Numpty questions about using electric hook up abroad

[SurreyNick]

I have seen some of the posts about using electric hook up in France but to be honest I'm still confused.

First off, will my fridge work on mains in France, Spain and Italy?
What about my 240V appliances; kettle, table top air fryer etc, will these work or do I have to buy different appliances?
Does the standard blue hook up cable I use in the UK work in those other countries and if not, what adapters do I need to buy?
If I need a reverse polarity checker can someone advise which one I should buy?
Will the hook up in those countries trickle charge my leisure battery and vehicle battery automatically?

Thanks

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

The answer is that the EU hook ups will be ok with your standard UK EHU lead.It will run your fridge ok and lights and charge your batteries but whether it will run the kettle airfryer etc depends on the available current.most sites are pretty low amps. Voltages are also generally lower than the UK so can occasionally trip out fridges but we have not experienced that.
No point buying different appliances as they are basically the same as the UK. It all depends on the amps available.

 

[funflair]

Hook up is just the same in the countries you mention and a lot more, you may struggle to run some appliances due to low hook up supplied amps ie 4 amp hookup will run close to 1kw so your kettle and fryer might struggle, you may find some old hook up point that still use a basic 2 pin plug so you will need an adapter in this case, don't worry about reverse polarity would be my advice.

Continental Schuko Plug to 16A Trailing Socket Adapter Lead

Continentsl Schuko 3 pin plug to 16A 3 pin socket converter suitable for camping, caravanning and on-site generators

www.cef.co.uk

 

[Richard n Ann]

You will need an adapter for some sites.. About 50%...

EU Continential Caravan/Motorhome Hook Up Adapter Plug | European Camping | eBay

For EU use - continental plug.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Spriddler]

Whatever works now on EHU in the U.K. will work 'over there' provided that the supply at the bollard is rated with a sufficiently high current. Some have quite a low supply amperage so you may not be able to run two 'current-hungry' items at the same time.
You may (but not always) need an adapter to connect your EHU lead to the site bollard. Loads available on Google or from m/h and caravan accessory shops.
I haven't bothered with a polarity checker but there are loads if you search on Google.
Here's one:
Amazon product ASIN B099NQK742

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Hoovie]

I have seen some of the posts about using electric hook up in France but to be honest I'm still confused.

First off, will my fridge work on mains in France, Spain and Italy?
What about my 240V appliances; kettle, table top air fryer etc, will these work or do I have to buy different appliances?
Does the standard blue hook up cable I use in the UK work in those other countries and if not, what adapters do I need to buy?
If I need a reverse polarity checker can someone advise which one I should buy?
Will the hook up in those countries trickle charge my leisure battery and vehicle battery automatically?

Thanks

There are two basic criteria to consider when it comes to using Mains Appliances.
1. Voltage
2. Frequency

If the voltage is wrong, it won't work
If the frequency is wrong, some things may not work correctly (maybe clocks running at wrong speed, motors running at wrong speed)

The UK used to be 240V and Europe 220V, but now there is meant to be a harmonious 230V voltage with a agreed variation allowed. In reality, the actual voltage at the socket varies from country and country, area to area and town to town (my voltage is typically 243V AC), but any device you buy in the UK or Europe will work throughout Europe and the UK.

The frequency throughout UK and Europe is 50Hz so you have no worries there. There are some countries that are 240V and 60Hz. Japan is one I think and you might find on some products there is a 50/60 switch but it is rare.

All you need to really have to deal with is getting plug adapters as the sockets are physically different - but the stuff coming out of them is the same!
And has been said, checking if the supply is powerful enough for what you want to plug in.

 

[Imala615]

Most sites (don't know about campsites so talking aires stelpatz etc ) ,France Belgium, Germany all use the standard plug , I go over every year and can't remember the last time i used an adapter (that's averaging 20 sites per trip) As said you need to check the ampage as they do vary. For the price it's worth getting the adaptor but mines in the basket of electrical bits,bulbs etc that i never use under the seat.

 

[SurreyNick]

Thank you very much. This is most helpful and clear so even this numpty understood it

 

[rnb100]

Have you got a gas hob? I just use a singing kettle which takes that problem away.

 

[SurreyNick]

Have you got a gas hob? I just use a singing kettle which takes that problem away.

I do, yes, and will use it when required, but the knowledge of what can and can't be done is something I really needed.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Riverbankannie]

I think it is worth buying a low wattage electric kettle. We have one, sold as a travel one, which we have had for 15 years now. It means you can always use EHU for hot water for washing as well as drinks when you have already paid for the electric. There is much less risk of tripping the bollard electrics too, a consideration as you may not be able to reset yourself or find someone from the site if office is closed. We never have to think about the amps provided. We have a low wattage toaster too but never put on at the same time as kettle and always ensure Truma heating/hot water off when using kettle.
Kenwood Travel Kettle https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/27540791...d=link&campid=5338547443&toolid=20001&mkevt=1
Currys basics toaster https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30462351...d=link&campid=5338547443&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

 

[bigtwin]

You will need an adapter for some sites.. About 50%...

