Charging an EV on holiday
Discussion
Yes, providing the adapter you use is rated to at least 13a...
The actual French sockets are rated to 16a I think, so can easily supply a plug in device designed for use with a 13a plug.
The voltage in the EU is a little lower than the UK, but well within the range of voltage your charger will accept - if you want reassurance just check the label on the charger
The actual French sockets are rated to 16a I think, so can easily supply a plug in device designed for use with a 13a plug.
The voltage in the EU is a little lower than the UK, but well within the range of voltage your charger will accept - if you want reassurance just check the label on the charger
TheDeuce said:
Yes, providing the adapter you use is rated to at least 13a...
The actual French sockets are rated to 16a I think, so can easily supply a plug in device designed for use with a 13a plug.
The voltage in the EU is a little lower than the UK, but well within the range of voltage your charger will accept - if you want reassurance just check the label on the charger
Thanks!The actual French sockets are rated to 16a I think, so can easily supply a plug in device designed for use with a 13a plug.
The voltage in the EU is a little lower than the UK, but well within the range of voltage your charger will accept - if you want reassurance just check the label on the charger
By adaptor do you mean the 2 to 3 pin socket adaptor?
The park rep (who admittedly didn’t sound very clued up on this) said that the voltage on the parks is quite low and fairly easily tripped. Does this sound credible?
Don't use one of those £1.99 plastic adapters you see hanging up at airports. You might find it a good investment to try and get an extension lead with a French/Schuko plug on one end and a UK socket the other, all rated for at least 13A (you can also make on yourself if you can get hold of a decent schuko plug and just change the plug on a good quality UK extension lead).
This has 2 benefits, one, you've more reach if there isn't a convenient socket nearby (remember to always fully unwind extension cables), and secondly you won't melt the adaptor onto your mobile car charger and render the whole thing unusable.
One thing to note about French wiring is they aren't very good at getting the Live and Neutrai the correct way round. Most car chargers aren't sensitive to this but some are, and if the socket is wired wrongly the charger can trip (the charger knows because the Neutral voltage is typically fairly close to Earth). Not a lot you can do in this case other than try and different socket.
This has 2 benefits, one, you've more reach if there isn't a convenient socket nearby (remember to always fully unwind extension cables), and secondly you won't melt the adaptor onto your mobile car charger and render the whole thing unusable.
One thing to note about French wiring is they aren't very good at getting the Live and Neutrai the correct way round. Most car chargers aren't sensitive to this but some are, and if the socket is wired wrongly the charger can trip (the charger knows because the Neutral voltage is typically fairly close to Earth). Not a lot you can do in this case other than try and different socket.
Jag_NE said:
TheDeuce said:
Yes, providing the adapter you use is rated to at least 13a...
The actual French sockets are rated to 16a I think, so can easily supply a plug in device designed for use with a 13a plug.
The voltage in the EU is a little lower than the UK, but well within the range of voltage your charger will accept - if you want reassurance just check the label on the charger
Thanks!The actual French sockets are rated to 16a I think, so can easily supply a plug in device designed for use with a 13a plug.
The voltage in the EU is a little lower than the UK, but well within the range of voltage your charger will accept - if you want reassurance just check the label on the charger
By adaptor do you mean the 2 to 3 pin socket adaptor?
The park rep (who admittedly didn’t sound very clued up on this) said that the voltage on the parks is quite low and fairly easily tripped. Does this sound credible?
SWoll said:
Jag_NE said:
TheDeuce said:
Yes, providing the adapter you use is rated to at least 13a...
The actual French sockets are rated to 16a I think, so can easily supply a plug in device designed for use with a 13a plug.
The voltage in the EU is a little lower than the UK, but well within the range of voltage your charger will accept - if you want reassurance just check the label on the charger
Thanks!The actual French sockets are rated to 16a I think, so can easily supply a plug in device designed for use with a 13a plug.
The voltage in the EU is a little lower than the UK, but well within the range of voltage your charger will accept - if you want reassurance just check the label on the charger
By adaptor do you mean the 2 to 3 pin socket adaptor?
The park rep (who admittedly didn’t sound very clued up on this) said that the voltage on the parks is quite low and fairly easily tripped. Does this sound credible?
