Kettle & Toasters

[keithpaw]

Hi all,
So we are getting ready for our trip in a couple of weeks.
I figured that when on a camp site with hook up we would use a 240v electric kettle to save on gas.
With kettles being extremely Amp hungry and the same with Toasters and I’ve read that most camp sites have a 6 Amp max limit.
Obviously using a 3kw kettle is going to draw way past that (12.5 Amps) and that is with nothing else using 240v.
Could anyone advise me on kettles and toasters please.
Would it be better to use a travel kettle?
Thanks in advance..

 

[Googlebot]

You can use a travel kettle on a wider range of hookups, even the 6 amp ones. They take an age to boil though.

We used an Asda cheapie for years, it was about 1800 watts. Could use it on 10amp sites.

We just use the gas kettle now, find it quicker and easier.

 

[Ridgeway]

Gas kettle and a toasting rack = sorted.

Never used a hook up in years.

Hook up's cost how much ? €3 p/day ??? much more expensive than gas.

 

[tonka]

Toaster no issue. Just buy a cheap one from Currys, Argos or a supermarket. Think ours was about £6. Most are 750watts so easy on a low supply.
As for a kettle look at the wattage label and buy one around 1000 Watts ISH. Ok they do take a bit longer to boil but get there. Gas is obviously faster.

Personally I would only use electric appliances if the EHU is included.

 

[Henry Walpole]

We've got a 1350-1600w kettle. It takes 3.5 minutes approx to boil a litre of water. Amps drawn would be 7 to 8 if my calculations are correct. With 3x95ah leisure batteries plus solar we've not had any problems using it once or twice a day.

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[Podney]

Kettle goes on the gas job......don’t overfill (thats the same at home)

Toast done in frying pan,with no fat in it, also on hob.

Enjoy.

 

[keithpaw]

Thanks for the advice guy’s..

 

[nicholsong]

Even on gas we don't use a kettle(storage space) just a small saucepan.

 

[Reallyretired]

We use a low wattage (1Kw) kettle on inverter for drink stops on hot journeys to avoid heating up the mh. Otherwise gas one. No need for a toaster as don't eat bread.

 

[eddie]

Why do people carry a gas kettle and an electric one?

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[Podney]

Why do people carry a gas kettle and an electric one?

I would refer the honourable member to the previous post.

Summink to do wiv heating up the motorhome.

 

[eddie]

I’m reaching for the fridge on long hot journeys

Those Stella’s cool you down nicely

 

[Raul]

Everyone is different. But I believe in multiple options. We bought a bundle kettle toaster on eBay for 24 quid delivered. Both are 800w and does the job as intended. If you’re low on gas you can use the electric. Even better, it’s used with the inverter when solar harvest is plenty. Gas fill up has gone down since we use more electric.

 

[Augusta08]

I carry a 1000w kettle on hook up or the genny. Why carry both? If you're on a site for 3 months over winter, you have a lot of hassle to fill up the lpg tank, preserve gas!

 

[maison]

In addition to the above, the two main Clubs, Camping and Caravanning Club and the Camping and Motorhoming Club main sites usually have 13amp EHU’s as do many of their smaller sites, CLs and CSs.

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[Ingwe]

We carry both a gas kettle and a low wattage electric one. Why use the latter? When on EHU, we save the gas and, as for the slight delay in coming to the boil, what's the problem? You're in a motorhome, you're enjoying your self, what's the rush?

 

[Nasher]

Electric travel kettle for when on hook up

1 litre kettle on diesel hob when not - used to use a small saucepan on diesel hob until I found a suitable small (flat bottomed) kettle

But when travelling I buy my coffee at service stations, cafes, etc.

 

[SomeoneElse]

We have a 30year old morphy-richards travel kettle its 800W and holds 0.7 litres. That's enough to fill our two big mugs. We use it on the inverter when traveling, that avoids heating up the gas hob. We also use it on site if the the batteries are full from solar. otherwise we use the gas hob as we don't bother with EHU. (unless we can't get a price without it.)

