Electrical Hook Up
New caravanner awaiting delivery of my van and looking at the array of bits and pieces I came across two options for an electrical hook up lead. 10m & 25m I obviously realise that the 25m will cover more situations but it is seriously heavy it weighed and I wonder how more experienced members feel about the much lighter (and cheaper) 10m cable?
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Your van will probably have a cable with it. If a dealer doesn’t throw one in, it’s a poor show. I’ve collected many over the years with each van I’ve bought and sold a few on Preloved recently.
25m every time. If you use CLs, for instance, you may even need the 10m as well with a weatherproof approved connector.
PS. You may be able to twist the dealer's arm into giving you a good price on the accessories you need such as a step, battery and water containers.
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Hi,
We have been to quite a few sites in our 10 yrs with the caravan and on most occasions I would have got away with a 10 meter cable, but I would certainly go for the 25 meter cable as you then know that you are covered for all pitch types, then this way it saves the expense of having to buy a second cable or worse still if you are at a site and can`t get one then you have know electric for your stay,
Hope this helps.
Jmeg
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If its a brand new caravan you are getting it will defiantly come with a 25m hookup lead.
If its a second hand caravan and you are buying it from a dealer, it still should come with a lead.
If none of the above i agree with TW, get a 25m lead. even on some club pitches a 10m wont be long enough. On one club pitch i was on my 25m lead wasn't long enough and the warden had one he lent to people who chose that pitch.
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Why? A 25m lead covers all lengths unless you need one over 25m which is rare.
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Tigi's advice about two cables on the Continent is sound advice.In thirty plus years of Caravanning and Motorhoming we have come across some "interesting" situations re hook-ups.A polarity corrector in the form of a short length of cable to deal with RP has also come in handy.Most modern vans have an indicator light for RP these days but you can get plug in versions still.A short continental two pin cable length is also handy - the "old school" electrics are still in situ on some continental sites.
Seldom have we needed two cables in the UK but..on some basic CLs it can be a stretch to the hook up at the back of some barn etc.
I keep a box of 'bits for abroad' and take it out of the MH when I get back home.
Trouble is you can finish up with a mobile version of "The Old Curiosity Shop" if you are not careful.I have been as guilty as anyone else of carting stuff around 'just in case' -a periodic clear out of the unit can be revealing of how much 'not required on voyage' is eating up your legal payload on the unit.
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I carry a 25m cut in half with a pair of new plugs/socket fitted. To be honest only use the two halves a handfull of times. Assuming the average van is 7.5m long then this is nearly twice the total length of the van for one half of the cable. Anything longer than 25m away is taking the p....
Why, just got fed up unfurling 25m when very rarely need more than 5 or 6m.
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My original 25M wass divided 15/10 to provide a hookup for home, so I have a 25M and a 15M. I'm hoping to sort out additional solar and an inverter so I won't need a cable at all.
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Be aware of “ Keeping safe on Club Sites (Electrical hook-ups para.11d) In Sites Directory & Handbook, which states, Only single cables are to be used-no joints or splitters are allowed.
In order to keep excess cable to a minimum, I was made to remove two approved mains cables joined inside a proprietary weatherproof approved connector when staying on Burrs Country Park. Have used this type of set up for many years on the Continent without any comment or problem
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As the last site that I was on there was a pitch which was too far away for my cable so I decided to measure it when I got home. It is approximately 12 metres so I have decided to buy a 25 metre one. If I buy one that is on a reel, do I have to unwind it all when I use it?
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Yes please. See >>> this link <<<
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We pitched next to someone the other week who kept his EHU lead wound up on the reel, until I very kindly explained to him the fire risk. He was grateful for me telling him.
I sometimes wonder if we ought to have some sort of published 'Caravanners Code' with all the do's and don'ts, and make it compulsory that they are given out with every new and second hand caravan!
David
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We have travelled all over Europe for the best part of 30 years and never needed more than 25 meters although I guess occasionally we would have rejected pitches where the lead wouldn’t reach. 10 meters is not enough. Make sure you have a 2.5 mm sq conductor - orange cable in the UK.
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I've needed more than 25m in France, albeit only a few times. We tend to take a 25m and an older lead which I made up some years back, which is around 15m (for occasional use....!!) What is often more of an issue is that some folk don't have a 'French plug' conversion lead, for the sites that don't have our connection. I always take 2 with me..... one to use and one to loan out
.David
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Good advice but ive never seen an IP67 plug and socket on any site i've stayed on.
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You don't just have to be a caravaner to know that you should really fully un-wind an extension reel when using it. I've come across various reels over the years that are a solid lump of plastic in the centre due to being used while wound up & supplying high-ish amps.
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Most of the plugs/sockets on sale to caravanners are IP44, splash-proof only.
I dont know exactly what constitutes splash-proof but I think rain in North Wales or the Lakes will possibly exceed splash-proof.
If you do use a join then put it on a brick and wrap a disposable carrier bag over the top and under the brick or carry 12" of plastic gutter.
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That's the way to do it - go to outlets that tradesmen use, not caravan shops.👍
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I'm confused as to how they help unless purely for joining cables. Your EHU cable might have a ip67 plug but the site bollard won't have the corresponding socket for the collar to lock onto & the connection to your caravan is inside a locker door.
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Currently touring with two x 25m cables. We like splendid isolation😂 Doubt anyone will need more than 25=m on a Club Site, but extra gives some better pitching options on CLs.
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