FAO....PH electricians.......advice required please.....
FAO....PH electricians.......advice required please.....
Author
Discussion

Wacky Racer

Original Poster:

40,678 posts

270 months

Saturday 6th March 2010
quotequote all
Question:-

We have a motorhome, and when we hook up to power on a caravan site, the incoming power is normally 16A.

Now, rather than use our fitted propane gas heater (on low), whilst we are asleep, I was thinking of buying a cheap MINI oil filled radiator, rated around 600W, or maybe 800W, to take the chill out of the air. Obviously, we don't want to trip any fuses by overloading the system....

Would this be OK?.....

Thanks in anticipation.....smile


Morningside

24,146 posts

252 months

Saturday 6th March 2010
quotequote all
Remember Volts X Amps = Watts

240" x 16 = 3840


So should be fine. But checkout some sites as they can trip a bit lower than this.


"Near enough!

Edited by Morningside on Saturday 6th March 19:21

Wacky Racer

Original Poster:

40,678 posts

270 months

Saturday 6th March 2010
quotequote all
Morningside said:
Remember Volts X Amps = Watts

240" x 16 = 3840


So should be fine. But checkout some sites as they can trip a bit lower than this.
Thanks.

So assuming we buy a 600W one, this should be WELL within the limit...ie:-3840??

Pigeon

18,535 posts

269 months

Saturday 6th March 2010
quotequote all
Yep, no problem smile

mik.ross

254 posts

218 months

Saturday 6th March 2010
quotequote all
The easy way to remember is "4.16 Amps per Kilowatt" (But this only works for UK domestic voltage).

To put it another way in the UK on a basic 240 supply the ley mans calculation is "every 100 Watts is Half an Amp".

Parrot of Doom

23,075 posts

257 months

Saturday 6th March 2010
quotequote all
Morningside said:
Remember Volts X Amps = Watts

240" x 16 = 3840


So should be fine. But checkout some sites as they can trip a bit lower than this.


"Near enough!

Edited by Morningside on Saturday 6th March 19:21
Just because the connector is the 16A design doesn't mean that you can draw 16 amps from it. The important thing here is the supply, not the connector.

Edited by Parrot of Doom on Saturday 6th March 20:14

Wacky Racer

Original Poster:

40,678 posts

270 months

Saturday 6th March 2010
quotequote all
OK, thanks to all for the prompt and helpful replies.....thumbup

I guess the answer is yes then....smile

Parrot of Doom

23,075 posts

257 months

Saturday 6th March 2010
quotequote all
No, the answer is that you must track down the source and see exactly how many watts it is rated to supply.

Morningside

24,146 posts

252 months

Saturday 6th March 2010
quotequote all
Thats roughly what I was trying to point out (in a poor way). Some sites have a guaranteed 16amp but others its 16 amp per supply post.


Microwave oven. But you get the point
http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/FAQ.asp...

Wacky Racer

Original Poster:

40,678 posts

270 months

Saturday 6th March 2010
quotequote all
scratchchin

I guess I'll just buy one and find out...biggrin

Morningside

24,146 posts

252 months

Saturday 6th March 2010
quotequote all
I have run a hairdryer (not me the wife!) and a 2 bar electric fire so I would not worry to much.