Aires in france... (1 Viewer)

sean n maggie

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Can you tell me how the electric supply works on the Aires please ? i see some that say so much for 55 min,,,is this just to recharge the battery ?....hope i dont sound stupid,,but this is all new to me going abroad, i am used to going on a site and putting the cable in for the duration.....:Blush:
 

scotjimland

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Jul 25, 2007
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Can you tell me how the electric supply works on the Aires please ? i see some that say so much for 55 min,,,is this just to recharge the battery ?....hope i dont sound stupid,,but this is all new to me going abroad, i am used to going on a site and putting the cable in for the duration.....:Blush:


No hard and fast rule..

some are as you say.. you pay per hour to recharge or use whatever appliance you want .. others have an EHU that you are familiar with in the UK.. and some have no electric.
The 'pay to use' EHU generally use a Jetton.. (token) which are usually available from local shops.. some use a €1 coin.

You may also find that the EHU point is a long way from your van.. so an extra cable may be needed.. I carry an extra 25mt extension on a drum..

On some aires during the peak period, there may not be enough EHU points for every van, when that happens you may be asked to share .. don't worry, the French usually carry a splitter socket.. and will piggy back onto yours.. I've seen this with three or more vans all sharing a single supply.

Plug types are generally the 16A blue type you are familiar with.. but you may come across the French two pin socket.. so carry an adapter to suit.

Reverse live and neutral ( commonly called reverse polarity) is also common. The French have double pole switches so they have no issue with this.. bear it in mind.. it won't cause damage.. but don't be tampering with the toaster still plugged in.. even when off at the socket.. it could still be live..
If this is a worry..( it shouldn't be), carry a polarity tester and a short reverse polarity lead.. Personally I never give it a second thought.. others are anal about it .
 
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Apr 29, 2009
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We tend only to use the EHU on Aires for the Hairdryer. Usual cost where there is a Bourne to plug into has been 2 euro for 55mins/60mins or 2 hours. On some Aires you just plug in like a uk campsite and the electric is included in the cost of parking.
We take an extension cable as has been said sometimes the electric point can be a fair distance away (La Suze sur Sarthe is one that springs to mind).

I always check the polarity with a tester and use a reversed polarity connector if needed just to be on the safe side.

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Parcverger

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You can always come to a site like ours, where your ehu is close to or even on your pitch, and a 16A supply at that! Overnight with Funster discount (available to all subscribing members) costs only 14,40€, and stay for a week we'll reduce this by 10%, so less than 13€ for a decent site with ehu. :thumb:

Bob
www.parcverger.com
 

scotjimland

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You can always come to a site like ours, where your ehu is close to or even on your pitch, and a 16A supply at that! Overnight with Funster discount (available to all subscribing members) costs only 14,40€, and stay for a week we'll reduce this by 10%, so less than 13€ for a decent site with ehu. :thumb:

Bob
www.parcverger.com

Good value Bob.. cheaper than some aires.. :thumb:

hard to believe but it's 6 years past since we stayed.... must revisit one day.. :Smile:
 
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greyman1

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also bear in mind that there are a lot of aires that dont have any mains electricity supply whatsoever , so make sure your 12v onboard supply is all working as it should . regards garry .

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magicsurfbus

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Nothing to add to ScotJimLand's comprehensive reply, apart from saying never assume that anything is available on the next aire you travel to, especially in summer. Treat available electricity as a bonus rather than a certainty.
 

Heyupluv

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very true...

you didn't mention running a genny ... :winky:
or how to win friends and piss off the French :ROFLMAO:

All what Jim and magicsurbus has said I totally agree with...the ONE electric point on the borne is not meant for permanent usage 24hour daily...in many cases the 55mins to 2 hours is for charging your battery and as many of the French pull into Aires at dinner time for there dinner this could be used either for cooking or to watch a hour of TV... if there battery was flat as the French do like there TV .and a hour in the evening for the same reasons.....BUT there are Now many Aires that have a series of power points around the Aire and these can be used on the 24 hour basis ...UNLESS specified how many hours and for what the usage ....DO NOT always think because it says 16amp on the socket it will have a 16amp trip fuse inside...(the 16amp on the socket is its tested rating) the fuse could be 6amp....10amp...or even 16amp...but most likely the 6amp..and yes there are as may correct polarity as there are crossed polarity...even on the same electric post

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Heyupluv

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very true...

you didn't mention running a genny ... :winky:
or how to win friends and piss off the French :ROFLMAO:

Jim....Mmm A lot of the French now have genies.....I think the old reason was if you don't have one yourself, or are a bit behind the times,.. or can not afford one,.. you always say what you have is the best and is just what you have always wanted..you complain...but in many cases, until you can get or can afford what the other chap has.......you complain and make him wish he had never purchased a genny in the first place....if that makes sense:Doh::RollEyes: this word springs to mind Jealousy...:winky::winky:...I have run my 1kw honda genny many times at the side of other French motorhomes on Aires....I always park away from others if I intend to run my genny..but many times they come and park at the side of me they look at and comment the VERY QUITE HONDA and commented on how little sound it makes...and I have never been asked to turn it off...BUT I always ask first ......but it is not used on a regular daily ...weekly...monthly.. it is on needy occasions
 
