I'm about to go and buy electric hook up stuff this weekend. Any advice on what I need? I'm campng in France this summer and most of the sites I'm using say they have 10 A hookups. One has 6 A, and this latter one says it has CEE and French connections - what does the last bit mean?
If its a 10A power supply, what sort of power equipment can I run?
10 amp will allow you to use up to about 2000w in total, what was you thinking of plugging in? highest user is a heater but i hope you don't need one .
not sure on the french connector. sure someone will come along with the advice shortly. have a great time and au-revoir simon.
sorry, further to that, the new camping shop "atlas" at old trafford do a 3 socket electric hookup for £65 which is an excellent price. it has the proper rcd/mcb's waterproof with lead and plug.
as stated before on this site don't be tempted by the cheap home made efforts on e-bay as they are unsuitable for a tent and are usually not allowed bt the campsite owners,
In answer to your query Re: "french connection" I think they mean the convetional 2pin and earth continental sockets. (The same type of sockets are used all over europe including Spain and France.)
You will need a short adaptor lead with a continental plug on one end and a 16Amp CEE form socket on the other.I have seen them for sale at camp shops.
You can then plug your EHU into a continental socket using the adaptor, or if the site has 16A CEE sockets you EHU cable will plug in directly as in the UK.
Be wary of the polarity of supply though! The continentals have weird wiring systems! In Spain for instance there is no Live or Neutral but two LIVES! both pins are live with respect to earth and they use double pole MCB's.
Where as in the UK the neutral and earth are connected together at the substaion transformer thus allowing a single pole MCB.
Dita is 100% correct with the watts/amps formula.
If You have a half decent EHU you sould be safe so despite the technical jargon you'll be OK.
Happy camping
Frank & Kathy
Spain does not have 2 Lives thats impossible, they do not follow proper colour coding it is true and may even switch on the neutral side, so basically do NOT play with spanish electrics check the polarity and plug in.
As for plugs they have 2 types but
There are some weird and wonderful older arrangements still around, but for many years Spain has utilised the standard European socket with a two pin arrangement and side earth. There are two types of plug, both of which fit the standard socket. A smaller two pin plug for double insulated appliances which don't need an earth, and a larger two pin and side earth strip for those requiring an earth. Line and neutral are not distinguished - plugs can go into sockets either way. Plugs are not individually fused. Appliances with UK sockets can be adapted to work with Spanish sockets either by replacing the UK plug or using a cheap and widely available adaptor.
Basically a standard euro adaptor will do.
Dita's formula gives a rough and ready answer but is NOT 100% accurate, but its the easiest quick guide.
Hi George Long time, no speak!
Yes I probably stand corrected on the 2 LIVES in my prervious post. I've never done any electrical work in Spain but been on holiday there enough times to note that their instalations leave a lot to be desired!
BTW George we have moved house now to the other side of town, Now living in Donnington. (Must update the profile!)
Talk soon
Regards Frank
I'm new to this camping world and about to undertake our first camping holiday to Corsica this august.
I've been buying equipment these past months for the holiday but have delayed purchase of an electric hook-up lead, due to my own ignorance and confusion. Let me explain.
I live in Italy !!!
Anyone who has visited this country will be aware that we have a wonderfully confusing choice of electrical socketry, from 2 pin no earth, 3 pin centre earth to 3 pin side earth.
Added to this I also use some equipment with BS 3 pin safety plugs, brought over from Ireland when we moved.
It's all a bit confusing.
Now, as I said we are off to Corsica so what type of plug/socket arrangement should I be looking for there? I like the safety of these leads.
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=81
My approach to electrics is a healthy respect for it's potential to harm, "if you are going to do it, do it right"
so I would prefer to have the correct cable, without having to use plug adapters etc., if possible.
Any advice on this would be appreciated.
I just realised I should check out what the power supply type in the camp site is.
No info. on their website. I'll ask a friend who has stayed there before.
Thanks again, in advance of any suggestions offered.
Spudz
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: Electrics
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Sharon 
