Rookie Question re: EHU and Truma

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Newington, Sittingbourne, Kent, UK
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90,146
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Burstner
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July 2022
As a rookie (4 nights on a campsite and counting) and as someone who considers anything electrical as the Dark Arts, could someone please explain my Burstner manual in reference to the Truma Heater/Boiler. Regarding the operating mode; i.e. electric, gas or mix; our Burstner manual says "Select the output level for 230v electrical operation so that it corresponds to the fuse protection of the 230v connection (900 W for a 3.9 A fuse, 1800 W for a 7.8 A fuse)". If I am on EHU on a UK campsite, how can I tell what the fuse protection is? Likewise, when plugged into a standard UK socket (say when EHU at home)?; and how about overseas? How do I know whether to select the Electrical 900W or Electrical 1800 W option on the Truma display unit?
 
You should get the information off the socket you plug into or at the campsite. If you dont just ask what power is coming through then chose appropriately making sure you have enough left for your other electrical stuff.
If in doubt chose the 900 and put the heater on 20 minutes earlier
 
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This will apply to any electrical appliances you use. i.e. If you use a kettle it may trip the mains if the site electricity supply isn't up to it. In fact a kettle (generally if it is one like you use at home) will use more power than the Truma.

Most uk sites will cope with the Truma on 1800W. It is usually French or Spanish sites that will have lower ampage supplies.

If the trip switch/circuit breaker on your pitch is accessible my approach is to 'suck it and see'. (Not literally!!!) Just switch the Truma on using 1800W setting. If the trip switch by where you plug your EHU in trips then turn the Truma down to 900W and switch the circuit breaker back on and try again!
 
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You’ll find that EL1 is next to useless. If you’re trying to warm up a cold van with EL1 it will take hours if at all. If you are limited for current use mix (gas and ehu)
 
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You’ll find that EL1 is next to useless. If you’re trying to warm up a cold van with EL1 it will take hours if at all. If you are limited for current use mix (gas and ehu)

It's OK for heating the water - if a little slow.

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EL2 should be fine on most UK sites.

El1 if you are already warmed up.

Mix or gas if really cold and you wanna get up to.temp quick ..

When abroad it's anyone guess which sites have decent hookup. Some list it.
 
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If I am on EHU on a UK campsite, how can I tell what the fuse protection is?
Very often you can see the circuit breakers in the hookup post box, there's often a transparent window even if it's locked shut. Look at the circuit breaker. It is most likely 6A, 10A or 16A. It will have the fuse rating written on it, with a letter B or C in front of it, ie B6, B10, B16, C6, C10 or C16. If you see that, you don't have to ask.

I think most UK sites are 10A or 16A, with only a few at 6A. Outside UK, 6A is quite common.

Mains voltage is about 230 Volts. That means each Amp of electricity provides 230 Watts.

A 6A post can supply 6 x 230 = 1380 Watts. You can see that it's enough for a 900W element but not enough for 1800W, which would trip a 6A post.

A 10A post can supply 10 x 230 = 2300 Watts, which is enough for 1800W of heater elements.

Of course it would be easier for everyone if they just did everything in Watts. Or Amps. The switching between the two units is confusing. But heater manufacturers like to deal in Watts, because that's what their customers are looking for. And circuit breaker manufacturers deal in Amps, because it's Amps that cause the breaker to trip. So I guess we're stuck with the mental calculations.

You may be able to see the 'B16' on the left of each breaker, just below the switch bit.
EHU_Post.jpg


This is a motorhome box, and the breaker on the right is labelled 'C13', an unusual value.
RCD_MCB_pair.jpeg
 
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Some sites will tell you in the advertising:

1679976816614.png


This is from Camping Car Parks, the are 40 EHUs each at 6amps.
Some sites let you choose what ampage you have at extra cost.

At 6 amps we would be comfortable running lights, fridge, battery charger and one appliance (low watt kettle, hair dryer etc)
It then becomes a juggle, switch one off before starting the next.

If you use too much power you will trip the supply which is often the case of just resetting at the bollard. In some places you will have to have site staff to reset.

In terms of your Truma heater gas and mix will heat up much quicker than electric alone. The lower electric setting should maintain a background heat if its not too cold outside.

Its a very steep learming curve at first. I've been doing this for 30 odd years and still have to ask.
 
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Although Camping carparks always state their hookups are only 6A, the ones at Amneville where we are today are 10A and user resettable. Useful as it was a cold night.
We have found many are higher rated, presumably too much trouble to change them all when they take over a site, this one has 50 pitches but each pitch has two ehu points for some reason.
 
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Excellent! Thank you all for the information. I feel like I've actually learnt something!, "and about bl**dy time" as a former teacher of mine mght have said!😄

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Excellent! Thank you all for the information. I feel like I've actually learnt something!, "and about bl**dy time" as a former teacher of mine mght have said!😄
Sounds like you ve got the mh bug, the fun's about to start :LOL: inverter or solar as a next question?
 
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Very often you can see the circuit breakers in the hookup post box, there's often a transparent window even if it's locked shut. Look at the circuit breaker. It is most likely 6A, 10A or 16A. It will have the fuse rating written on it, with a letter B or C in front of it, ie B6, B10, B16, C6, C10 or C16. If you see that, you don't have to ask.

I think most UK sites are 10A or 16A, with only a few at 6A. Outside UK, 6A is quite common.

Mains voltage is about 230 Volts. That means each Amp of electricity provides 230 Watts.

A 6A post can supply 6 x 230 = 1380 Watts. You can see that it's enough for a 900W element but not enough for 1800W, which would trip a 6A post.

A 10A post can supply 10 x 230 = 2300 Watts, which is enough for 1800W of heater elements.

Of course it would be easier for everyone if they just did everything in Watts. Or Amps. The switching between the two units is confusing. But heater manufacturers like to deal in Watts, because that's what their customers are looking for. And circuit breaker manufacturers deal in Amps, because it's Amps that cause the breaker to trip. So I guess we're stuck with the mental calculations.

You may be able to see the 'B16' on the left of each breaker, just below the switch bit.
View attachment 732463

This is a motorhome box, and the breaker on the right is labelled 'C13', an unusual value.
View attachment 732465
Just don’t forget that if say on the 10A supply, if the Truma is using 1800w, the remainder of 500w has to look after your fridge, kettle, microwave etc., if not using gas as well.
 
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Excellent! Thank you all for the information. I feel like I've actually learnt something!, "and about bl**dy time" as a former teacher of mine mght have said!😄
I’ve learnt something too! Thanks guys 😀
 
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