How much might a 10amp hookup cost to provide

[Jim]

We had a full house of caravans on site over Easter. It was cold and wet and my electric meter was spinning as fast as I’ve ever seen one spin

Given that we provide a 10 amp supply, what’s the theoretical maximum units of trickery that someone could use in a 24 hour period?

 

[andyman]

10 amp equals 2.5kw per hour over a 24 hour period is 60kw. If you are paying 15p per kw thats £9.
Ouch

 

[ludo]

About 53 units per point/pitch at say 15p per unit = £7.95p Absolute max using the full 10 amps for 24 hours. This assuming 220 volts supply.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

I know that my next door neighbor use to get £6k a month electric bills in his caravan park before he put meters in.

Most of it was being used by the full timers a few had heaters in the awnings that they use to leave on when they went to work!

 

[old-mo]

Not up on electrics... but at our other place we restricted the EHU`s to 6amp...

And did not get any nasty bill`s... so presume we were about right for what we charged..

And no one moaned about not enough power...

@Theonlysue Worked out that a unit could easily use £6 pounds worth over a 24 hour period.. (I think that`s what she said)..

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[buttons]

We are talking max, in reality very few would use anything like the max available.

 

[ludo]

We are talking max, in reality very few would use anything like the max available.

Agreed! However, Jim did ask, "what’s the theoretical maximum units of trickery that someone could use in a 24 hour period?"

 

[buttons]

Agreed! However, Jim did ask, "what’s the theoretical maximum units of trickery that someone could use in a 24 hour period?"

Yes ludo he did get this figure before I added my comment..

 

[filopastry]

Tis true using the max for 24h would be rare. When we first did our gites fully inclusive we calculated the theoretic max ie 57kw (approx) multiplied by unit cost (for you) and then added that into the overall rental costs. As with your pitches, our gites had were restricted by trips to 30A. This gave us a worst case scenario meaning we never had a bill higher than that case.

Only once, a guest came to talk to me in the court yard and said "we have had to open all the windows and doors because it's too warm inside" I replied "why not go back inside, close all the windows and doors and turn the F heating off?"

The stupidity of some people is sometimes exceeded only by my expectations that everyone will be respectful

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

Rule of thumb, regular users could be expected to use about 1/3 of Max for 2/3 of time, on average. So I’m guessing around £2.50 to £3.00 per day each. This is backed up by Britstops charging around £5/night for leccy - 100% profit margin. This is only a guess based on rule of thumb for power used in industrial applications compared to installed power.

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[Don Quixote]

Heater in the awning and two in the caravan. Then there is kettle, TV, Games machine, Oven, Lights. The list goes on and on. We have friends who are wardens at a site in Norfolk and they told us around 7 quid over 24 hours when it's cold, wet and there is no were to go.......... This year they have put prices up 2 quid a day to cover this as they cannot or do not have the time to police awning etc for heaters............ They were fully booked Easter and have filled most of next years slots.

 

[scotjimland]

Our friends have a CL and the winter electric bill almost bankrupted them.. they put in card meters which have been very successful. There were a few objections from the regulars who had been used to using as much as they wanted.

This is fairest for both the site owner and consumers some of whom will use very little while others max it out.. .

It can be simple 'read only' meter this is the cheapest but labour intensive

card meter, someone has to be on hand to issue cards

or the latest Smart meters .. automatically puts it on their bill.

Assume the worst and be prepared for a big bill

The theoretical max given by Andy is what I would budget for.. (adjusted for price you pay per kWh) then you won;'t be shocked.. sadly many campers have the attitude, "I've paid for it so I'll bloody well use it" even to the point of running heaters when not required..

When our friends investigated a long tern resident he had panel heaters on 24/7 plus a domestic fridge and cooker in the awning with another heater running all the time.. .perhaps this is an exception, but we have all seen the awning with the heater on when noone is there..

when something is perceived to be "free" (which it isn't ) they abuse it.. that's human nature

 

[Ivory55]

I guess card meters would not be cheap. I suppose depends how much you think you’re going to save, still a big investment to be paid for and your not allowed to make a problem on selling electric. Tough one.

 

[eddie]

Sadly a 10amp MCB doesnt limit supply to 10amp

As the electric water heater goes on, alongside the oil filled radiator from the “Range” the fan heater in the awning ( “I know we shouldn’t but what’s the point of paying for electric and not using it?”) TV, iPad/iPhone/Laptop chargers, Kettle, toaster, George Forman Grill, Remoshka, hair dryers, hair straighteners the list is endless, as is the innocence of people telling you that they “Hardly had anything on” lol

We regularly are changing damaged (burnt) MCB’s on our power post

Ironically when the weather is at its coldest, the site is at it’s quietest, yet our electricity bill doubles

Truthfully if I didn’t need Cornish Farm open for my Van Bitz customers to use, I’d close over the Winter months.

