We are looking to purchase a mini over for when we are away camping, I've looked at a fair number and you can buy a electric mini oven with hobs on the top.
Has anyone got/used one of these, are they anygood? I can't decide if to buy one together or buy a mini oven and set of electric hobs separate.
Anybody have been down this road before? if so what did you purchase?
The first thing to check is the total power consumption, if you are in a tent then your EHU will have a maximum rating of 10 amps. You must also allow for any other electrical items such as lights etc. that might be used at the same time as the oven. Don't forget that turning down the heat does not reduce the power used, it simply reduces the frequency of the element being energised.
I have a proper camping electric hob but I only use it in emergencies when there is a problem with gas. The entire hob, including the casing, gets extremely hot and takes a long time to cool down. I consider it dangerous and would never use it if there were children around.
Gas is a far more practicable solution for the hobs.
Some campsites did exceed the amperage to 16 amps but then some decided to reduce it back to 10 amps again because of people like yourself bring along domestic appliances and overloading the circuit. If you want to use an electrical appliance it is best to buy from a caravan and camping store where they specifically stock low wattage appliances designated for camping use.
Depending where you are Jblakes, you could have a look at what we have.
A single oven and a separate hob with two hot plates.
Our thinking was that a combined unit would be too heavy to lift a full pan off.
Look at ads 8 and 9 down.
Quote: Originally posted by Jblakes on 24/4/2024
i thought most standard EHU was 16amps these days, or thats atleast what the campsites we have been looking at.
The site may have 16A available at the EHU post. This is fine for caravans but to connect to the tent you need an approved EHU lead which will incorporate a 10A MCB.
Quote: Originally posted by Jblakes on 24/4/2024
i thought most standard EHU was 16amps these days, or thats atleast what the campsites we have been looking at.
I assumed it would be far safer that carrying gas around in the boot/tent etc, plus i don't have to worry about it running out.
The standard socket on a bollard is 16 amp. We have been on a site which advertised 16 amp hook ups which in reality were only 6 amps and they wanted to charge us for resetting the breaker when we tripped it!
------------- I like children but I can't eat a whole one
16A is standard for all hook-up posts, that doesn't mean that you can necessarily draw 16A,the amount you can draw is governed by the size of the MCB at the post.
saxo1
The standard socket on a bollard is 16 amp. We have been on a site which advertised 16 amp hook ups which in reality were only 6 amps and they wanted to charge us for resetting the breaker when we tripped it!
Yeah. Despite the fact that the number written on the MCB easily identifies the allowed current before breaking, even campsites that should know better don't know this. I think that's why we get so many inaccurate answers when making enquiries. I rarely use hookups now due to our mainly off-grid van (though we can if we want) but I always believe them to mostly top out at 10amps but more likely 6 which is still just shy of 1500watts depending obviously on the voltage
A 10A MCB is rated to carry in excess of 10A for some considerable time, a 6A MCB is again rated to carry more than it's rating if they trip a less then they are faulty.
saxo1
Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 26/4/2024
A 10A MCB is rated to carry in excess of 10A for some considerable time, a 6A MCB is again rated to carry more than it's rating if they trip a less then they are faulty.
saxo1
Absolutely. Depends, as you know, on ambient temperature as well...
Back more specifically to OP's question. Just taken a look at a few oven/hobs on the market, and they may not be as camping/EHU friendly as you need!
Firstly regardless of whether you actually have a 16A rated EHU or a lesser rated one (10A MINIMUM required, 6A could not cope!), your extension lead (assuming you have a PROPER one with MCB and RCD) will only cope with a 10A load in total! That means a max load of 2.4kW, you might chance your luck and push that to 2.5kW relying on over rating of MCB and volt drop in cable making it squeak by! Now that means with the ovens I looked at, you could only use the oven OR the hobs, but NOT both together! In fact they would not be suitable to run all out on a domestic 13A socket at home either!
Your other option of separate electric oven and hobs may well leave you with the same total load problem, of not being able to use all at the same time! It needs some careful selection of units and/or selective use on site!
