Cost of EHU at CLs
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We don't heat the van when its sat at home.
We are the same TG, although it is virtually never left there for more than 3 weeks. When on site in the winter, and we are going out, we usually leave the heating on if we expect to be way for a hour or so, but switch it off if we are to be out all day. Unless it's very very cold we switch the heating off when we go to be, as I can't sleep in a hot atmosphere, switching it back on about 6:30 so the van's nice and warm when we eventually get up..
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We've never heated the van when its sat at home, even when we lived in Germany, where winter was much harsher than here.
It could go for weeks sometimes months rarely getting above 0c.
Its not until I joined CT did I realise that some folk do heat there vans
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We shall be off to a CL shortly. We are out off pitch all day every day, and only have heating on in evening for a few hours. It goes off overnight, then we put little cab radiator on early morning while we have a coffee in bed. After that we are up, washed and off away from Site. We don't cost much to have as visitors😁
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Thank you David. It just reminds me why I so rarely respond to posts other than in the foreign section.
I love CLs and use them most of the time and wanted to give a bit of support to CL owners. With all their overheads they aren't making much out of running a CL and I am grateful for the opportunities they give me to stay in some glorious places.
Like some others have said I turn our heating down four or five degrees if we are going out for hours, and we run it very low overnight but, while I agree probably the majority do the same, I don't believe everyone does.
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When going out for the day, I always turn everything off lest there be some malfunction. I have noticed, however, that there is a significant draught coming from the floor vents which doesn't aid heat retention when it's cold outside.
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Jenny
We don't leave the heating on during the day when we are out because if you have been walking in cold weather even if the temperature dropped in the van it is usually still warmer than it is outside! However, having just having spent four nights away with night time (and daytime!) sub zero temperatures we do leave the heating on at night albeit at a lower level than during the day. When we caravanned we tended not to do that but motorhomes can be a bit draughty around the cab area, we are also 7 years older so don't know if that makes a difference! Perhaps we all have it wrong on CL/Campsite charges in the winter and maybe need to accept that energy use does warrant additional charges? We have just paid £19.90 a night for Bladon Chains which is the lowest price CMC site we have used all year.(As an aside given the popularity of the site at this time of year I expect it will be higher next year!)
David
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Whilst we had our caravans we only ever visited one CL and didn't require much heating. Now we have a MH and are looking for more stops local to places, we may well utilise them. However, I don't like to be cold. I would expect the CL owner to charge a realistic rate and would have no problem in higher prices in winter, or do as CholseyGrange does. Personally we leave the heating on when we go out, a couple of degrees lower than what we normally have it set. Given how good the insulation is, I don't think that uses any more energy than letting the van cool down and then having it on high to warm it up. To me it's not a case of I have paid for it so I'll use it but I am prepared to pay for it so I can use it.
Oh we don't go tripping any bollards and use it on the lower setting if the amperage requires. However, since we've had the MH heating, fridge and battery charger are the only things on the EHU. Kettles, toasters etc are now all gas.
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We use a gas kettle at home JV😁 It can sit on top of stove if required.
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David, we must have just missed you as we came home last week from staying there for three weeks. We went for one but liked Blenheim and Oxford so much we stayed. We thought the Christmas effort at Blenheim was brilliant and so was the Pompeii exhibition at the Ashmolean.
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On the Cls we've used with meters we haven't experienced anything to put us off. On the Cholsey Grange CL (see Ted's previous post) we stayed within the allowance. On another CL we had to feed a meter, we used up the previous occupants left over contribution and added a bit of our own (no doubt leaving some for the next user.) None of which added up to much at all and that particular site in Derbyshire had a nice washroom and shower for "free."
I personally feel the only thing to watch out for is the amperage, not all are 16 amps. Other than that we try not to waste the electricity supply and recently, having had a problem with our van electrics a good supply of gas is essential. To the OP, unless electricity is absolutely essential to your stay most CLs do what they say "on the tin" but check out the amps available either on the web site or when you arrive.
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Do you want to explain ACSI to the OP? They are brand new posters, looking to understand how CLs operate in this country, and any particular things they may need to be aware of before booking one. The ampage available is relevant, but I think introducing another provider, primarily referring to overseas sites, and using an acronym they might not understand might be muddying the waters at this stage?🤷♀️
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Generally most CL’s have an inclusive rate which pays for everything. Have only come across a couple of CL’s that charge additional for electric usually by prepaid card. One such site is Deodara in Norfolk
As you only ask about CLs I haven’t included Acsi sites over there
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Alternatively, from someone who has used dozens of CLs, every year for the last 30 years.........
CLs will offer a range of ampage, some as low as 6 amps (becoming more rare), 10 amps, but most nowadays offer 16amps. You will still come across some who have chosen not to install EHU points at all.Amperage is important, is it relates to what you can turn on at any one time in your outfit, and how warm you might like be.
Most, but not all, will state clearly what their approach to electricity provision is, be it an inclusive price, possibly variable between Winter and Summer, or some may be metered, in some shape or form. (Other options might have been mentioned earlier.) If it doesn’t clearly say either on the webpage, or in the handbook, then contacting the CL direct would be a good idea to make sure you will get what you prefer.
Don't expect CLs to be like Club Sites. They are all very individual, run quite differently. But all will have an electrical safety inspection.
Hope this helps😁
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One thing the OP hasn’t indicated, they are in a MH. So they might do like we do, and use their MH for visiting places daily. Or they might be of the park it and hook up ilk, more like a caravan. How they use their MH will determine how much electricity they might consume on an overall daily basis.
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Jenny
We arrived on 1st December, originally we were going to be there slightly earlier but a birthday dinner back in MK got in the way. I saw your blog. We didn't go as far afield as we stayed in and around the Woodstock area. We quite like the C&CC site in Oxford for its handy location, downside is all grass pitches! I discovered a handy bus service from almost outside the Bladon Chains site. This is the first year ( at least in recent years) that Bladon Chains has been open at this time of year. In its current condition probably a better summer site. On the subject of electricity the motorhome next door to us managed to trip the circuit breakers so goodness knows what he was using in addition to his heating?
David
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David
As a fellow Buckinghamshire inhabitant I wondered whether you had visited Waddesdon Manor's Christmas Display. The house is beautifully decorated but best of all are the garden light displays which are stunning. Sorry I've gone off piste so to speak.
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Funnily enough it was advertise in a brochure in the Bladon Chains Information Room!!! Not sure they have a campsite there|?
David
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We tend to use CLs with hookups most of the year and last Christmas we stayed on a CL who in winter charge a lower rate with the hookup having a meter which for the 2 of us with Alde heating for heating & showers and for the hotplate etc we paid £6 per night which was very reasonable.
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£6 Seems reasonable enough to me BB. If you are running everything on electric and it is reasonably cold. It all depends on what the owner has to pay for the electricity. CholseyGrange mentioned earlier they had to pay 22p a kW hour inc VAT and standing charge. That only works out at 27.3 kW hours. It wouldn't be that difficult to consume that in 24 hours.
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