 

[Ivory55]

That’s the answer ban all the funsters, they are the ones using your electric in the winter. Haha

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[Gorse Hill]

We are talking max, in reality very few would use anything like the max available.

The problem is they do if it’s free

 

[scotjimland]

I guess card meters would not be cheap. I suppose depends how much you think you’re going to save, still a big investment to be paid for and your not allowed to make a problem on selling electric. Tough one.

it saved our friends from bankruptcy , capital cost will be recovered in a season.. they are not that expensive..
and correct you can only charge consumers the cost per uint you are paying for it ..

 

[Jim]

That’s the answer ban all the funsters, they are the ones using your electric in the winter. Haha

they were all tuggers..Didn't have a single Funster visit this year yet

 

[The Wino]

Easy to sort it just take a reading over a few days when theres no one staying then again over a few weeks divide out the extra cost plus say 50% add to the pitch price. If people complain offer a no elec rate

 

[Dodgey]

Not an absolte, but we calculated based on one of our seasonal metered pitches a smidge over £3 per night (24hr) period on leccy at £0.146 per unit. This was winter, cold but no quite freezing so set a reasonable average, we charge/discount £3 depending on customer needs for the tourers.
Yes, winter, quiet, leccy bill doubles it's nature of being open all year. I can't imagine any campsite making money in the winter, I just look at it as reducing the loss.

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[Ivory55]

Is there the seasonal cost of an electrician signing them off as safe every year. The socket/posts that is.

 

[buttons]

They do if it’s free

Silly me GH I was forgetting the location of the site...."How Much"!!

 

[Ivory55]

We used a ccc site one time it was dry early autumn and was not allowed on a grass no EHU pitch only caravan. We had to have a hard standing EHU pitch, which does make you think I will use just because I can attitude especially when you don’t need it. Think a few pitches with out EHU would work.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Coin operated meters are still available. There is a labour element involved in emptying them and resealing them but they do have the advantage of being able to be fed as needed.

One issue with card meters is that unless you have cards for various amounts (more cost to you) you will get people moaning about half their credit being left on the meter when they leave and wanting refunds.

Cost wise coin op and card meters cost roughly the same apart from you need to buy cards for the card meters. You will need sealing pliers and seals for the coin op ones which is a cost but a tiny one. The installation is the same for both types.

One other thing to consider with meters of any description is that they don't tend to be water proof so will need to be either indoors somewhere or in an enclosure on the post.

 

[Gorse Hill]

Could always get Bluetooth KWh meters, some even din rail mounted so can be added to existing CU without needing a suitable IP rated enclosure

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[Jim]

Is there the seasonal cost of an electrician signing them off as safe every year. The socket/posts that is.

I don't think most people run a CL for real profit, charging all your own time out at zero... and

Just been charged £150 to sign off the electrics, that needs to be done each year, I need to move the electrics sometime this year only £600 if I did the trenches.
Just spent £7900 on hard standings and drainage. Need to spend another 3k at least in soil removal
Last year the Mower cost £4600 and in summer costs £30 a week to run
Site only Septic tank costs £360 a year to empty. We need a new one, cost £5k fitted.
Business rates on the CL are £350
Site Insurance £500

This year i turned 60. At a tenner a night at an annual 15% occupancy I doubt I will ever see a return, but if they keep it in the family my yet to be born grandchildren might

 

[Ivory55]

What occupancy is an optimistic reality, on tv program they talk about bed occupancy in hotels etc. I know it’s seasonal unless you’re next door to something special that draws people in all year round.

 

[irnbru]

This popped up on FB.

 

[DavidG58]

We have a holiday let that costs in cold weeks virtually all the income in electrics and bottled gas, we have regular discussion with Sykes Cottages about the nonsense of charging 50% more in summer when we have virtually no costs

On the meter options I seem to recall it is actually illegal to charge more than it costs you for electricity, but a fixed charge per night can include cost of provision and servicing which seems totally fair to me

I would prefer option for no electric but would in winter like it and be happy to pay £10 / night for the privilege, I don’t like prepayment cards as you need to guess needs and site owner needs to be there when you run out

 

[Fletton]

If I park up on Sis’s drive... and use her leccy... I have a meter that plugs into the socket to measure my usage - so I can pay her...

Usage is...

Heating on duel.. gas/leccy... so leccy provides background heat once the gas has raised temp... I leave heating at 10 deg during night... so my guess is heat run on leccy throughout night.. Combi 6e

The fridge...

Some use of a PC - Avtex tv used as monitor

Charging iPhone, iPad and mifi

Background battery charging and a few led lights...

On average it usually amounts to about 3.60 per 24hrs @ 13.5p per KWh

Edit:.. I don’t use any “domestic” 240v appliances in the Moho... e.g microwave, slow cookers, toasters etc... all cooking is gas hob and or oven...

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