Euro hook ups

TimR · Aug 6, 2022

I'm back from a camping trip to France. The hook ups on the site were very sparse and I had to borrow a 25m cable (from a fellow UK camper) to extend my own 25m to get the required length (approx 40m from where we parked). My cable is a standard UK hook up lead 3x2.5mm cable made by Vechline. I was told that these dont come in 50m lengths as they would lose too much voltage over the distance however 2 x 25m seemed fine. I noticed the French seemed to use much thinner regular power cable (normally on a 50m reel) with an adapter socket going into the box. Are these sufficient to plug in to a van and what are the pros and cons? Ideally i'd like to take just 1 50m cable on a reel for future visits.

B J G · Aug 6, 2022

Most French sites supply lower current than we get in UK. Some used to be only 6Amp with exxttra charges for higher ratings. I think 10Amp is more normal now which is why you see cable reels being used.
What power you use in your Cali dictates the cable needed, if only the fridge and lights plus battery charging a 1.5mm cored cable will suffice.

French domestic plugs are 16Amp rated and off the shelf cable reels will be also. All at odds with UK.

rod_vw · Aug 6, 2022

And after all that you can use three way splitters and share the extension with your neighbours. Perfectly normal way of doing things in France. I carry one in my camper.

I also have an additional 16Amp outlet on the van end of my EHU cable to enable a neighbour to connect 'piggy back' on my lead. Frowned on in the UK but perfectly normal in France.

TimR · Aug 7, 2022

B J G said:
Most French sites supply lower current than we get in UK. Some used to be only 6Amp with exxttra charges for higher ratings. I think 10Amp is more normal now which is why you see cable reels being used.
What power you use in your Cali dictates the cable needed, if only the fridge and lights plus battery charging a 1.5mm cored cable will suffice.

French domestic plugs are 16Amp rated and off the shelf cable reels will be also. All at odds with UK.

Thanks very much. If I was intending to use the euro socket in the van for charging laptops and that sort of thing would that fall under the 1.5 cable do you know?

Calimili · Aug 7, 2022

TimR said:
Thanks very much. If I was intending to use the euro socket in the van for charging laptops and that sort of thing would that fall under the 1.5 cable do you know?

My 30m 1.5mm cable is rated for 2300W in total , so plenty...

Ozzy Pete · Aug 7, 2022

Have you ever seen a 30 metre cable melting into the grass on a French campsite? No. As long as the cable is fully unwound it will take the 6 or 10 amps that you usually get. They normally trip after switching on a kettle and toaster. We carry the thinner cable as it’s much easier to roll up and store away

TimR · Aug 8, 2022

Is there anywhere that sells a 50m 1.5 cable with the male and female hook up connectors in each end?

vbk1975 · Aug 8, 2022

I made my 25m using parts from Screwfix using cold weather cable, (50m drum), I used 1.5mm2
but 2.5mm2 is also available. So if you use whole real, you could do 50m (although a handful)

Time 3183YAG Blue 3-Core 1.5mm² Flexible Cable 50m Drum - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. PVC-sheathed cable suitable for transformers and site lighting. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

ABB 16A 2P+E Connector 250V - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. 2P+E. 250V. 16A Compact design, excellent grip industrial plug. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

ABB 16A 2P+E Connector 250V - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. 2P+E. 250V. 16A Compact design, excellent grip industrial coupler. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

TimR · Aug 8, 2022

vbk1975 said:
I made my 25m using parts from Screwfix using cold weather cable, (50m drum), I used 1.5mm2
but 2.5mm2 is also available. So if you use whole real, you could do 50m (although a handful)

Time 3183YAG Blue 3-Core 1.5mm² Flexible Cable 50m Drum - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. PVC-sheathed cable suitable for transformers and site lighting. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

ABB 16A 2P+E Connector 250V - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. 2P+E. 250V. 16A Compact design, excellent grip industrial plug. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

ABB 16A 2P+E Connector 250V - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. 2P+E. 250V. 16A Compact design, excellent grip industrial coupler. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

Thanks, is it easy enough to wire up the connectors yourself?

WelshGas · Aug 8, 2022

TimR said:
Thanks, is it easy enough to wire up the connectors yourself?

If you can wire a plug, Yes.

sidepod · Aug 8, 2022

As an example, a quick basic volt drop calc on a 30m 1.5mm cable running a 3kw kettle/heater.
Percentage drop is 4.6. If my memory is correct, 6% is max permissible under English regs. So in other words your kettle/heater is running on 209V.

Perhaps, caution. 1.5mm cable is rated at 16A (ambient dependent). A Circuit breaker of 16A in the hook up may not trip at 16A, perhaps 18-19A which could potentially mean the cable melts first.
This is why hook up cables are generally 2.5mm, ensuring the breaker always goes first.
Chances of the former are v slim put could theoretically happen.

vbk1975 · Aug 8, 2022

sidepod said:
As an example, a quick basic volt drop calc on a 30m 1.5mm cable running a 3kw kettle/heater.
Percentage drop is 4.6. If my memory is correct, 6% is max permissible under English regs. So in other words your kettle/heater is running on 209V.

Perhaps, caution. 1.5mm cable is rated at 16A (ambient dependent). A Circuit breaker of 16A in the hook up may not trip at 16A, perhaps 18-19A which could potentially mean the cable melts first.
This is why hook up cables are generally 2.5mm, ensuring the breaker always goes first.
Chances of the former are v slim put could theoretically happen.
View attachment 97503

Agreed and point well made. I use 1.5mm2 knowing exactly what we use connected to it and we use low wattage kettle etc so we can keep below 6A on the French campsites we use.