What length electric hook-up cable?
- Thread starter Sportster Dave
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Hello, we are the newbees and would like to clarify if we should just buy a 25m hookup cable for camp sites or 10m and 15m is a better idea? If the latter, can they just be used plugged in together working as extention?
We would be very grateful for your reply.
Personally having a 10m and a 15m cable is more flexible and yes you can just plug them together however not if you use Caravan and Motor Home sites as they don’t allow it. Very rarely will you need a full 25 m length cable on most sites
Thank you. If you don’t mind - what the difference when using a hookup cable on Caravan and Motor Home sites?
It’s just their rules, they have some really nice sites but lots of rules on what you can and cannot do. I guess they perceive a risk where the cables join but personally I can’t see any risk if you have proper connectors
We've got a 25 metre long lead as I'm a little bloke and constantly over compensating however the actual cable itself has 2.5mm2 conductors so nice and chunky.
The leads length has helped us out a couple of times when some numpty has plugged into what is obviously not their closest power but this can happen with the random comings and goings of new vans during the week, our extra slack is just looped back and forth along the plot edge much like when we go out for the day.
The leads length has helped us out a couple of times when some numpty has plugged into what is obviously not their closest power but this can happen with the random comings and goings of new vans during the week, our extra slack is just looped back and forth along the plot edge much like when we go out for the day.
We like to travel in Europe when ever possible and always carry both a 10m and at least one sometimes two 25m cables as it is often found that sites in Europe have more remote EHU sockets. However whatever you use don't leave a cable coiled up as the current flow in a coil can over heat.
As for the 'rules' of some sites in the UK, we have no idea as we avoid such greedy over priced locations.
As for the 'rules' of some sites in the UK, we have no idea as we avoid such greedy over priced locations.
If you are going to use Caravan Club sites, then 25m. See here:
What Have You Bought Today?
The good old days Yeah, nowadays he just twatters on about farming. :(:sleep:
Any extra can just be coiled (loosely) under the van.
And welcome to the forum!
Don't forget to add random bits of black electrical tape at various points along the cable, makes it look old and battered and less likely to get nicked if you do leave it on site while you're out in the van.
Thank you very much for your advice.If you are going to use Caravan Club sites, then 25m. See here:
What Have You Bought Today?
The good old days Yeah, nowadays he just twatters on about farming. :(:sleep:www.t6forum.com
Any extra can just be coiled (loosely) under the van.
And welcome to the forum!
Thank you very much for that. We’d have never thought of it!
I use an upturned (clean but they don’t know that) toilet bucket over the end. I do it as I don’t like leaving the plug out in the weather but I guess it has the same effect.
I’ve also always left the excess cable coiled under the van, now on a cable reel too. We don’t use hardly any electricity, only phones, lights, fridge so little to no risk in doing this. Never felt even warm to the touch.
40m !!!!
Jeez.
Defo chop down....
I would go for a 25m & 15m
Jeez.
Defo chop down....
I would go for a 25m & 15m
You could probably tour the Isle of Skye without disconnecting that from you hookup point
Nothing wrong with it per se, but it will be cumbersome. If it really is 2.5mm & not 1.5mm (1.5mm is rated to 16A, 2.5mm is around 25A) then it will be a fair old lump @40m. As Dell says, chop it down & make up 2 different sizes.
NC35
Member
Yes deffo 2.5mm took off one end and checked with a micrometer. 2.7mm inc insulation.
There is also a 15m hookup, a UK 13A spur & I assume a euro 2 pin spur.
I was more worried about the voltage drop off over 40m, but I suppose if people join 25m & 15m, it's no different.
Thank you everyone for putting my mind at rest.
For future reference, cable size is given in mm2 I.e. square millimetres, not diameter. At 2.7mm dia, your cable is (1.35x1.35)x3.142=5.726mm2 including insulation
The core diameter of a 2.5mm2 cable would be 2x square root of 2.5/3.142=1.78mm
As an apprentice I'm sure we were taught that size for size a flexible cable carried slightly more current than it's solid cored alternative.
I know that's not the reason for using flex in caravans, trailers and motor homes but a search online contradicts indicating solid cores as carrying more current at 50Hz and flex better at RF due to skin effect.
I know that's not the reason for using flex in caravans, trailers and motor homes but a search online contradicts indicating solid cores as carrying more current at 50Hz and flex better at RF due to skin effect.
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