EHU cable advice

MajorClanger

MajorClanger

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Morning all! Should be picking up the new (to us) bus on Monday or Tuesday, but have been told by the dealer that it doesn't come with an Electric Hook Up cable, so we'll need to buy one. I've looked on Amazon and eBay, and the choice is bewildering! So
  • What length will we likely need? 25M or something shorter?
  • How many Amps? 16A or something smaller?
  • What thickness cable? 1.5mm or 2.5mm?
  • What colour? Blue or orange? :)
Will also need a UK adaptor as we'll be mainly touring in mainland Britain, but I'd guess it should be a match for whatever is chosen above.

Also any suggestions on where best to buy one or any other advice for a novice would be grateful received.
 
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I think you will get every answer under the sun coming soon. :rofl:

Bottom line, if it works in the UK it will be OK elsewhere, as abroad they often have less amperage than the UK, never more. You will need an adapter to fit some European plugs.

Length. Bit like a piece of string. If you stay on CMC or C&CC sites 15m enough. Elsewhere possibly 25m.

1.5mm/2.5mm I've used 1.5mm blue arctic cable for donkey's years and its always been fine, very robust too. Good bit lighter and far more flexible especially in winter.
 
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If you are using EHU outside the UK it might be worth checking you have dual pole circuit breakers on your MCB power board but I'm sure someone with more knowledge will advise. With a later vehicle you should already have this.
 
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It is generally the orange cables that are used by British motorhomers, rated at 16 amps so there shouldn't ever be the risk of it not being able to handle the current.

IMHO it is worth having at least a cable of 25m. We carry two, that join together if necessary. One at 25 metres and the other about 20 metres.

The orange cables will come with a universal plug and socket that will fit your van and any British hook-up point. They will also work on most continental sites too. Occasionally overseas, the old standard two-pin plug and socket is used. But that's easy to overcome with an adaptor. They are widely available at camping shops. One at Millets £3.

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Personally, I'd have expected the dealer to supply an electric hook-up cable with the van. It used to be an National Caravan Council (NCC) requirement, but I can't find any reference to it on their website at the moment. I'm sure the dealer will stock them.

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We had 25m 2.5mm² supplied with our van but I changed it for 25m 1.5mm² to save weight and space. But we rarely use hook up and when we do it's just Ann's 750w hair dryer or we've got a 1kw fan heater.

If you're going to simultaneously use kettles, toasters, heaters etc you might be happier with the 2.5mm² cable 👍
 
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Thanks all. I'll push for the EHU as part of the deal, as they've already bumped our collection date twice!
(We've already managed to negotiate a full tank of diesel and both LPG cylinders filled for the inconvenience :))

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Don't use hook up very often but do carry a 25m 1.5mm yellow artic cable & a 15m 1.5mm black cable even the two together are often not long enough abroad.
 
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I'd take a minimum of 25M, either one length or a 10M&15M.

I got caught out one year on a certain pitch at Morton in Marsh CAMC site with only a 10M one and had to buy a 25M from the onsite shop at £40, I wasn't happy!
 
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Bobby-gg said:
I'd take a minimum of 25M, either one length or a 10M&15M.

I got caught out one year on a certain pitch at Morton in Marsh CAMC site with only a 10M one and had to buy a 25M from the onsite shop at £40, I wasn't happy!
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Some CAMH sites don’t like you joining cables together.
 
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Always uncoil the lead completely as if you don't:
The normal cable ratings assume that the wire can adequately disperse heat generated in the cable due to the current flowing. If you coil it up and use close to the maximum rating then it stands a good chance of melting the plastic insulation and then causing a short. Current flowing in a cable generates heat!

(y):giggle:

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In the 6 years we've had the van there's only been 2 occasions when our 25m cable hasn't been long enough, once in Portugal where they lent us another one, and once in France, again they offered to lend us one but I couldn't be arsed faffing about with it so didn't bother.. And saved 6 quid to boot 🤩

Before the van we had a caravan for 8 years with a 15m cable that was always long enough for UK sites, never went abroad with it.
 
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The orange cables are rated for outdoor use and have a tougher exterior (generally) than arctic cable.
Arctic cable is great in that it remains flexible at low temps.

The downside to arctic cable is if you have to run it over hard ground where vehicles may run over it the cable will get damaged more easily.

I carry a 25Mtr orange cable in 2.5mm² for when I need a really long cable or to run over rough/hard ground.
I also carry a couple of 2.5mm² arctic cables in shorter lengths. I think one is around 5-7Mtr for when I am right next to the hookup. The other is around 15Mtrs.
 
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We run nothing on our MH that warrants a 2.5mm, so we have a 25m and 10m 1.5mm artic cable, and they haven't see the light of day for a long while as we will hook up if it's free, other than that we use the solar, big battery and inverter that we have forked out for.
 
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If your worried about damage look up SY armoured cable, it's not proper SWA cable, but thinly armoured and still flexible. We used to use it at work 👍
 
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We’ve been unrolling a 25m EHU cable for the camping we’ve done.
It takes a little longer to unroll & repack than shorter ones. But nothing colossal.
And we’ve needed the length on at least one pitch.

