Which ‘mix’ to use on a low amp site 6 amps

[ShellAnt]

We’re on a low amp site in Italy and our van trips off when I try to heat up our water. We have a Chausson 718 and normally use mix2, haven’t had problems with this before on low sites. We weren’t trying to run anything else at the same time just lighting. I have to be honest I don’t really understand the difference between mix 1/ mix 2? Would appreciate some advice, many thanks.

 

[denisejoe]

If your electric kettle is tripping the electric then you need to use a kettle on the stove. Don't know what kettle you're using but we use a 750 watt one which has never tripped the electrics even when on 6amp hookup (not that we use electric very often!)

Denise

 

[BwB]

You could change your mix1/2 to gas only for when you are on a low amp site hookup. It's possible that your battery charger and water heater are too much for the EHU if they are both on at the same time?

 

[Lenny HB]

6 amp pure luxury not uncommon for sites in Italy to be 3 amp.
Why worry about it, just run the water heater on gas.

 

[sallylillian]

If volts are low, say 200 or less, then actual amps available is less, if I get it right, so in practical terms you get less than 6!
Get a Victron multiplus inverter charger, with UPS capability, then you dial up the EHU value and run whatever.

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[SpeedyDux]

On typical Italian sites we used the whistling kettle on the gas hob. EHU ran the 12v fridge and lights, and charged the hab battery. That's all. One campsite owner even asked what we wanted the electricity for. His EHU sockets were in a padlocked cabinet. All a bit Carry on Camping.

 

[Langtoftlad]

I have to be honest I don’t really understand the difference between mix 1/ mix 2?

All very interesting - but the OP would like to know the difference between Mix 1 & Mix 2. [I don't know otherwise I'd have answered the question!]

 

[Lenny HB]

I've no

All very interesting - but the OP would like to know the difference between Mix 1 & Mix 2. [I don't know otherwise I'd have answered the question!]

I've not got a clue either as every van we have had has only had gas heating.

 

[chaser]

If he is on a site why not use their hot water?

 

[BwB]

All very interesting - but the OP would like to know the difference between Mix 1 & Mix 2. [I don't know otherwise I'd have answered the question!]

That may depend on which Truma(?) heater the OP has. On a 4E the Mix1 will be Gas plus 900W electric and Mix 2 the same but with 1800W electric (if my memory serves). Could be different on other models. Think people are just trying to help with the electric tripping (which we are guessing is at the EHU and not in the van). Limited info and eager helpers

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[meanders]

At the nominal 230v you can draw up to 1380 watts. So if BwB is correct, you are drawing 9Amps just on the water heater. However at 200v that drops to 1200w. You will have some loss over the cable, plus battery charging. Check your owners manual for the wattages of the devices you are running in the settings you have. However, anything that heats will always soak up power. Best heat water by gas. ?

 

[mikebeaches]

That may depend on which Truma(?) heater the OP has. On a 4E the Mix1 will be Gas plus 900W electric and Mix 2 the same but with 1800W electric (if my memory serves). Could be different on other models. Think people are just trying to help with the electric tripping (which we are guessing is at the EHU and not in the van). Limited info and eager helpers

My understanding is much the same -

Electric 1 = 1 element @ 900 watts

Electric 2 = 2 elements @ 900 watts ie: total 1,800 watts

 

[Sundowners]

And if you have an AES fridge that will select mains

 

[TCG]

All very interesting - but the OP would like to know the difference between Mix 1 & Mix 2. [I don't know otherwise I'd have answered the question!]

i believe it to be 1 kilo watt or two kilowatt

just read the other post... its has he said

 

[autorouter]

If you reduce the voltage on a heater, the amps also reduces, so the watts reduces even more.

My understanding is much the same -

Electric 1 = 1 element @ 900 watts

Electric 2 = 2 elements @ 900 watts ie: total 1,800 watts

A single element is 900 watts at 230 volts, which is 900/230 = 3.9 amps.

When you apply different voltages to the same heater, the thing that stays the same is the resistance (= volts/amps) which is 230/3.9 = 59 ohms.

Applying 200 volts to a 59 ohm element will allow 200/59 = 3.4 amps to flow. A heater element with a voltage of 200 volts and a current of 3.4 amps gives a power of 200 x 3.4 = 680 watts.

To answer the OP's question, using one element (Mix 1 setting) will be about 4 amps, which is OK. Remember the fridge probably takes about an amp, but only uses it when the fridge thermostat switches it on, so it's not all the time.

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[Camping Gaza]

1. Ask the camp owner if you can borrow his tin bath. (posso usare il tuo bagno di stagno?)

2. Get out of the van and start a camp fire. (Hai un accendisigari. - Do you have a lighter?)

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

I would use the lower setting for a 6 amp site and not try to heat the water using the boiler system electric.you could try using a low watt kettle for hot water but turn the lights off to a minimum..just settle for lights and fridge unless you can reset the trip on the ehu post easily without upsetting the site owners

 

[The Wino]

I think you need to look in the manual as I think Chausson are unususl in using diesel/electric combi heaters which no-one else will have!!!!!

 

[ShellAnt]

If your electric kettle is tripping the electric then you need to use a kettle on the stove. Don't know what kettle you're using but we use a 750 watt one which has never tripped the electrics even when on 6amp hookup (not that we use electric very often!)

Denise

Hi Denise, thank you for responding. WiFi not great here so did some old fashioned research and actually read the manual! We always use gas kettle when camping, it was the water in the boiler I was trying to heat so have worked out that I should use mix1 which uses a blend of fuel and electric and it’s worked.

Have never used a forum before and found comments from the community very informative and some of the others...hmm amusing. Molte grazie per la lezione di Italiano

 

[ShellAnt]

1. Ask the camp owner if you can borrow his tin bath. (posso usare il tuo bagno di stagno?)

2. Get out of the van and start a camp fire. (Hai un accendisigari. - Do you have a lighter?)

We believe in making the most of our van and the creature comforts it offers. I think you refer to this as ‘glamping’? Best of both worlds in our opinion.
Non sono così sicuro del tuo senso dell'umorismo, è un po 'offensivo.

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[ShellAnt]

We believe in making the most of our van and the creature comforts it offers. I think you refer to this as ‘glamping’? Best of both worlds in our opinion.
Non sono così sicuro del tuo senso dell'umorismo, è un po 'offensivo.

 

[The Wino]

We believe in making the most of our van and the creature comforts it offers. I think you refer to this as ‘glamping’? Best of both worlds in our opinion.
Non sono così sicuro del tuo senso dell'umorismo, è un po 'offensivo.

I call it getting my moneys worth nothing wrong with that!!

 

[Camping Gaza]

Oh deary deary me OP!