Power on euro sites

shirleanne
shirleanne Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited August 2016 in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Are there any club members out there that know anything about the electrics on campsites in France and Spain? I am told that they are short on the amps supplied ,( I am not even sure what this means!) ,and I would like to buy a microwave for the motor home
to make my life easier .With this in mind should I be looking for one that is of  lower wattage and if so what would be suitable.

I would be most grateful if anyone could help me.

Thanks

Shirl

Comments

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
    500 Comments
    edited August 2016 #2

    Most caravan sites in the uk have 16 amp supplies for caravans, a few have 10 amp.. A 1000w appliance will draw roughly 4 amps, therefore a standard uk mains electric supply 16 amps is ok for 4000w or 4Kw at any one time.

    Some French sites will have 16 amp supplies, others will only have 10 amp some only 6amp .. the latter is more or less ok for only 1.5 kw ( 1500w ) at any one time.

    If you get a smaller microwave, 800w or thereabouts, as fitted as standard in new caravans you should be ok so long as you dont have too much other stuff on at the same time.

     

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,872 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #3

    In France the most common ampage is 6 amps although 10 amps is becoming more widespread. With 6 amps you have to be careful about running too many items with a heating element at the same time. We use the microwave in our motorhome on a 6 amp supply. I appreciate
    that formulas start to make thing sound complicated but all appliances have a max wattage they use marked on them. European voltage is 230 so you multiply the voltage (230) by the ampage (6) to give the total number of watts available to you  230x6 = 1380
    watts. So providing that the total wattage used by all the appliances on in the van does not exceed, 1380 watts in the case of a 6 amp supply you will be OK.

    David

  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
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    edited August 2016 #4

    Also note that some sites meter the amount of electricity you use. ACSI discount rates entitle you to 4kWh per 24 hours eg 1 kilowatt for 4 hours, although this is not enforced on sites without meters.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #5

    Agree with the comments above but would just add that the further South you go in general the lower the available power supply. 6 amps is very common but is perfectly adequate for microwave, electric heating on lowest setting and low wattage kettle BUT not
    all at the same time! You get used to juggling it around.

    In France this year our 6 amp supply tripped out every time we used the microwave. For some reason the settings in the EHU supply were too sensitive. Normally 6 amps is fine.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #6

    We have just had 6 amp in Austria and it was expensive and a pain

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited August 2016 #7
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585 ✭
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    edited August 2016 #8

    If you book sites with the club the brochure will tell you what the power supply is with some sites giving you a higher rating for a price. They will also give you the type of plug. Sites abroad are moving over to the blue plug used here but many still have
    an older white type and if so you need a converter.

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited August 2016 #9

    800W is the best bet and should be fine on 6 Amp.

  • kentman
    kentman Forum Participant Posts: 147
    edited August 2016 #10

    We even experienced sites with only 3 amps this year and gave up using the on-board water heater on electricity because it kept tripping the supply. Microwave was OK.

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