or not. We were at one site where someone’s full size domestic kettle had tripped one spur of the system & we all went dark, so to speak, and the manager has to sort it remotely.
And as others have said, relax! Someone will always be happy to help & have a chat.
This advice came from the electrician who offered to help me on Saturday - plug into the van first, bollard last. Otherwise the EHU cable is live when it is plugged into the van, which makes sense to me.
There had been a number of occasions when the RCD for one of the two mains/240V rings to be tripped, even when the van was plugged in at home while parked outside the house.
I have one of those power meters onboard in the kitchen area. If it does not light up, it means there is no 240V DC supply going into the van. I would go to check if the RCD has been tripped, and flick it back if it has.
If that does not work, then it could be the cable, and I would join up the 10m and 5m cables that I carry to see if that would work. If the combined 10m and 5m works then the fault is with the 25m cable and not the van.
This happened during my trip in Scotland. However, I managed to get the 25m cable to work in the end.
Hence I was 95% the issue was with the 25m cable at the end that I re-wired myself when it happened again on Saturday.
All part of the fun of camping with the van, and I have since learnt I need to carry a decent set of screwdrivers!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Electric Hook-Up Point Query
via mobile 10/8/2025 at 5:34pm
