Electriacal Appliances

[Goonerboy_374225852]

Would I be right in presuming that providing I did not use them altogether that I could use most of the common appliances from my home in my van running off the 240V elctric hook up. Such as portable DVD/TV, Vacuum Cleaner, Hairdryer, Kettle, Radio etc ..

I've read that most sites have between 10A and 16A output so coupled with the lights, waterheater etc.. providing I stay beneath the sites limit all should be OK ?

Regards

 

[Ogre]

Hi Scott:

Yes, you'll be fine running normal appliances from your normal Hook up.

You've already identified the obvious, which is not to have too many appliances on at once.

You CAN buy lower rated appliances for caravans/camping but generally their output is not brilliant, and most of the ones we've tried over 20 years or so have gone into the Car Boot box after little use.

 

[JeremyClarksson]

Power is Volts times Amps

So a 10 Amp supply at 240V = 2.4 kW

and a 16 Amp supply = 3.8 kW

So if your space heater, water heater and kettle all happened to be operating at the same time you wold probably trip a 10 Amp supply but should be OK with a 16Amp supply.

It would probably be a good idea to flick the heaters off when using heat appliances like the kettle.

 

[DavidS1]

Power is Volts times Amps

So a 10 Amp supply at 240V = 2.4 kW

and a 16 Amp supply = 3.8 kW

So if your space heater, water heater and kettle all happened to be operating at the same time you wold probably trip a 10 Amp supply but should be OK with a 16Amp supply.

It would probably be a good idea to flick the heaters off when using heat appliances like the kettle.

On the subject of electrical appliances - I plan to visit France next summer and notice that some sites have as little as 4amp output. Could I use a 750 watt microwave, an electric kettle, an electric toaster, electric water heater with this? (obviously not all at the same time)

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello avid,

Garry has given you the formula to use to work out how much power you can use for any given current limit.

With only 4Amps available that gives 920Watts (Volts x Amps 230 x 4)

If you leave your fridge running, they typically consume 120W (check the data plate on your own fridge)so that will leave about 800W available for any other appliances.

You could only use a Low wattage kettle (these are available from caravan dealers)as most normal domestic kettles start at 2200W and some go as high as 3200W.

The water heaters designed for caravans are deliberatly made with low wattage elements, But space heaters would be too power hungry for a 4A supply.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello garry

Just noted that you have used 240V in you calculations, The actual standard supply voltage is now only 230V thnaks to EU harmonisation.

 

[JeremyClarksson]

John L

The UK voltage has not changed but the standard has it is now 230V +/- 10% which encompasses our 240V and Europes 220V, I thought about using 230V but for power purposes it is better to use 240V.

http://users.metro2000.net/~purwinc/seec2_2.htm

 

[DavidS1]

Thanks for the help.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Gary,

Technically the standard supply in the UK is now 230V see the government web site:-

http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file11548.pdf
I acknowledge that the new standrd encompasses the older 240V but since Jan 1st 1995 it is now 230V, and new equiepment has to be manufactured and rated based on the range of voltages specified by the standard. (this explains why kettels often have two wattages quoted effectively upper and lower limits)

 

[JeremyClarksson]

We are not really disagreeing - the standard (think of a British Standard kitemark)has changed, but as far as I am aware no work has been done to actually change the supply infrastructure to your house which is why there are different upper and lower levels for the UK and Europe - the mains supply at my house today is 235V.

Changing a standard does not actually mean anything has to be physically changed unless it falls outside of the new standard.

In some remote areas I am sure that that the household supply would be closer to the lower limits of the standard and if you were right next to a sub station you could be near the upper limits of the standard.

Voltages will vary all over the country and now Europe and as your link points out it is +10% and -6% that is allowed in the UK (not + or - 10% as I posted), this would mean that anything between 216.2V and 253V would be acceptable under the standard.

However you are absolutely right to point out that you should use 230V in calculations - as that is what the standard would dictate as a normal supply for anything manufactured at the present time for Europe.

 

[JeremyClarksson]

On the subject of electrical appliances - I plan to visit France next summer and notice that some sites have as little as 4amp output. Could I use a 750 watt microwave, an electric kettle, an electric toaster, electric water heater with this? (obviously not all at the same time)

In theory you should be able to run 4 Amps x 230V = 920W.

In practice some appliances have higher startup currents than they do when they are running and the trip should be set to take account of this.

If you are going to use the microwave I should avoid using any other appliances particularly ones that use heat.

 

[Guest]

A lot depends on where you do your caravanning. If you stick to the UK and use the Club sites then you will have no problems, apart from the fact that by using a lot of equipment will mean the sites having to increase charges to cover the wholesale costs. They base their site charges on an average useage, if you are greedy, then we all pay. I believe this is already in the pipeline for the CC, mainly due to the increase in gas prices.

If you go abroad a lot then it is better to get low wattage items as many sites a will give you only 5 - 10 amps. 10 amps means 2300 watts, which can be a domestic electric kettle. You soon find out when everything cuts off, and you have to get the warden to reset the trip.