SWoll said:
Jag_NE said:
TheDeuce said:
Yes, providing the adapter you use is rated to at least 13a...
The actual French sockets are rated to 16a I think, so can easily supply a plug in device designed for use with a 13a plug.
The voltage in the EU is a little lower than the UK, but well within the range of voltage your charger will accept - if you want reassurance just check the label on the charger
Thanks!The actual French sockets are rated to 16a I think, so can easily supply a plug in device designed for use with a 13a plug.
The voltage in the EU is a little lower than the UK, but well within the range of voltage your charger will accept - if you want reassurance just check the label on the charger
By adaptor do you mean the 2 to 3 pin socket adaptor?
The park rep (who admittedly didn’t sound very clued up on this) said that the voltage on the parks is quite low and fairly easily tripped. Does this sound credible?
Heres Johnny said:
Don't use one of those £1.99 plastic adapters you see hanging up at airports. You might find it a good investment to try and get an extension lead with a French/Schuko plug on one end and a UK socket the other, all rated for at least 13A (you can also make on yourself if you can get hold of a decent schuko plug and just change the plug on a good quality UK extension lead).
This has 2 benefits, one, you've more reach if there isn't a convenient socket nearby (remember to always fully unwind extension cables), and secondly you won't melt the adaptor onto your mobile car charger and render the whole thing unusable.
I would do the very same. You might be able to find a 'travel adapter' that is good for at least 13a... the problem is that the connections they make aren't particularly solid, and at the level of current a poor connection could quickly get a bit toasty..This has 2 benefits, one, you've more reach if there isn't a convenient socket nearby (remember to always fully unwind extension cables), and secondly you won't melt the adaptor onto your mobile car charger and render the whole thing unusable.
I agree, put the French plug on a 13a rated UK extension lead = no weak links, provided you can wire a plug correctly
If the Eurocamp electrics are anything like the ones that I experienced then expect your caravan to be hooked up to a very dodgy distribution board set up for a very low electrical demand. Any suggestion of a moderate load will have the CB popping before you can say "is it charging yet?"
I would absolutely not expect to be able to plug a car in to the caravan electrical supply in order to charge it.
I would absolutely not expect to be able to plug a car in to the caravan electrical supply in order to charge it.
this is my username said:
If the Eurocamp electrics are anything like the ones that I experienced then expect your caravan to be hooked up to a very dodgy distribution board set up for a very low electrical demand. Any suggestion of a moderate load will have the CB popping before you can say "is it charging yet?"
I would absolutely not expect to be able to plug a car in to the caravan electrical supply in order to charge it.
The charger is just 13amp...I would absolutely not expect to be able to plug a car in to the caravan electrical supply in order to charge it.
If the supply to each caravan can't handle 13a then it would be hopeless.
I found this when I was thinking about the same:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153152099134?epid=21760...
I get about 20% overnight on my Model S on a 3 pin plug and I've used this as my only power source on a few holidays now and never had a problem. Despite using the car every day on hols I still always managed to keep it well charged.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153152099134?epid=21760...
I get about 20% overnight on my Model S on a 3 pin plug and I've used this as my only power source on a few holidays now and never had a problem. Despite using the car every day on hols I still always managed to keep it well charged.
Edited by RobbyJ on Tuesday 14th December 19:35
RobbyJ said:
I found this when I was thinking about the same:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07L2PDR6H/ref...
I get about 20% overnight on my Model S on a 3 pin plug and I've used this as my only power source on a few holidays now and never had a problem. Despite using the car every day on hols I still always managed to keep it well charged.
Sorry for the stupid question but shouldn’t that adapter have a two pin plug on it so it plugs straight into the local socket? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07L2PDR6H/ref...
I get about 20% overnight on my Model S on a 3 pin plug and I've used this as my only power source on a few holidays now and never had a problem. Despite using the car every day on hols I still always managed to keep it well charged.
I haven't been with Eurocamp for years, but their caravans always used to have UK sockets. The campsite electric posts outside will either be two pin or will be the standard electric hook up sockets as per a UK campsite.
As my post above the electricity on a campsite is unlikely to be up to it though.
As my post above the electricity on a campsite is unlikely to be up to it though.
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