EU Continential Caravan/Motorhome Hook Up Adapter Plug | European Camping | eBay

For EU use - continental plug.

www.ebay.co.uk

On our current trip we’ve used about 15 different sites and we only had to use the two-pin adapter twice.

Ian

 

[Richard n Ann]

On our current trip we’ve used about 15 different sites and we only had to use the two-pin adapter twice.

Ian

We use a lot of the cheapo ACSI sites

 

[Hoovie]

for anyone who has a Victron Multiplus of 800VA or larger, the maximum input current can be set to match the hookup amperage. The you can use anything you want in the van (within the limit of the hookup PLUS the Inverter combined). Anything greater than the power from hookup is made up from the battery bank and then the battery bank gets a charge as soon as the load is off.
Feature called "Power Assist" and is very handy at these limited power sites.

 

[Blackadder]

On our last couple of trips to France, Spain and Portugal we need a 2-pin adapter on about 20% of sites, mostly the smaller privately owned ones in France. Any polarity tester should work OK (ours came with the polarity switching adapter we bought). Having said that, it's not essential - reversed polarity isn't a problem unless you start fiddling with the wiring.
As mentioned by others, a bigger issue is that the same smaller sites often have much lower power supply so it helps to know the demand of things like the boiler. A low wattage toaster is useful as is a low wattage kettle if you use one at all.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Richard n Ann]

We never had toasters or kettles, can't see the point taking more cupboard room up to save 10p worth of gas, the grill does toast of course. I've even took the gas kettle out now, on the rare occasion I want tea I've got a small saucepan I can boil water in

 

[Boldly]

Currently on our second acsi site of this trip in nouan le fuzelier need adapter so that's 50 per cent

 

[nicholsong]

Have you got a gas hob? I just use a singing kettle which takes that problem away.

We use a saucepan - saves the storage space of a kettle, electric or gas.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Currently on our second acsi site of this trip in nouan le fuzelier need adapter so that's 50 per cent

We used to stay at the aire there

 

[Boldly]

Mrs boldly wanted to use the swimming pool. Turns out it's a municipal one and paid for and it's chucking it down. So could have used the Aire.. Sorry Surrey nick for abusing your thread

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[autorouter]

The round blue plugs are a European standard, you will find them all the way across Europe. The voltage is much the same, around 230V, so just plug in, no worries. You may be thinking of mains supplies in USA, which are definitely different and incompatible, 120V 60Hz, instead of our 230V 50Hz.

Many sites and aires use the local domestic sockets instead of the round blue ones. You'll need an adapter. The standard 'Schuko' adapter will be good for many of the nearest countries: France, Spain, Germany, Netherlands etc. Different ones are needed for Switzerland, Italy and Denmark, but in Switzerland they mostly have the round blue sockets anyway.

As for the reverse polarity question, your appliances will function exactly the same whether the polarity is reversed or not. The only problem might arise in the event of a fault or damage. The important thing is to look at your incoming mains consumer box. It should have an RCD, and one or more MCBs. You can recognise an RCD because it has a small 'Test' button on it. MCBs don't have test buttons. If you have an RCD, that will protect you from electric shock in the event of a fault or damage. Almost all MHs have an RCD, but some older ones and self-conversions don't. They are cheap and easy to fit.

 

[SurreyNick]

Thank you very much for all the replies and advice. It has been immensely helpful

 

[Go_buddy_go_]

Thanks I’ve learnt loads too

 

[The Wino]

for anyone who has a Victron Multiplus of 800VA or larger, the maximum input current can be set to match the hookup amperage. The you can use anything you want in the van (within the limit of the hookup PLUS the Inverter combined). Anything greater than the power from hookup is made up from the battery bank and then the battery bank gets a charge as soon as the load is off.
Feature called "Power Assist" and is very handy at these limited power sites.

Very useful if you're electric dependant but I suspect we could save a lot by just using gas for the high power requirement stuff or managing without. But as with most things motorhome each to their own.

 

[Cribgoch]

Just got back from Greece, where we needed our 2 pin adapter at all sites. Ferries as well.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[funflair]

for anyone who has a Victron Multiplus of 800VA or larger, the maximum input current can be set to match the hookup amperage. The you can use anything you want in the van (within the limit of the hookup PLUS the Inverter combined). Anything greater than the power from hookup is made up from the battery bank and then the battery bank gets a charge as soon as the load is off.
Feature called "Power Assist" and is very handy at these limited power sites.

Great bit of kit ours is Buttner 3kw so we can be plugged into a 2A supply and use 12A in the van possibly more as I am not sure if the Buttner 3kw adds to the site supply or if that is a max, either way 3kw is enough really.