Does anyone use a splitter for their EHU and run 2 cables from the hook up? just bought a kitchen tent to use seperately from our main tent and would like to get electric to both. Not sure if this is safe or even worthwhile as I guess I would have to be careful not to trip the power. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Yep, we have a 10m extension lead with 6 gang Trailing socket for use in the Kitchen tent..
The EHU is in the main Tent, and that feeds the Kitchen Tent.
CPC do some good extensions that are designed for outdoor use, orange with good quality Trailing sockets, not as heavy duty as regular EHU cable, but fine for the job, we run the cable under a breathable ground sheet, to the Kitchen Tent, so no chance of tripping over it.
All perfectly safe, and should there be an electrical problem in the Kitchen tent, it will simply Trip Out the EHU in the main tent.
Check out my "EHU Amp Monitor" post, you will see my EHU power monitor which shows how many amps you are drawing, always handy to know if you have a lot of electrical stuff, or are a 6amp campsite etc.
Thanks Francais, I thought of doing this but the cable entry for the main tent and the kitchen tent will be on opposite sides and don't really want to lay the cable through the tent or under it.
Going round would also be a problem as the tent is quite large.
This is why I thought of seperating the hook up at the cable connection using a splitter and running 2 cables from there.
Just concerned we would consistantly trip the breaker or even overload the splitter and burn it out.
We plan to use the EHU in the tent for small 14" flatscreen TV, Small 800w heater if required, chargers for phones,Ipad etc, occasional air pump and tent light. In the kitchen tent would be Electric coolbox and travel kettle and maybe a mini oven in the future.
and when the mini oven is on in the kitchen tent drawing 1500 watts on average, and then someone comes in and puts the heater on too? all because someone didn't realise that both where already switched on
anyway most sites wont allow splitters to be used due to the risk of fire and also it infers that one ehu fee is paid and 2 pitches are being supllied
I have been on campsites where splitters are provided when they haven't got enough EHU pillars to go round...usually at rallies etc; where adjoining units know each other, so they are safe to use.
As stated though, you need to share the power between the two units and make sure you don't exceed the amps that the campsite is supplying.
Quote: Originally posted by newbie2013 on 20/2/2015
Thanks Francais, I thought of doing this but the cable entry for the main tent and the kitchen tent will be on opposite sides and don't really want to lay the cable through the tent or under it.
Going round would also be a problem as the tent is quite large.
How about EHU from post into tent, then one of those (outdoor suitable) domestic extension leads on a reel (20/25m) with usually four sockets. This can be plugged into the tent's EHU sockets, then immediately exit back through the EHU slot and run around the outside perimeter of the tent to the kitchen on the other side, leaving the drum, and it's 4 sockets, in the kitchen?
Cheers Mucker, went and had a look at one today with the thermal cut off. Thought they were good but the shop I went to they had a reel with weather proof covers for the plug sockets which I thought would be better. Had orange cable to so more visible. No cut off but as I'm plugging into my EHU that has got the cut off would it matter?
Thanks also to bob61 and daisy85 for confirming splitters are safe to use as splitting at the post and running 2 cables to each tent just seems better to me. I know I would have to be careful not to overload but isn't that the case anyway with just using the one hook up cable.
Out of interest has anyone been stopped from using a splitter in the past? or one burn out?
Its not safe to use a splitter at the post unless you are feeding two seperate EHU's.
Any problems on the extension without a EHU could result in a electric shock or worse.
Run a extension cable from the main tent to the kitchen tent like in the previous posts suggest.
Be safe
Hi Surfin, If using a splitter I would only use a proper EHU into each tent both with RCD and Breaker. Not one of those cables that have a normal domestic 4 plug. No Sir never.
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Topic: can you help me with my EHU?
