Member Since: 01 Aug 2016
Location: Somerset
Posts: 29
Campsite 6A supplies - for the electrically minded
I'm thinking about air conditioning my caravan before a summer trip to the south of France. The thing is, they have large start up currents and did'nt want to go the hassle and expense, only to find it trips the typical French 6A supplies. Not detered, I wondered if i made up a lead that plugs into two campsite outlets, (seems to always be spares) connected them together, could i could run upto 12A??
You mean a bit like having two batteries in parallel on a car to boost the reserve capacity?
I don't know is the honest answer, but as it's AC current there might be a risk of one outlet shorting the supply to the other one?
Why not look into van refrigeration units? they should work off 12V the same as a car. Also compressor fridges use very little current.1972 Range Rover Classic 2 door V8
2013 Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - SCRAPPED
2016 Land Rover Discovery 4 Landmark
2022 Volvo XC40 T5 PHEV 282HP FWD 3 cylinder!
26th Feb 2018 12:48 pm
Somersetjedi
Member Since: 01 Aug 2016
Location: Somerset
Posts: 29
Yeah, i was thinking in parallel to boost the available current. But I'm now thinking its probably a 3 phase supply into the site distribution outlet, so joining them will be explosive unless I'm lucky, I think my chances are 1/3 in getting the same phase on the two chosen outlets. I think it is essentially a short circuit.
Well i need something with a significant cooling capacity - circa 2500watts of cooling, they do sell DC kits, essentially inverters, but their an additional £500
26th Feb 2018 1:03 pm
gvw
Member Since: 16 Jan 2012
Location: South Yorkshire
Posts: 872
The AC unit on my last van was a dometic and worked fine on the 6A supplies in France and Spain.
when the compressor used to start it didn't half come on with a kick.
I have had a newer unit fitted on my new van and the startup of the compressor is much more gradual - admitted I have not used it abroad yet
26th Feb 2018 5:32 pm
JackNorris
Member Since: 06 Jul 2012
Location: Beds/Bucks Border
Posts: 1879
Re: Campsite 6A supplies - for the electrically minded
Somersetjedi wrote:
I wondered if i made up a lead that plugs into two campsite outlets, (seems to always be spares) connected them together, could i could run upto 12A??
Never do this! Ive seen what can happen with these.
In my industry this is known as a widow maker, if you only unplug one of the two connections for example, that connection you've unplugged is then live and the pins easily touchable.
Imagine a kid is helping dad pack away and unplugs the wrong cable, that could well be the last time he helps dad!
Sorry to be blunt but the result various from not good to deadly and nothing better when it goes wrong!
This applies to single and three phaseMY2023 Discovery 5 R-Dynamic 3.0
MY2020 Discovery 5 Landmark 3.0 - SOLD
MY2005 Discovery 3 V8 4.4 HSE - SOLD
MY2019 Discovery 5 SE 3.0 - LR Replaced !
MY2005 Discovery 3 S 2.7 - SOLD
MY2016 Discovery 4 Graphite - SOLD
MY2015 Discovery 4 SE Tech - SOLD
Why go to a place that is too hot for you ?A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
26th Feb 2018 8:21 pm
Somersetjedi
Member Since: 01 Aug 2016
Location: Somerset
Posts: 29
JackNorris - you're are absolutely right, live pins and inquisitive kids, say no more. Hang on, my misses usually helps... thats got me thinking....
27th Feb 2018 8:37 am
Somersetjedi
Member Since: 01 Aug 2016
Location: Somerset
Posts: 29
Navigator - this mans never too hot (unless he electricutes himslef), but i love the comfort of a good night sleep when the nighttime temp doesn’t fall below 30. Good night sleep means parents are more tolerant to 3 kids excitement and laps in behavior. Wining formula
27th Feb 2018 8:42 am
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
The new air con units are all soft start to over come this issueMY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
MY15 D4 HSE Kaikoura Stone
MY12 D4 HSE Nara Bronze Sold and gone
MY11 D4 HSE Stornaway Grey Sold and gone
D3 S spec Silver Sold and gone
Tow bar, full length roof bars, side steps, tow bar storage unit, surround camers.
D4 camera club
27th Feb 2018 8:43 am
Somersetjedi
Member Since: 01 Aug 2016
Location: Somerset
Posts: 29
Hey Russell, do you tow something large with your D5? If so, how does it compare to a D4?
There is a way to - safely - use two low current supplies which may be of use to you. Run the air conditioning unit from a seperate supply to the rest of the caravan electrics.
Tent camping shops sell 240v mains leads for tents that end up in a box with necessary safety things and a row of normal sockets. Get one of these leads and plug your air conditioning into it. Back in Blighty, plug the unit into a socket in the caravan as normal on the 16 ampere supply.A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
you could probably (not guaranteeing it mind !) look at a reasonably priced PC UPS box … the batteries would provide the >6A start-up then your "normal operating current" would be fed from the mains whilst the batteries are also re-charging. you could ensure this mode by starting the AirCon before connecting to the mains.
27th Feb 2018 9:57 am
Ted Newman
Member Since: 09 Oct 2010
Location: SE London
Posts: 840
Had aircon on our Airstream since new in 2009 never had a problem on the continent or in Morocco - just make sure everything else is off, including the hot water boiler, before switching the aircon on. Ours is the Dometic 1500 so not the largest.
PS once running we then switch the hot water back on IF the load is too much then we will (reluctantly) put the water on to gas.
and as a by the way most of the time in France we never had a need for the aircon BUT in the south mid summer it came into its own.LR Discovery 4 XS pulling an Airstream 532 Caravan also own (since new) a 1996 MGF
27th Feb 2018 10:28 am
Somersetjedi
Member Since: 01 Aug 2016
Location: Somerset
Posts: 29
So to add detail, the A/C unit i need for the size van has a power consumption of 4.2A, but the inrush current is 28 A. This is for only a few milliseconds and I'm told isn't enough to trip the 6A breaker.
I'm going to comit to buying this today so I'll see.
27th Feb 2018 10:44 am
Gazellio
Member Since: 08 Jan 2011
Location: Chilterns
Posts: 4130
We had a newish Dometic Rooflight AC unit in our Dethleffs and it was slow start and never used more than about 4A so we used it whenever we wanted it.
Its nice to be able to enjoy a hot climate outside and be able to retreat to a cool area if you so wish as you would in a Hotel. It's not necessary to put up with a hot stuffy van especially at night to be able to say you enjoy a hot climate.....
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