CAMC 10amp Electric?
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Yes I agree it will come to the fore. It’s a bit like all the kerfuffle 25 years or so ago, when more vans were made that could happily use more electrical equipment if they could be plugged into mains. The rule rather than the exception. What we have reached now is sort of the zenith of that, and it’s now the norm to have 16 amps so that everything can be used, and outfits are designed and bought with this understanding. All that is happening is another mind shift, albeit one perhaps driven by environmental and cost implications. This will bring big changes.
I don’t think there is a right or wrong way of touring, folks choose their outfit, their holiday destination, their site and it’s facilities all based on what they prefer. People are making choices around what impacts them, it might be a new all singing all dancing outfit, or something old and basic. It might be a pitch with a hook up at whatever price is charged, or it might be a modified system that makes self sufficiency more of an option. The use of electric to power more and more in outfits continues, and probably impacts Club Site fees, along with replacing old electrical equipment. There’s more of a trend for Winter touring now as well, we are certainly seeing more outfits out in all weathers than we used to in past years. They cost so much, folks like to make the most of getting in the usage. Again ,if it’s in this country, it will need heat. (And possibly a sump pump but that’s another thread!😱)
EVs however, are coming, and that will certainly drive change.
That basic site you mention sounds lovely. In Summer, we love being outside all day, so often opt for no hook up. The van is just a sleeping berth, a posh tent!😁
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I've been looking up a few sites for possible spring breaks and noticed that Carnon Downs in Cornwall offers a £3 reduction if EHU isn't needed, some have suggested previously that the club offers a similar option. There are many ways the club could reduce overheads and demands on utilities.
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Agree brue.
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From what I've read I get the impression that quite a lot of contributors point the finger at the refrigerator as the major consumer of power.
So do we actually NEED them? How much of the stuff is in there just because it is being used as a larder? What are the few things that do need to be cooled?
Certainly in the weather we have in the UK, outside storage would be more than adequate for most stuff except in high summer, and for those things that do need to be cooler an evaporative storage box would do the trick. What is the modern equivalent of the "Oh-so-Cool"?
[I can't manage beer that has been refrigerated - gives me terrible hic-ups!]
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To all those posters who believe that reducing the supply to 10 amps will make no difference to power usage - a short story. Our first house was a new build (many, many, years ago) and by some fluke the builders hadn't go around to fitting an electricity meter. This continued for several months during the winter. Guess what? We acquired several electrical heaters (no excuses - we were young and hard up!).
For a while we had vending machines at work with a short free vend period in the morning and afternoon. Guess what? People brought thermos flasks to work and filled them during the free vend so they had free hot drinks all day.
If something is perceived to be “free” then some people will exploit it to the maximum available. Heat the awning, it’s free.2 -
Oneputt
An answer would cut out a lot of speculation!
One would have to question the motivation of reducing the ampage from 16 to 10. No doubt it would be a fairly easy conversion as they would just change the breakers in the bollard? But to what point? The Club encourages all year round camping and if members see a reduction the the number of amps available they could start to question (maybe unrealistically) the point of touring in cold weather. This could lead to less income. Those of us that have toured abroad know that in France, Spain and Italy 6 amps (sometimes less) is quite common and we manage but most of us are there in the summer months so demand is less. If the Club are really concerned about rising energy costs then they really need to consider metering as the only fair way of charging for electricity. But even there they have to take into account the massive cost of installing such a system and how many years it would take to recover the cost. In the meantime if people were paying extra for electricity by usage then not unreasonably they would want a reduction in site fees? If this is under consideration there has to be some logic to it otherwise it will be difficult to sell to members.
David
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And it grows like mad during the season. How do they keep on top of it? My lawn needs mowing at least twice a week to keep it at a manageable length during the peak growing season.
However, back in the room! 10 amps would be sufficient for vast majority I think. The only issue I've had is when using the microwave with its start up demand which spikes the demand. I can manage without this mind or just switch everything else off whilst using it on lower setting.