As an alternative, and we've got one as needed on non-EHU sites, there are gas oven/hob units. We've got a Kampa Roastmaster unit, and it's been brilliant over the past 5-6 years. So long as powered by a 'proper' gas cylinder/regulator (not disposables or any low volume restricted source) you can use oven and hobs all at once. Downside, it is a big and heavy lump to transport, and needs a robust table/stand, but in reality only slightly bigger/heavier than many electric units!
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 27/4/2024
Back more specifically to OP's question. Just taken a look at a few oven/hobs on the market, and they may not be as camping/EHU friendly as you need!
Firstly regardless of whether you actually have a 16A rated EHU or a lesser rated one (10A MINIMUM required, 6A could not cope!), your extension lead (assuming you have a PROPER one with MCB and RCD) will only cope with a 10A load in total! That means a max load of 2.4kW, you might chance your luck and push that to 2.5kW relying on over rating of MCB and volt drop in cable making it squeak by! Now that means with the ovens I looked at, you could only use the oven OR the hobs, but NOT both together! In fact they would not be suitable to run all out on a domestic 13A socket at home either!
Your other option of separate electric oven and hobs may well leave you with the same total load problem, of not being able to use all at the same time! It needs some careful selection of units and/or selective use on site!
As an alternative, and we've got one as needed on non-EHU sites, there are gas oven/hob units. We've got a Kampa Roastmaster unit, and it's been brilliant over the past 5-6 years. So long as powered by a 'proper' gas cylinder/regulator (not disposables or any low volume restricted source) you can use oven and hobs all at once. Downside, it is a big and heavy lump to transport, and needs a robust table/stand, but in reality only slightly bigger/heavier than many electric units!
Something I thought was worth noting on this advice, specifically voltage drop on an extension cable is, that nobody should be concerned about voltage drop on a cable when powering their van or tent.
Pretty much all of the cables you may buy from a camping shop will have a 2.5mm cable which at 20 meters, or even 50 meters plus, will not have a voltage drop that anyone should be concerned with. Throughout the Uk, or even the EU I have rarely seen anything far under 230vac or too far above 250vac which would travel through an even a much lower core than even 1.5mm cable with a notable voltage drop that should bother anyone. I doubt you would see a voltage drop over a 2.5mm cable more than 0.5 of a volt, if that, at 20m though there are variables based on the integrity/quality of the cable and termination.
The thicker the cable core, the lower the voltage drop so at 2.5mm at 20 meters, it's seriously not worth your attention.
Your mention of the Kampa Roastmaster peaks my interest though as I have been interested in this unit for some time. We have a double hob but the oven definitely appeals to me. Have you reviewed this on the forum before? I always wonder at people's reliance of electricity when you have devices like this that happily run on a bottle of gas..
Quote: Originally posted by Jblakes on 24/4/2024
i thought most standard EHU was 16amps these days, or thats atleast what the campsites we have been looking at.
I assumed it would be far safer that carrying gas around in the boot/tent etc, plus i don't have to worry about it running out.
There are some campsites still on 6A supply, so please do not assume and always ask to confirm!
Grass pitches are usually 10A supply.
16A tends to be for hardstanding for vans and not intended for tents.
Personally, if I were going to go all electric as a tenter again, I would get a small combination microwave with grill, and a separate induction hob like the low wattage double induction hob by Vango.
However, if I were to go back to tenting, I would definitely get a Coleman 424 Dual Fuel cooker, and supplement with either a small combination microwave with grill or a low wattage single induction hob by Vango.
I would still need to play the switch on/off game to avoid tripping the EHU if I were to use a kettle and a heater in addition to the oven and induction hob(s).
I still need to watch my consumptions with the van as I can't have the air con, kettle and induction hobs on at the same time, even with 16A supply!
DK
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Volt drop is proportional to the load the higher the load the more volt drop.
I have experienced voltages in France and especially Spain below 200V.
saxo1
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Topic: Electric mini oven with hobs