As ex-Motorhomers my dad recently gave me a thinner 10m EHU cable. Sod’s law our 1st attempt to use it was to a hook up point 15m away 😡

We’ve both on neat storage & will travel with both.

I haven’t quoted cable thickness just because it’s not info I have to hand but should be the usual 🤔

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If you need >15m & only take a 10 & 15m how are you linking them?
I’m thinking of the waterproofing, not the ez male to female join 🤪
 
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kevenh said:
We’ve been unrolling a 25m EHU cable for the camping we’ve done.
It takes a little longer to unroll & repack than shorter ones. But nothing colossal.
And we’ve needed the length on at least one pitch.

As ex-Motorhomers my dad recently gave me a thinner 10m EHU cable. Sod’s law our 1st attempt to use it was to a hook up point 15m away 😡

We’ve both on neat storage & will travel with both.

I haven’t quoted cable thickness just because it’s not info I have to hand but should be the usual 🤔
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Lost count of the times 10m was slightly too short and ended up using the 25m cable instead.

Sod's law will be neutralised by the 14m cable I just bought. :Grin:
 
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This is info from the Camping and Caravan Club and the reason given for the orange colour, as per electric lawnmowers.

Your supply cable
The socket outlet of the Club’s site hook-up points complies with the British Standard BS EN 60309-2. Your connecting lead will need a plug to match this socket outlet and a connector to match the inlet to your unit, both complying with BS EN 60309-2. Such leads now come supplied with new caravans and motorhomes constructed under the National Caravan Council (NCC) approval scheme, but suitable leads fitted with the appropriate blue plug and socket are available from most camping or caravan dealers, these connecting leads must be PVC/PVC flexible cable, with three cores, each core being 2.5mm to be able to cope with a typical 16A connection demand. It is common however to find lesser cables where each core is only 1.5mm. This can be confirmed on the outer PVC covering of the cable where it should be marked.
The maximum cable length of 25 metres should ensure it can reach the supply bollard at most sites in the UK. Always uncoil the supply cable fully to avoid it overheating on a cable reel. The use of a second cable is not recommended, but if it is used it must be fitted with the same BS EN 60309-2 standard plug and connector. The connection between the two cables should be raised off the ground by the use of a propriety joining cover. Taped cable joints and ordinary 13A household plugs and sockets must not be used under any circumstances. The cable is normally coloured orange so that it is visible and avoids being damaged by grass cutting and other activities on site.
 
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jessthedog said:
This is info from the Camping and Caravan Club and the reason given for the orange colour, as per electric lawnmowers.

Your supply cable
Such leads now come supplied with new caravans and motorhomes constructed under the National Caravan Council (NCC) approval scheme...
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Ah ha, just as I thought, although the reference is to NEW vans. But I reckon it is normal for a cable to be supplied for used ones too.

Our first van was 6 years old when we bought it over a decade ago, and, without asking, the dealer discovered there wasn't one in the van, so went and found one. Admittedly, it was a used one, but perfectly serviceable and we still use it as our preferred connection today.

However, the next van - from the same dealer, by coincidence - which was new, didn't have a cable so we asked for one and a brand new 25m one was produced without question.

So, yes, to the OP, ask the dealer, and if necessary say you thought it was part of the National Caravan Council Code of Conduct, which you read about in C&CC literature - that supplying dealers should provide a suitable safe electric hook-up cable with new and used vans.

Good luck! (y)
 
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MajorClanger said:
  • How many Amps? 16A or something smaller?
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Hookup pedestals on sites are in my experience max 16 amp. If you try to draw more they will trip and need resetting.
I bought a 25m cable and a plug and a socket to convert it to a 10m and a 15m.
As far as colour goes you'd be well advised to consult The Management as we all know that blokes have no sense of colour coordination so whichever you choose it will be wrong.

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The colours are to identify the voltage, that's why CEE connectors for 240v EHU are blue. Because people with mowers can't see that you are plugged into a bollard orange is recommended for the cable.
 
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ctc said:
The colours are to identify the voltage, that's why CEE connectors for 240v EHU are blue. Because people with mowers can't see that you are plugged into a bollard orange is recommended for the cable.
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I've been using the same blue cable for 20+ years now, and it has really stood the test of time. The outer blue sheath still looks like new with no nicks or marks on it. It is actually quite easy to see in the grass, and to date the lawn mowers have all missed it.

I use a cable that came with a new caravan I got 3 years ago when hooking up at home, simply for convenience as I have a normal 13 pin plug on the end. That cable has seen very little use, we only hook up at home for a couple of days before we go away. However, the bright orange has mostly faded to a pale shade of yellow.

BTW 1.5mm blue arctic cable will handle 16amps. Given that the cable is always in "free air" to get sufficient cooling, IMO this is fine for hook up cable and a lot more convenient. Yes there will be a little more voltage drop but that has little or no effect.
 
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Stonemags76 said:
Think it’s tight of the dealer not to supply one!
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Giving them loads of notes of the realm and they ain't supplying a hookup cable, tight gitts - Name Them and Shame Them.
 
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