dottylou Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 Hi there we are coming camping later this year and will be able to have an electric hook up for the fisrt time. what kit do i need to buy before hand and what can i safely use that won't blow a fuse!! Thanks.[8-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 Assuming you have the necessary electrical equipment already installed in your caravan/campervan/trailer tent.....[;-)]Most French campsite systems will accept the modern UK type hook up cable, but some continue to use the older two pin plus earth sockets, so you'd best buy an adapter to cover this eventuality.Reverse polarity can be an issue and most camping equipment shops can sell you a small polarity tester and a 'rewired' adapter to correct any reversed polarity supply. If you ask the shop's advice, they will sort you out with everything. French campsites usually have something like a 6 amp supply as standard but you can have the option of paying extra for an uprated connection. Depends on which appliances you want to use. If you overload the system, it will trip - the reset switch is usually situated in the hookup box and all you do is ask them at reception to reset it for you.That said, I have heard of people blacking out the whole site.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 I found this, from another forum I'm on, very useful as it shows the kind of adaptors SD refers to :[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/cooperlola/bits.jpg[/IMG]The orange lead is an external type camping cable with the standard exterior round sockets (one male, one female). You then need a two pin plug with female round socket as seen towards the top of the picture. This is what plugs into the hook-up. And we then use a male round socket to standard UK three pin plug socket into which we plug an RCD. These can be seen at the bottom of the pic. We then plug 4-way extension leads into this. (Thanks to the The Brethren, of Club Arnage, for the pic.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dottylou Posted May 19, 2008 Author Share Posted May 19, 2008 many thanks for the 2 replies,photo was very helpful, [:D] a trip to the camping shop is next i think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trees 2 Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 DO be aware that SOME French sites are not RCD protected even now. Wickes, (and others) were selling an excellent device last year that had an RCD on a spike, (to keep it above damp ground), with three or four English sockets incorporated onto it.My youngest went camping with one, and simply changed the UK plug for a French one. It cost around £10 with enough cable for the distance, and 6A capability.He said it was perfect for camping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dottylou Posted June 5, 2008 Author Share Posted June 5, 2008 Still having trouble getting to grips with electricity thing. If the site gives us 6 amps and i plug in my standard hairdryer that i use at home will there be enough power to it? our cable has an english socket on 'our ' end and we have a protecter unit RCD, would it be advisable to purchase a travel dryer with dual voltage? we are going to stay on a Kwan village site , either la Ferme des Aulnes or le val d;Authie in the Picardie region. i would welcome any comments on either,thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostinfrance Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 Why buy a new one. when you can go to ladies wash and shower rooms and use the power points in there. With a plug converter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 [quote user="Sunday Driver"]That said, I have heard of people blacking out the whole site.... [/quote]Been there, ......Done that.....[:(] St Dizier, municipal site, very embarrassing.....[:$] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 The country to the North of France and a bit off to the right sends a lot of her campers and caravanners to France for hols ....They come fully kitted out with loads of electrical gadgets and many of them and need more than one hook up to power them all ....That is my experience as an ex caravaner so when the site supply blows ....look for the guy with the two hook ups.... he is probably running a dimplex oil filled radiator in his caravan at the same time as the TV off his sat dish and freeview box while is wife has the microwave fired up along with the chip fryer doing dinner ......You dont wear clogs do you powerdiesel ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 You are right about the Dutch, Frederick, they sure know how to camp![IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/cooperlola/saerialphoto4pc.jpg[/IMG](and yes, that is a bar with the orange roof - complete with draft beer.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 [quote user="Frederick"]...You dont wear clogs do you powerdiesel ? [/quote]No clogs, just a stooooopid mistake. I learnt from that. [:$] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.