240v appliances on hook up

[hogger]

Hello all

The gaffer went and bought a microwave for bebe.....Yes the van has been given a name now by the gaffer.
Can you use 240v appliances such as microwave or hair dryer, coffee machine when on EHU?
The microwave is still in the box in the garage so can take it back.

 

[David and Sally]

Yes. Assuming nothing goes over the wattage the van trips will allow.

 

[bigalw35]

you need to check out the site fuse, normally where you plug in, but probably NOT all your appliances all at the same time

 

[Lenny HB]

Depends on the EHU supply, in the UK most are either 10 amp or 16 amp. Also on the MCB's in your van German vans for example are nearly always 10 amp max.
EHU's in France/Spain/Portugal 5 or 6 amp is very common, Italy 3 amp is not unusual.
Microwaves can take up to twice the rated current on startup.

 

[hogger]

Yes. Assuming nothing goes over the wattage the van trips will allow.

Thanks. Will need to get the van manual out again and see if I can find the info and understand it

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[hogger]

you need to check out the site fuse, normally where you plug in, but probably NOT all your appliances all at the same time

cheers. unlikely to be using more than one appliance at a time but will keep that in mind when we're away and not assume we can do things in same way as at home.

 

[Otter Spotter]

We use an 800watt Bosch combined Microwave and grill and 1000w kettle, both have been switched on at the same time whilst on EHU without tripping anything.

 

[hogger]

Depends on the EHU supply, in the UK most are either 10 amp or 16 amp. Also on the MCB's in your van German vans for example are nearly always 10 amp max.
EHU's in France/Spain/Portugal 5 or 6 amp is very common, Italy 3 amp is not unusual.
Microwaves can take up to twice the rated current on start-up.

Thanks Lenny. we got the micro as we plan to take as much ready cooked food home made food with us as we did first time out. Can it do harm to the van electrics?

 

[autorouter]

Microwave, coffee machine, hair dryer take roughly 4 or 5 amps each. Hookup posts are mostly 10A, with some 16A and some 6A. Your fridge takes about 1A. So you can see that one single appliance will very likely be fine, but more than one at a time can sometimes trip the hookup.

If you look at the circuit breaker on the hookup post, the Amps limit is written on it. Typically 'B10' or 'B16', or sometimes 'C10' or 'C16'

 

[hogger]

We use an 800watt Bosch combined Microwave and grill and 1000w kettle, both have been switched on at the same time whilst on EHU without tripping anything.

Good to know that. I assumed the uk site EHU were all 240v but didn't take account of Ah. Very frustrating for me not understanding these things

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[funflair]

Usually worth turning off any electric heating to use the likes of a microwave, saves going out and resetting the site trip in the rain.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Good to know that. I assumed the uk site EHU were all 240v but didn't take account of Ah. Very frustrating for me not understanding these things

Most sites are between 10amps and 16amps but all are 230/240volts. In my simplistic brain the amps is the size of signal you can suck out of the cable before you trip the box on the hook up.
if you check each appliance to see what max amps they use and then you add them together as you are using them, if the total goes over the EHU amps 10/16 then it will trip.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Usually worth turning off any electric heating to use the likes of a microwave, saves going out and resetting the site trip in the rain.

2nd that comment

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks Lenny. we got the micro as we plan to take as much ready cooked food home made food with us as we did first time out. Can it do harm to the van electrics?

Can't do any harm if it overloads the circuit the breakers trip. What you don't want to do is trip a site bollard if it's in a locked cabinet, other vans plugged into the same cabinet will not be happy with you.
An 800 watt microwave can take 7 amps on startup if on a continental site the 220v can often be down at 210v or lower so the current will be higher.

IMO Microwaves are a waste of space and payload in a Motorhome there is nothing you can't heat by other means but we don't use EHU. Also hate the way microwaved food comes out scalding hot burns your mouth then in a few minutes its too cold to eat.

