Working out electricity draw on sites
Reading the article in the April magazine bySammy Faircloth Fitting this Dual LED AC 80-300V 100A Digital Ammeter Voltmeter LCD Panel Amp Volt Meter New
does away with the need to trip out the MCB on sites We tend to use sites abroad and the supply can be anything from 6 amps to 16 amps This meter shows you exactly what amperage you are drawing. Have fitted this to the last 2 caravans. and would now strugle without it . Easy to fit From Hong Kong so takes about 3 weeks to arive but for under £6 well worth it.
Comments
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My opinion on this, your post sort of suggests 'Sammy Faircloth' recommended fitting this, but I can't see it in the article. Entirely your decision but I wouldn't trust a cheap far eastern electrical gadget to be connected to the mains while out and about
from the van.I can see its use though for those unable to understand the formula.
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This was not intended to suggest that Sammy Faircloth recommended this. It i something that we have used since 2012 when we fitted it to our Swift. It is an indicator of the amperage the you are using Who would take a 3kw kettle when touring abroad ? This
alone would use more than 13 amps. More than most European sites provide some sense has to be used.. We know that most sites in Italy only have 6amp supply0 -
.... Who would take a 3kw kettle when touring abroad? This alone would use more than 13 amps. ..
Obvioulsy doesn't use more than 13 amps as otherwise it'd pop its plug's fuse at home too.
Power = Amps x Volts therefore a 3k
kettle would use 3000/240 =12.5amps .... but I see the point you're trying to make
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We have just returned from a short stay at a CL site although the mcb rating was 16 amps what we actually got was 206Volts. Using the normal calculation based on a thirteen amp kettle @ 240volts the amperage would be 12.5amps based on 230volts would be just over 13 amps but based on the voltage that we reordered of 209volts this would produce 14.35 amps more than the fuse rating of the kettle.
I would hate to worry Dave fl2 but I suspect that more than 80% of the electrical appliances at his home are made in the Far East. For me just another benefit of the meter. unable to post photo of meter
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Ah! I remember the long gone days of 240v supplies so well.
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I wouldn't trust a cheap far eastern electrical gadget to be connected to the mains while out and about from the van.
No different from the similarly sourced electrical appliances all over your 'van and your home.. However, if you are playing safe and switching off at the main circuit breaker each time you leave it will present no risk at all.
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We often stay at sites in Italy with 4 amp supply and have no problem with electricity for hot water set to 1 kW, 900 W kettle or microwave. We only have one on at a time though.
You can of course overload the supply for short periods without tripping and you also find that on sites with low power the voltage drops so you dont take as much current as you think which I am sorry to say is totally opposite to the well meant but incorrect comments above. With heating appliances a square law applies - reduce the voltage by 10% and the current drawn is reduced to 80% (as is the heat generated). A 3 kW kettle running at 206 volts will take less than 9 amps instead of approx. 12 amps.
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Sorry, I posted the above in haste. The current drops in the direct ratio of the voltage, not as the square, however the heating effect reduces as the square. Apologies for the confusion - it's late for me!
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I wouldn't trust a cheap far eastern electrical gadget to be connected to the mains while out and about from the van.
No different from the similarly sourced electrical appliances all over your 'van and your home.. However, if you are playing safe and switching off at the main circuit breaker each time you leave it will present no risk at all.
The difference being the appliances I use are tested to certain standards, is this cheap far eastern one the same? Plus why would I turn off my main circuit breaker unless I want my fridge to defrost while I'm out.
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I wouldn't trust a cheap far eastern electrical gadget to be connected to the mains while out and about from the van.
No different from the similarly sourced electrical appliances all over your 'van and your home.. However, if you are playing safe and switching off at the main circuit breaker each time you leave it will present no risk at all.
The difference being the appliances I use are tested to certain standards, is this cheap far eastern one the same? Plus why would I turn off my main circuit breaker unless I want my fridge to defrost while I'm out.
Just thinking the same myself, as far as I know we never turn the circuit breaker off.
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Sorry, I posted the above in haste. The current drops in the direct ratio of the voltage, not as the square, however the heating effect reduces as the square. Apologies for the confusion - it's late for me!
I understand your problem, HG, as the day draws on I tend to head back to my childhood
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