EHU in France

[dcas]

I'm taking my motorhome to France for the first time next year. Will the EHU I use in this country work over there? The campsite says it is a 10 amp electricity supply, not sure what my EHU is but I think it is 16A

 

[Jo001]

Yes, but you just need to be aware of what appliances you have on at the same time - for example if the heating is on you might be able to boil a kettle but don't also use a microwave or hairdryer.

 

[Bigshug]

Some sites use the standard EHU connectors, others just use the domestic European plugs, so an adaptor might be required. Otherwise it is just the same as in the UK.

 

[The laird]

Also check the polarity you get a device from eBay cheap enough
This what I use I also use a adaptor to plug polarity checker into

 

[barryd]

Yes its just the same as here with a couple of caveats as already explained above (sometimes you need the two pin adaptor and the maximum supply is sometimes less than here). 16 amp is often what you get supplied in the UK which pretty much will power everything you need in the motorhome thats 240v and many things at the same time. In Europe you will find this varies more. Some will be 16amp, some 10amp, 6amp or even as low as 3amp. All this means is the more stuff you plug in the more likely it will be to trip the system on the pole outside. Its always worth checking before you do anything that you know how to flick the trip switch on the EHU pole outside so if you trip it in the middle of the night you know you can get it back on again.

For example most of the Camping Car Park Aires which have sprung up all over France are just 6amp. Thats just about enough to boil a kettle but with nothing much else on at the same time. You will soon figure it out.

 

[HurricaneSmith]

As an example against myself, I remember pulling into one European municipal site with a very low amperage when I first started motorhoming to find the hookup post kept triping out. They had a look and kindly ran a long extension lead to me from the toilet block.

The next morning I realised I'd forgotten to turn off the water heater.

 

[jann]

Take a two pin adapter, we used it several times this year.
We only use one heavy power item at a time

 

[Boris7]

You ideally should take a 2pin plug adaptor and mains tester as above and a reverse polarity adaptor.

That said I’ve never experienced an issue with reverse polarity, but it does happen.

I also carry a tap screw adaptor that fits ALL taps as especially in Spain and Portugal they often use a bigger size. These are easy to pick up and a life saver at times.

 

[Geek]

Also check the polarity you get a device from eBay cheap enough
This what I use I also use a adaptor to plug polarity checker into

Why?

 

[The laird]

Why?

Often on some sites etc the polarity is wrong ie earth ,plug this in and saves you a lot of hassle ( just saying) it isn't often
Two pin is normally older hook ups but don't bother if you don't want to trying to assist that's all hope this helps the WHY

 

[r4dent]

This thread may help you understand the ramification of 10 amp.

Electricity in your Motor Home for Dummies

Electricity in your Motor Home for Dummies new version I belong to an owners group and am amazed at how many basic 12v & 240v questions are raised. My personal favourite was from a guy who asked why his 240v Micro wave and Electric kettle didn’t work when he stopped for a brew up in a layby...

wildcamping.co.uk

 

[trevskoda]

Also check the polarity you get a device from eBay cheap enough
This what I use I also use a adaptor to plug polarity checker into

Or fit one of these polarity changeover switch.

 

[barryd]

Maybe we don't want to confuse the OP with reverse polarity. Its just not an issue.

I agree with Boris about a tester though. They are useful. I have a small section of hookup cable about a foot long with a 240v socket on one end with a plug in 240v tester in it. An easy way to check if an EHU socket is live or not before you reel out 25m of heavy hookup cable only to find the post is dead. Can happen quite a lot in my experience.

 

[YeoBlade]

YES

Sorry I thought it was getting complicated.
And you will only be able to use 10/16 of power wot you use in England

 

[trevskoda]

Maybe we don't want to confuse the OP with reverse polarity. Its just not an issue.

I agree with Boris about a tester though. They are useful. I have a small section of hookup cable about a foot long with a 240v socket on one end with a plug in 240v tester in it. An easy way to check if an EHU socket is live or not before you reel out 25m of heavy hookup cable only to find the post is dead. Can happen quite a lot in my experience.

Big dangerious problem revers polarity as the pos switching side is swapped, this can kill, every one should have a changeover switch fitted, you alone should know this.

 

[barryd]

Big dangerious problem revers polarity as the pos switching side is swapped, this can kill, every one should have a changeover switch fitted, you alone should know this.

Oh God here we go. No it isn't. It might have been somewhere way back in the last century or if you started taking your kettle to bits while plugged in.

 

[trevskoda]

Oh God here we go. No it isn't. It might have been somewhere way back in the last century or if you started taking your kettle to bits while plugged in.

I do that every week, still dangerous & some things like chargers etc wont work, if it did not mater why then makers use a brown and blue wire.

 

[GMJ]

OP: Ask at each campsite why their amperage is. Also check the area where you plug in as there invariably are MCB's which will tell you the maximum load.

If you are unsure then start using it lightly before plugging things in in the MH. If you are unable to access the MCB's in order to reset them, then go carefully as it's a PITA getting them reset by reception especially if there are language barriers.

 

[Jo001]

We've never, ever had an issue with reverse polarity. We've always just plugged in and everything has worked.

 

[Boris7]

it's a PITA getting them reset by reception especially if there are language barriers.

Language barriers, don’t be so daft, Johnny Foreigner understands English perfectly as long as you shout loud enough, you may need to pock him on the head a bit and point at the reception lights shouting “No Working, you garlic crunching moron”