 

[Pete5996]

If you Google 'caravan appliance wattage table' there are plenty which will give you an idea of what appliances draw, such as this one, halfway down the page

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[Lenny HB]

If you Google 'caravan appliance wattage table' there are plenty which will give you an idea of what appliances draw, such as this one, halfway down the page

I notice they have not allowed for the startup power of a Microwave.

 

[Pete5996]

I notice they have not allowed for the startup power of a Microwave.

No, I believe this can be up to about 1500W, ie 6A?

 

[hogger]

Can't do any harm if it overloads the circuit the breakers trip. What you don't want to do is trip a site bollard if it's in a locked cabinet, other vans plugged into the same cabinet will not be happy with you.
An 800 watt microwave can take 7 amps on startup if on a continental site the 220v can often be down at 210v or lower so the current will be higher.

IMO Microwaves are a waste of space and payload in a Motorhome there is nothing you can't heat by other means but we don't use EHU. Also hate the way microwaved food comes out scalding hot burns your mouth then in a few minutes its too cold to eat.

Hi Lenny
Thanks for the advice. Yes I think it was a hasty purchase. As a chef I do find them useful to heat certain things that wouldn't come out too well like home cooked pre cooked veg, soups, beans that type of thing By the time it's heated up in the oven the green veg are rank. (just goes to show the kind of cheffing I do)
I think with the issue of payload and the hassle of pulling it out of the garage and deciding where to sit it for use makes it too much of a bother and we'll do without. It's still in the box and going back.

 

[hogger]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Considering the van doesn't have loads of space and the only feasible place to use it would be on the table we'd be eating at and the fact there is not really a convenient place to store other than under the bed or out in the garage I think we are going to have to do without.

No I'm not one of those 'Ping' chefs. I use a micro at work a lot for things like melting chocolate or heating up a small amount of food that would suffer in the oven.

 

[Bessy765]

Thing to remember if its not a permanent fixture is to make sure it is stored securely. In the event of heavy braking it could cause injury if loose

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[Spriddler]

Many motorhomers' garden sheds are fully stocked with essentials they've discovered they never needed.

 

[TerryL]

Our microwave is generally used for storage - despite the "convenience" it rarely gets used, even on hookup which is not often. I'm not going to remove it as then I'd have a big hole to fill, but I wouldn't have one if I bought another van.

As an aside, it's interesting that over the years we've had the van we're using 240v appliances less and less - I've even replaced the (240v) habitation aircon with a 12v fresh air system by Maxxair. All chargers can now be run off 12v and I can't remember when we last used the inverter - maybe that should go too? But of course we tend not to use campsites with hookup so perhaps we're not completely typical.

 

[TheBig1]

For those not wishing to click through to another site, this is the power consumption table

 

[tonyidle]

so the current will be higher.

Why?

 

[Lenny HB]

Why?

800watts at 240v = 3.3amps (apparent power)
800 watts at 210v = 3.8 amps (apparent power)

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[tonyidle]

800watts at 240v = 3.3amps (apparent power)
800 watts at 210v = 3.8 amps (apparent power)

But the load doesn't change. Simplistically 240V / 3.3A / 72 Ohms / 800W. 0r 210V / 2.9A / 72 Ohms / 609W. The microwave will under-perform.

 

[Cagem]

800watts at 240v = 3.3amps (apparent power)
800 watts at 210v = 3.8 amps (apparent power)

This is because:
Amps = Watts/Volts

Thought it was worth mentioning

 

[Lenny HB]

But the load doesn't change. Simplistically 240V / 3.3A / 72 Ohms / 800W. 0r 210V / 2.9A / 72 Ohms / 609W. The microwave will under-perform.

But it is an inductive load not resistive.

 

[Richard n Ann]

But it is an inductive load not resistive.

I'd have thought it would use less power at a lower voltage. If you plugged it into a 12vac power supply would the microwave use 66.6 amps? (800w) extreme difference I know but where do you draw the line.
Some regulated LEDs use more amps at lower voltage but that's the only thing I've come across.

 

[TDub49]

Yes, we've had trouble with our jacuzzi when the washing machine and tumble dryer are being used and the microwave is normally the last straw. Still, you have to make the odd sacrifice to enjoy the moho experience