I Need Help To Answer A Question

[irnbru]

I've been asked the following question but don't really frequent campsites or CLs so hopefully some of you can answer this. Its for an aire style parking area in Scotland.

A quick question – If we put in electricity hook up points – how are they normally monitored at other sites and how is payment taken and access given to the supply to motorhome owners?

 

[DavidG58]

Most are unmonitored and as such open to potential abuse

some (rare in U.K.) have meters

if I were fitting it I would give it free (In overnight charge) for low amps 6A max, then charge if higher wanted, but this would involve changing the breaker which could be a nuisance, or too complicated but something we have come across in France On camp sites

 

[scousebird]

Is the aire going to be free or charged?

 

[irnbru]

Charged at £10 per night without electric.

 

[Wildweasle]

I've been asked the following question but don't really frequent campsites or CLs so hopefully some of you can answer this. Its for an aire style parking area in Scotland.

A quick question – If we put in electricity hook up points – how are they normally monitored at other sites and how is payment taken and access given to the supply to motorhome owners?

Good question, and one that I have pondered.

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[Jim]

We charge £2 for electric. But only supply 6amps. Caravanners moan, but no motorhome moaners yet. Many motorhome owners are used to 6 amps from their visits to France.

 

[Spriddler]

I only tour abroad and in my experience when checking in (I never book ahead) they ask if you want EHU. If non-EHU it is cheaper although there may be a 'live' EHU outlet at the pitch. If choosing leccy it is generally included within the overall site fee unless the supply is metered. I haven't found meters in France to be very common.

 

[scousebird]

Looking at the Camping Car Parks that are popping up all over France they charge around €12 per night with electric so I suppose £12 wouldn't be too far out. It will still be far cheaper than a site and even a lot of CLs.

 

[tonka]

My own view of an Aire is somewhere to park, empty toilet and obtain fresh water. In that order.
EHU complicates the facility as you start to get into more regulations, maintainance and tests etc. In summer no one should really need EHU and in winter they will try to abuse it..
Don't bother would be my choice.

 

[Gellyneck]

Most sites who provide electricity do so at 16A (some are lower 6A / 10A) and the cost is, normally, included in the pitch fees whether you use it or not. This mitigates the need for monitoring \ management which could be a pain for an "aire operator" in UK but whether it's "fair" or not???
As to the level of cost an example could be New England Bay C&MC site who charge c£5 - £6 \ night extra for an electric pitch (@16A) over non-electric.

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[Eggs]

My mates cs is not monitored, £11/night or £14/night with hook up.

 

[Vic. Parsons.]

Some aires in France that have free EHU set it up to come on only at night when the street lights come on.
This would be a reasonable compromise I think.

 

[movan]

Sorry. Stupid question. Whatdoes 6amp cover?

TV
Heating
Fridge I havn't a clue.

 

[poki]

nor have I Movan

Silvia

 

[Eggs]

Sorry. Stupid question. Whatdoes 6amp cover?

TV
Heating
Fridge I havn't a clue.

TV and fridge would be ok,

Sorry. Stupid question. Whatdoes 6amp cover?

TV
Heating
Fridge I havn't a clue.

TV and fridge would be fine, probably not heating, or electric kettle.

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[DBK]

I've been asked the following question but don't really frequent campsites or CLs so hopefully some of you can answer this. Its for an aire style parking area in Scotland.

A quick question – If we put in electricity hook up points – how are they normally monitored at other sites and how is payment taken and access given to the supply to motorhome owners?

What they do will depend very much on how the place is to be operated. If someone is only going to come round once or twice a day to collect money then this will be open to abuse if they intend to charge extra for electricity. Folk might wait until they have done their round, saying they don't want electricity then connect up as soon as the "warden" has left.

My suggestion would be to include an element for electricity (6A maximum) in the price whether they use it or not. This would be much easier to manage. Price might need to be higher in the winter as demand likely to be greater, for example because MHs with solar who wouldn't need it in summer may do in winter. The price will probably have to be adjusted in the light of experience based on usage.

 

[Stealaway]

1kw - one bar fire is usually about the max for 6 amps. You will probably be ok to add the fidge. Truma electric shower is probably not an option

 

[DavidG58]

TV and fridge would be ok,


TV and fridge would be fine, probably not heating, or electric kettle.

most importantly in winter it will cover charger

 

[pappajohn]

Some aires in France that have free EHU set it up to come on only at night when the street lights come on.
This would be a reasonable compromise I think.