 

[tonyidle]

We've got a 1350-1600w kettle. It takes 3.5 minutes approx to boil a litre of water. Amps drawn would be 7 to 8 if my calculations are correct. With 3x95ah leisure batteries plus solar we've not had any problems using it once or twice a day.

If you're using an inverter current drawn will be in excess of 125A at, say, 1500W.

 

[carolyn]

Our hob has 3 gas and one electric ring so being tight fisted we use the electric ring when on hook up and gas when not! Gas is quicker but if I’m in the van what exactly am I in that much of a rush for, I certainly don’t have a plane to catch.

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[Brains]

Why do people carry a gas kettle and an electric one?

We do.
'cos if we are staying at, for example, Cornish Farm Touring campsite, where the EHU is part of the deal then we use the electric kettle, it's also easier as we dont have to open up the stove
If we dont have EHU, then we use the gas kettle (which is faster)

 

[eddie]

We do.
'cos if we are staying at, for example, Cornish Farm Touring campsite, where the EHU is part of the deal then we use the electric kettle, it's also easier as we dont have to open up the stove
If we dont have EHU, then we use the gas kettle (which is faster)

Ah, but the increased weight will affect your MPG and cost you money! Haha! You'd not thought of that had you?

 

[John Barrett]

If you're using an inverter current drawn will be in excess of 125A at, say, 1500W.

Perhaps Henry means amp hours drawn from the battery rather than current amps?
John

 

[Ingwe]

Ah, but the increased weight will affect your MPG and cost you money! Haha! You'd not thought of that had you?

At. straws. Clutching.

 

[Reallyretired]

If you're using an inverter current drawn will be in excess of 125A at, say, 1500W.

Our travel kettle is 1kw. Measured NET current draw from the batteries is 50A cloudy bright but drops as low as 30A in clear summer sunshine. Boils enough for a couple of mugs in 10mins and batteries will be fully recharged within an hour. We only do it this way when its hot, as having got the interior to a decent temperature with aircon while travelling it is a shame to then heat it up again by lighting a gas ring.

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[dr1uk]

Some general points that may help some who are unsure when it comes to electrical items…

Power (Watts) = voltage (Volts) x current (Amps)

Although we refer to 240v the UK now has 230v (EU regs).

Campsites that supply 16 amp, will give you (16a x 230v) 3680 Watts (3.68 kW).

A site providing 10amp will provide 2300watts (2.3kW).

Some UK sites provide 5 amp supply, and France for example 6 amps. Check with your campsite before using electrical items.

Electrical items will have the power rating somewhere on the device measured in watts.

Also, circuit breakers in motorhomes may have 10amp rating (check first) and with 230v you have a maximum 2300 watts available.

For sites with 6 amps you have a maximum of 1380 watts so a domestic kettle at 3000 watts cannot be used, whereas a travel kettle at 1kW (1000 watts) will be ok.

 

[Minxy]

Why do people carry a gas kettle and an electric one?

We rarely stop on sites, or use EHU on aires etc, but still carry a travel kettle, low wattage toaster and single hob as a back-up in case we have a problem with the gas of which we have direct experience - we had a Rapido and when travelling back up through France the gas BBQ pipe came away from the manifold (dealer cocked up big time by not fitting it properly and we experienced a 5ft blowtorch inside!). As obviously we couldn't use the gas system at all we'd have been totally stuffed if we hadn't had the electric appliances with us so that when we stopped on a site at least we could eat etc. Whilst the risk of having an issue with the gas system is probably 'rare', we still take them with us.

Ah, but the increased weight will affect your MPG and cost you money! Haha! You'd not thought of that had you?

Ah yes, but just think of all the lovely electric he gets to use and the massive saving on gas!

 

[Lenny HB]

Must admit we carry an 800 watt kettle hardly ever use EHU but it's useful to have a brew when on the Chunnel or waiting at the docks with the gas turned off.