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Minxy

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You may also find on some aires that you can get 'free' electric, even if it is a pay one, as the previous occupant may not have used it all (if it's on a usage, rather than time, rate) - so sometimes it pays to check out all the available sockets and see if there is any 'credit' left ... we found this out by accident I hasten to add after we saw another (French) motorhomer switching his ehu lead from one to another until he was 'happy'!!! ::bigsmile:
 

scotjimland

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Jim....Mmm A lot of the French now have genies.....I think the old reason was if you don't have one yourself, or are a bit behind the times,.. or can not afford one,.. you always say what you have is the best and is just what you have always wanted..you complain...but in many cases, until you can get or can afford what the other chap has.......you complain and make him wish he had never purchased a genny in the first place....if that makes sense:Doh::RollEyes: this word springs to mind Jealousy...:winky::winky:...I have run my 1kw honda genny many times at the side of other French motorhomes on Aires....I always park away from others if I intend to run my genny..but many times they come and park at the side of me they look at and comment the VERY QUITE HONDA and commented on how little sound it makes...and I have never been asked to turn it off...BUT I always ask first ......but it is not used on a regular daily ...weekly...monthly.. it is on needy occasions

indeed Mel.. it was tongue in cheek:winky:

I had a 2kw Honda .. and used it very occasionally on aires with no ehu .. :thumb:

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Stephen & Jeannie

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very true...

you didn't mention running a genny ... :winky:

or how to win friends and [HI]piss off the French [/HI]:ROFLMAO:

I was happily charging up my batteries with the good ole Honda :thumb: on an aire when I espied a frog coming over:Angry:
I assumed I was going to get some verbal from Johnny Foreigner:Angry:, but it transpired he wanted to plug in and supplied some vin rouge as a way of recompense !:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
 
D

DM14742

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We have a solar panel and twin leisure batteries which for us pretty much makes EHU's redundant!
 

Heyupluv

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I was happily charging up my batteries with the good ole Honda :thumb: on an aire when I espied a frog coming over:Angry:
I assumed I was going to get some verbal from Johnny Foreigner:Angry:, but it transpired he wanted to plug in and supplied some vin rouge as a way of recompense !:ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

Love it steve:thumb:...things have changed

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Heyupluv

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You may also find on some aires that you can get 'free' electric, even if it is a pay one, as the previous occupant may not have used it all (if it's on a usage, rather than time, rate) - so sometimes it pays to check out all the available sockets and see if there is any 'credit' left ... we found this out by accident I hasten to add after we saw another (French) motorhomer switching his ehu lead from one to another until he was 'happy'!!! ::bigsmile:

Mel B!!!! what have I told you Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh never advertise it:Doh:
 
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Sitting in French Aire at the moment. In St. Pol de Leon, in the back row, but still have a view of the bay. Ferry back to Plymouth tomorrow pm. Sun is shining so solar charging nicely.
 

Minxy

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Mel B!!!! what have I told you Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh never advertise it:Doh:

Ooooppppppppssssss ....:Blush:

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magicsurfbus

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I've yet to use an EHU cable on an aire, and don't plan to. The driving and the solar panel are more than enough from Spring to Autumn.
 
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sean n maggie

sean n maggie

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I've yet to use an EHU cable on an aire, and don't plan to. The driving and the solar panel are more than enough from Spring to Autumn.

can you buy the solar panel, and how do they connect to the leisure battery ?:Sad:
 
Apr 27, 2008
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I've only once used ehu on an aire, and that was only because it was free, with a bollard on each pitch and on a FREE aire with water,dumping etc also free. This is a rarity though.
As others we have solar panels and don't need ehu.

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Apr 27, 2008
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can you buy the solar panel, and how do they connect to the leisure battery ?:Sad:

Do a search, there are loads of posts on all solar matters here, but in brief solar panels of around 100w can be bought for around £100 and you will also need a regulator anything from £20 upwards.
 

sedge

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Umm, you may buy the panel for just over £100, but with all the bits (bracket, cable gland, regulator etc) it'll be a bit more than that - nearer £150 to £200.

I think?
 

chrissyvine

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can you buy the solar panel, and how do they connect to the leisure battery ?:Sad:

Suggest you consult a specialist firm (many of them have stands at Motorhome shows, and a fitting service available). Definitely worth getting solar power but make sure you have a good battery system as well. I also run a 1500 watt Invertor from my batteries to give me 240v when needed. Been on the road here in Portugal for over a month with no ehu. The best panels will work with or without direct sunlight so do your homework and expect to pay a few hundred pounds for a good system.

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