Best Of
Re: Vloggers Experience of Metering
"There is no pleasure going away in winter in the van and being cold, just plain silly."
agree not for us, in our dotage, we like the comfort of home too much and with much shorter days you are limited as to what you can do and lots of areas have hunkered down for the winter so not a lot going on.
we used to many years ago when we lived in Scotland and we were foot loose and fancy free, on one occasion on the club site at Braemar, we could not open the door as the snow had weighted down the porch awning and was blocking the door, and on several occasions we had to leave the caravan in the farm yard at the bottom of the lane as the lane was full of snow or just too icey
Rufs
Re: Vloggers Experience of Metering
We do not heat the house overnight, never have, so in the van we step the Alde down to 13/14 degrees overnight, Spring and Autumn, with it coming on at 18degrees in the morning as, perversely, the biggest radiator in the van is the one alongside the bed!
First person up, usually me, turns it up to 20. If out all day it goes back down to 18, but never off completely.
We would be uncomfortable in the house with 16-18 overnight.
KjellNN
Re: Steamer Quay Upgrade
Conditional approval to go ahead with the site development has been given.
peedee
peedee
Re: Vloggers Experience of Metering
According to age concern the recommended setting for a bedroom is between 16 -18c so I guess having the van set to 18c overnight is about right.
We have the house set to 19c during the day when we are active and 21c in the evenings up to 21.30, we don't have heating on overnight anywhere in the house.
In the van the heating is on higher more like 21c during the day (if we are in the van) then in the evenings we turn it up to 23c. Overnight in the van its set at 17c. We prefer to be comfortable and not have to site around dressed up like a snowman or have to use throws just to keep warm.
As to metered electric we have used metered sites abroad but not in the UK. I think its all about what price you will be paying per kwh and knowing just how much you do use.
I know in the warm weather with solar generation we can manage on 4kw per day. At home just for electric lights and appliances we average around 6kwh per day in the winter months when solar generation is very limited.
During the sunnier months with 10 panels our electric use is around 2 or 3 kwh per day. We tend to use the power hungry appliances like washing machine and dishwasher when the sun is out so that makes a big saving and of course electric light use is very minimal during the summer months.
Re: Vloggers Experience of Metering
I was surprised he used so much electricity as the van looked fairly modern, certainly compared to ours! We do not have the level of insulation that vans built since 2009 have, so would use a lot of electricity if heating in very cold weather.
We are however aware of that, and used to metering abroad, so we would switch the heating to gas as we have refillables. We do not normally take the van out in winter, so the problem rarely arises.
What surprised me were the written comments claiming the owners were overcharging and that electricity could not possibly cost that much, people should check the prices that businesses have to pay, not assume it will be the same as in their homes.
I was also astounded at the temperatures he was setting his heating to!!
KjellNN
Re: Vloggers Experience of Metering
"Having had that experience might well lead to doing differently in the future."
Exactly, David! Which is why we continued with our policy of using gas for heating / hot water later in the year when it was warmer and had overall power costs of little more than £3 per day (including gas) - so saving about £2 per day on the previous pitch fee there.
However - when at Bridlington in November - where we had already 'paid' the electricity costs with the pitch fee, we reverted back to using electricity for heating etc.
Methinks, the sooner CAMC roll our metering everywhere - and REDUCES the pitch fee accordingly, the better - then there's an incentive to minimise power usage.
Re: Are they joking?
We stayed in Cape Town just before Covid, in late October /Early November. Too windy for trips to Robben Island, no cable car up the mountain (too windy), a boat trip out in False Bay turned into a nightmare, with the boat having to return the long way round the shoreline to Simonstown, and all passengers off the top deck standing downstairs and holding on for dear life. July must be even worse.
NutsyH
Re: Vloggers Experience of Metering
I don’t think many who use big modern, power hungry outfits have much idea beyond the basics of just how much electricity they use. Many folks like to tow/drive away a tiny replica of what they have at home, with all the gadgets, all the plug ins, all the convenience, all the warmth, and very little effort, and don’t fully understand that this is going to cost quite a bit to run. Nothing wrong with it if it’s your choice, but you either do the maths around running heating and a tower fridge freezer via gas or electric, and decide on what suits you best, or you don’t.
We are happy with metered pitches, if the differential on having hook up or not prices is realistic.
Re: Are they joking?
Thought as much, you could do it at a better time of year for that amount.
Re: Vloggers Experience of Metering
I'm amazed that anyone leaves the heating at 18C overnight. We normally turn ours off but in very severe overnight temperatures ( -5C) we do set the heating to come on at 5C.
If we feel cold in bed we just add another thin duvet. I normally have the opposite problem of overheating and spend most of the night, home and away, with my feet uncovered.
MikeyA