Camping what is electric hook up

Typically, the socket at end of the cable will be fitted with an attachment or other means of fastening it to your tent, above ground level. Fix your cable to the inside of the tent, preferably away from the door or other opening, to reduce the chances of any harsh elements affecting the equipment. Never store electrical equipment on the floor of your tent, as leaks or condensation could lead to malfunction or electric shock. It may seem unnecessary, but you must seriously consider the appliances you intend to use at the campsite.

A socket at a campsite, however, is much more easily overloaded than those provided in a home or cabin. For example, if you are on a campsite with a 50amp power supply, you have a maximum of 12kW available. This means that you could power multiple small appliances, such as a small tea kettle and a toaster. However, if someone were to plug in a hairdryer, you run the risk of tripping the electrics. Of course, not all appliances require the same wattage, so a good way to prevent such an incident is to add up all the Watts of your desired appliances especially if you expect to use them all at once.

Make sure that the number is less than what is available at the campsite. To be safe, try not to have the total too close to the available power, but a good buffer of one to a few hundred Watts if possible. Multiple elements can influence the risks associated with using an electrical hook-up unit in your tent. Your response both preventative and reactive to these hazards makes your use of the hook up so much safer. Those elements include:. With these factors in mind, here are a few more safety precautions to follow when using your unit:.

Recall the MCB mentioned earlier. Part of your responsibility is to avoid tripping the MCB by accounting for required wattage from each of your appliances as outlined above. Here are some popular electronics that people typically bring along on a camping trip and the amount of power they require:. You can also take further precautions by having staff or rangers demonstrate how to reset the electrics in case they do trip.

Note that this may be something only the owner of the campsite can show you, so be mindful of the operating hours of the park. You also need to find out if there are fees associated with having to reset the electrics.

Being able to quickly heat or cool your tent, keep your appliances and gadgets charged and to be able to play console games can add to your camping experience. For those with some medical conditions, having access to reliable electrical power is essential. Without electrical hook up, camping is impossible for some people. CampingSage is all about comfortable family camping in tents.

It is written by campers, for campers. Clicking on some links and images on this site may take you to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate the Camping Sage earns from qualifying purchases. Search for:. That raises an important question. However, there are times when a hookup will make your whole family tent camping experience that much more comfortable: Getting cold in the evening — a hookup is a great way of running a tent heater Baking hot — maybe you want to run a tent fan or even an air con unit Running coolers or fridges — keep you food and drink in perfect condition Medical conditions that may require electrical appliances i.

Read on for a detailed guide on why and how you should use an electrical hook-up for your tent. What is an Electrical Hookup for Camping? Small, quiet, efficient camping inverter generator. Share on facebook. Share on twitter. Share on pinterest. Share on linkedin.

Keith Longmire. If your tent has a cable entry point, feed you electric hook up lead through it rather than through the front door. It would be a trip hazard. Water and electricity do not mix, always keep the socket box off the floor of the tent. Electrical equipment should also be kept off the ground.

Even small amounts of damp could result in the system tripping, causing fire or even electrocution. If the conditions inside the tent get damp, stop using the electricity immediately, unplug the appliances and replace the covers over the sockets.

Never leave appliances running in an unoccupied tent, or when you go to bed. Use appliances specially designed for camping and avoid using normal household appliances in your tent. They are not designed for outdoor use and will regularly overload the system, and could even cause a power cut. Use only one appliance per socket, and multi plug adaptors are a definite no-no. Otherwise you might have to contact the campsite's reception to check if a fuse has blown.

You won't be popular! If you're a camping purist and you're wondering why on earth anyone would want to use electricity while camping and what you can use an electric hook-up for, here's the full list of ideas from the infographic above! Hi, I enjoy camping but for the first time am trying an EHU pitch. I see you can run hair straighteners and hairdryer, I only intend to use one at a time but can you tell me how I find the kW on hair straighteners.

The hairdryer states kW so I should be ok on a 10 amp supply, but are straighteners more or less and how do I actually find out? What on the straighteners am I actually looking for to determine the kW on them.

Thank you! Hi Carl. You should find a sticker somewhere on the hair straighteners that tells you the voltage V and either the current A or wattage W or kW. You can calculate the wattage by multiplying V x A, or calculate the current by dividing wattage by voltage.

Most straighteners are lower powered than hairdryers though, so you should be fine if you have a 10A supply. Rechargeable or gas hair straighteners are an alternative option. Hi we are going on our 1st tent camping trip in a couple of weeks and wondered if we would be ok to use a 28inch tv with a portable digital aerial on the electric hook up? It states that the site has 16A hook up. Hi Debbie. Most modern flatscreens and particularly LED ones have pretty minimal power requirements, and will be fine on any 10A or 16A hook-up.

While motorhome and caravan owners can tuck themselves away to enjoy their favourite shows, sound travels further from tents - so do be considerate! Most campers would probably prefer being away from the telly Great Article.

I am sure this is going to sound like a stupid question, but I didn't want to order cable and then find that it does not fit when I arrive. There's no such thing as a stupid question Richard :- In the UK, all electric hook-ups will use the same 3-pin connector, irrespective of power rating.

Most sites abroad should be the same these days, but some will still use the older style 2-pin connector. Continental adaptors are cheap and would be worth getting if you're planning to go abroad often. Electric hook ups. Camping for Beginners Why go camping? What is an electric hook up? Simply run your cable to your temporary home and hey presto! What are the common amp ratings?

What do electric hook up cables look like? No protection 2. Protection against condensation 3. Protected against water spray from all directions 6. Protection against low pressure water jets all directions 7.

Protection against strong water jets and waves 8. Protected against temporary immersion 9. Protected against prolonged effects of immersion under pressure Using an electric hook up in a caravan, motorhome or campervan vs using in a tent Electric hook ups are designed for use in motorhomes, campervans, caravans and tents. Alternative ways to power your gadgets while camping EHUs aren't the only way to get access to electrical power while camping, there are alternatives. Leisure batteries Leisure batteries can be used to provide a steady stream of power for appliances such as lighting, however you will find that compared to electrical hook up they are certainly not as reliable or convenient.

Solar power Solar panels are brilliant eco friendly alternatives for those on extended trips and can be fixed to the roof of a caravan, motorhome or campervan relatively simply. Generators Another option is a generator, however they're not welcome on many campsites due to being noisy. What gear do I need and where should I buy it?