That's sounds a bit ominous.... Power supplied FROM the streetlights.

 

[busby]

We charge £2 for electric. But only supply 6amps. Caravanners moan, but no motorhome moaners yet. Many motorhome owners are used to 6 amps from their visits to France.

6 amps is plenty,,Charges battery and runs fridge,pump and lights..BUSBY.

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[Eggs]

That's sounds a bit ominous.... Power supplied FROM the streetlights.

Been there many years ago when we worked on the motorways, after all no one wants to have that massive genny running day and night to power the site office and caravans.

 

[Spriddler]

As to the level of cost an example could be New England Bay C&MC site who charge c£5 - £6 \ night extra for an electric pitch (@16A) over non-electric.

Just thinking aloud........
Actual caravan and motorhome sites have to allow for leccy use by caravanners staying for a while, fully equipped with domestic stuff and heated awnings/annexes.
I assume that the OP's proposed aire, being an aire, will only cater for m/hs which are generally not so comprehensively set up and have fewer leccy hungry appliances. I've never seen a caravan fitted with solar panels or refillable gas to provide an alternative or supplementary energy source.

 

[Lizi]

A few sites we used in Germany metered electric. They came round and connected you then read meter at the end of your stay. I thought this was pretty fair but then we don't have air con or anything that would cost much to run.

 

[Stealaway]

That's sounds a bit ominous.... Power supplied FROM the streetlights.

Yep -- We've stayed overnight on one. Not a problem. Power when you need it?

 

[Vic. Parsons.]

That's sounds a bit ominous.... Power supplied FROM the streetlights.

No, It comes on when the street lights come on, it's obviously not fed directly FROM the street lights but would go through a transformer I imagine.

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[mitzimad]

we were on a french site and only plugged in for 2 mins so madam could use hair dryer they charged me 7 cents

 

[Gellyneck]

Just thinking aloud........
Actual caravan and motorhome sites have to allow for leccy use by caravanners staying for a while, fully equipped with domestic stuff and heated awnings/annexes.
I assume that the OP's proposed aire, being an aire, will only cater for m/hs which are generally not so comprehensively set up and have fewer leccy hungry appliances. I've never seen a caravan fitted with solar panels or refillable gas to provide an alternative or supplementary energy source.

Not sure what additional domestic stuff a caravan has over a motorhome? Having had both don't think we have any less in the motorhome.
I've certainly seen some caravans with solar panels and think it's a growing trend (but minimal volume).
Seen a number of caravans with refillable gas however all would normally have, at least, exchange cylinders onboard so they certainly have alternative energy source.

 

[tonka]

movan poki a rough explanation.
First it's easier to convert amps into watts, a figure that's quoted on the back on almost every electrical appliance. Go look
Mains voltage is meant to be 230volts in Europe. To convert we multiply the mains 230 X the Amps 6.
230 X 6 = 1380 watts.

1000watts is also know as a KW kilowatt.

So as long as you don't power anything up more than that it should not trip the breaker.
When you look at so called "camping appliances" in shops they are just low power units.
Example a travel / camping kettle will often be 1000w your house kettle could be 2-3000w.

If you had a 10amp supply. Same maths. 230 X 10 = 2400 watts to play with.

 

[Odd-no-more]

We charge £2 for electric. But only supply 6amps. Caravanners moan, but no motorhome moaners yet. Many motorhome owners are used to 6 amps from their visits to France.

For me 6 amps is not good, in the summer I don't need electric as solar is fine in the winter or if it is cold I want to run my heating on electric to save the hassle of gas bottles etc so 10 amps is good and 16 amps better, I expect to pay extra for it. I have just had 7 nights on the CCC site at Charmouth I don't like the big sites much and normally stay on the CS ones, but I knew we would want heating and was willing to pay for it.

 

[poki]

movan poki a rough explanation.
First it's easier to convert amps into watts, a figure that's quoted on the back on almost every electrical appliance. Go look
Mains voltage is meant to be 230volts in Europe. To convert we multiply the mains 230 X the Amps 6.
230 X 6 = 1380 watts.

1000watts is also know as a KW kilowatt.

So as long as you don't power anything up more than that it should not trip the breaker.
When you look at so called "camping appliances" in shops they are just low power units.
Example a travel / camping kettle will often be 1000w your house kettle could be 2-3000w.

If you had a 10amp supply. Same maths. 230 X 10 = 2400 watts to play with.

you have confused me even more now, i dont understand any of it

silvia

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