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DK, the site we are on has recently invested in brand new electric connection cabinets and new wifi connected meters which are readable in the office.
they are also refurbing all five toilet/washroom blocks (to a standard beyond typical club levels), so a large investment.
how do they get this back?
by offering a terrific (and constantly improving) package, delivering the best site facilities available...but with flexible methods for paying for power.
however, if CC sites are already full (as we are constantly told) yet the club has said rising utility charges are one of the main reasons for price rises, where are they to go to recover those costs. there only current weapon is pitch fees.....ever rising.
surely the thing to do is reduce demand (and costs) not keep upping supply?
which do you think would encourage you to turn a light off....
a notice in the washroom or a larger bill?
most posters who have experienced metering (whether they like it is another matter) have commented that it does make a difference to habits..
when the oil crisis drove fuel prices through the roof we all eased back on the throttle a bit...
the club is at a watershed now regarding power usage/costings with the projected mushroom of electric car demands....they have already suggested interim rates for these vehicles...
perhaps its the time to become a bit more flexible in how it charges its customers for power....?
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I DID get an answer to this question David.. I answered my own post after talking to a ‘Live Chat’ person. I should have done this first before posting but I must admit I didn’t think. Anyway, he was very helpful and went off to find the answer for me. I posted this answer 4 posts after my OP, so end of! Or so I thought!!! The answer is as follows —
“”I have checked with our sites admin and site opps teams and to the best of our knowledge there is currently no plan they are aware of to do this at the moment. They usually let us a know a bit in advance if there any concrete plans for this sort of thing. It could be something they may still do in the future, but nothing is on our radar as of yet “”.
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With the amount of space on many of the club sites that isn't used for pitches why don't the club install some solar panels? I know they are not the most attractive of things but if members see them but realise they are helping keeping pitch fees down they may accept them more. The other advantage is that for sites closed during the winter these panels will still be generating some power and therefore some income. Even just a few panels would be better than none.
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Agree with pretty much all of this.
Will also point out that the club is now growing it's 'portfolio' of non caravanning accommodation and the number of sites offering this- to some folks annoyance I may add but I can understand this 'progress' totally.
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which do you think would encourage you to turn a light off....
a notice in the washroom or a larger bill?
Neither
most posters who have experienced metering (whether they like it is another matter) have commented that it does make a difference to habits..
No idea. It might at some of the rates mentioned abroad but I suspect less so in UK for many.
when the oil crisis drove fuel prices through the roof we all eased back on the throttle a bit...
We all didn't ease back. I certainly did not. Which crisis was that though? Was it early 70s where a 50mph limit was imposed on motorways? The police were driving at 50mph along the M62 whilst drivers smiled and gave a friendly wave as they sped past.
the club is at a watershed now regarding power usage/costings with the projected mushroom of electric car demands....they have already suggested interim rates for these vehicles...
They have decided some interim charges but, I suspect, to appease those non electrics who might whinge otherwise. The thought of paying £8 to charge an EV seems a bit daft but then that is because I wonder if it is practical to charge an EV capable of towing, on a 16amp bollard and have spare capacity to run the caravan. I have no real idea though
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We all didn't ease back. I certainly did not. Which crisis was that though? Was it early 70s where a 50mph limit was imposed on motorways? The police were driving at 50mph along the M62 whilst drivers smiled and gave a friendly wave as they sped past.
I must have been more law abiding than most,🤔 as I stuck to 50 mph and did my bit. Plus saved a bit of money.😀
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The site you talk about is of course over there and largely irrelevant to the UK where the all in price is the norm on 99% of sites. And why they did it could be irrelevant too, perhaps the old cables were dangerous/too old and in need of change, not like all club sites. I'm also not sure that they will get this back by your methods described and really it is all conjecture on your part. You have no way of knowing how well used that site will be
which do you think would encourage you to turn a light off....
a notice in the washroom or a larger bill?
Neither, why would it? I haven't done that in holiday cottages where one had to pay for electricity and gas (even though for some reason that appears a thing of the past now)
I would have costed the holiday and want to enjoy it. If I need energy to do that then it gets used.
perhaps its the time to become a bit more flexible in how it charges its customers for power....?
The only way is installing meters which the last time it was costed out on here was anywhere from £200,000 and no way to get that money back at all.
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We have at times had heating on a low setting but its rare when we go. All this we can do on 6 amp. The world would not end if the CAMC reduced supply .
It might be rare for you to have heating on but less so for many in UK out of height of Summer.
I read that the default for many spanish homes is no more than the aaaaacmc 16amps and if you want more you pay a heavy premium. Do you see many Spanish registered PHEVs and EVs
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