just wondering as ive got a gas cooker and gas bottle that i use for camping but im always a bit worried about the fire hazard. Would a electric double hotplate be usable on a campsite any idea how many amps it would use etc i know theres still a risk of fire but with no naked flame it will leave me a bit more settled
Hi, we have camped for over 20 years and never had electric so its always gas cooking for us. We sometimes cook inside the tent too if the weather is bad - although others will tell you thats very dangerous.
Its all about being very careful and very sensible. We would never leave any sort of cooking or heating appliance unattended for even a moment.
Cant comment on the hotplates because I have never used one but I am sure someone will be along who has some experience.
We have bought a smaller tent for week ends and only tend to camp if the weather is fine. I have gas. I've been considering electric for the smaller tent, like you concerned with gas in a tent. What I have decided is that yes, it's not the safest way to cook, but make sure you have an escape route planned if the worst was to happen and also consider how close your neighbours are, again in case the worst was to happen.
I have been told with the double hot plate you can use the smaller ring on a low amp site and both rings on the larger amp sites, as long as you don't have anything else on electric at the same time.
I used to have an electric frying pan which never tripped the sites, and this is going back many years. You could do just about everything in it so I am considering buying another one.
------------- Started with a motorbike and tent.......my gallery, my life.
Some sites have unreliable electrics, so if you decide to cook on electric it is advisable to carry a standby gas stove. If the supply trips in the evening it may be the next morning before it is reset by the site warden.
The thing that i'd be wary of is how busy the site is. More people using electrics means more chance of tripping the mains every time you plug it in. This happened to us on a trip last May and the year before at Glenmore on a bank holiday weekend. Our low wattage travel kettle worked fine on the friday night. Then on the saturday the site filled up and every time we plugged in it tripped the mains box, so it was packed away and the gas hob kettle used instead. If the site is full of other people using electric hobs, tvs, mini ovens, heaters etc, you may find that you spend your holiday with nothing to cook on.
Both times the sites had numerous powercuts and when reporting to reception they told us it was because the electric supply couldnt cope with the demand.
I honestly didnt think that would ever effect our own pitch, but obviously it does.
Im sure someone will come on a disagree with this, but its happened at 2 seperate sites ive stayed at on bank holiday weekends - another reason I dont do bank holiday camping anymore.
------------- Always forgive,Never forget;Learn from mistakes,But Never regret;People change,Things go wrong;Just remember life goes on
Cool campers use Delta Pegs.
The happiest people aren't the ones who have everything they are the ones who make the most of everything they have
Got to be gas to cook on given a choice - just like in the kitchen. Used sensibly and safely I can't see that naked flames are any more dangerous than electricity?
You are just at much at risk from electrocution or fire from an electric cooker. Gas is perfectly safe if used with common sense. Electric though pretty safe can "trip" your circuit breaker if it gets wet. Some people don't reccomend use of mains electric appliances in a damp atmosphere (like a steamy tent on a wet day).
As others have said, some sites restrict the current to 6 or 10 Amps so you may be limited to what you can use. Gas only goes off if it is really cold (Butane only) or if you forget to exchange cylinders when running low.
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Topic: Gas or electric cooker?
