low cost aires and camping stops

[alcam]

We use cls with hook up sometimes in winter as we have no other heating. They have had loads of sites closing down for the last couple of years and not enough new ones opening.
Presumably excess electic usage is part of the story. I notice that some of the new ones that do open charge as much as £20 a night...grue...what a shame.

Surely the point is the site owner provides a service and charges a price , £4 or whatever . He makes a profit .
Some on here seem to think that is wrong ? Do you go to a pub and expect a pint for cost price ?
Always laugh on here when some town or county has put a ban on motorhomes , there is always at least one 'we'll take our money elsewhere' post . Like thats not what you do normally !

 

[Fazerloz]

25A - 300/350w. That wouldn't take a breaker out on a 6A supply, it wouldn't even trip on a 2A supply.

If your going to join in keep up and read all the posts please. and do some homework on what a 20-25Amp charger actually comsumes.

try some maths

Duh Duh Duh Dummmm

My maths isn't bad usually..

That is - IMO - precisely the way to do it.

My van has no gas (except for portable cooking outside) and I cook on an induction hob and heat water via a water heater - either would trip a 6A supply but that doesn't matter as I can use them on the battery anyway and overnight the battery charger will replenish the energy used.
In my earlier post I said I'd look at a 10A supply - in hindsight that is too high as a standard - 6A is sufficient for just about anything a camper is likely to NEED to plug in. It is enough for a 1kW heater even on top of having a battery charger plugged in.

Lets make it simple 1000w / 230v = 4.3A .
20-25A Ctek charger which are fairly well regarded.According to their spec sheet 2.9A --------------------- 4.3A+2.9A= 7.2A At the worst and we use 240v instead of 230v its still works out at 7A.
How long will a 6A breaker last before it trips do you think.
Dummmmm Dummmm Duhhhhhhh

 

[wildebus]

If your going to join in keep up and read all the posts please. and do some homework on what a 20-25Amp charger actually comsumes.



My maths isn't bad usually..



Lets make it simple 1000w / 230v = 4.3A .
20-25A Ctek charger which are fairly well regarded.According to their spec sheet 2.9A --------------------- 4.3A+2.9A= 7.2A At the worst and we use 240v instead of 230v its still works out at 7A.
How long will a 6A breaker last before it trips do you think.
Dummmmm Dummmm Duhhhhhhh

you have a 25A Charger that comsumes 2.9A? Seriously? that is an efficiency of less than 50%! I suspect CTEK would take exception to your allegation.
Lets take a more realistic example shall we? Say the Victron 12/25 IP22 Charger. That has an efficiency of 93%

Nows let's so some maths. And let's make it extreme case. Incoming voltage at 230V. 30A output at 14.4V with losses of 7% in the process. So that adds up to 1.68A.
1000W heater is 4.3A by your maths .... so a total of 5.98A - perfect for a 6A breaker :banana: :cool1: :raofl:

Now a 40A charger at full tilt might actually be pushing it but just have turn the heater down - or maybe turn the charger down (or in YOUR case, get a proper charger )

 

[Fazerloz]

you have a 25A Charger that comsumes 2.9A? Seriously? that is an efficiency of less than 50%! I suspect CTEK would take exception to your allegation.
Lets take a more realistic example shall we? Say the Victron 12/25 IP22 Charger. That has an efficiency of 93%

Nows let's so some maths. And let's make it extreme case. Incoming voltage at 230V. 30A output at 14.4V with losses of 7% in the process that is 2A current draw. So that adds up to 1.68A.
1000W heater is 4.3A by your maths .... so a total of 5.98A - perfect for a 6A breaker :banana: :cool1: :raofl:

Now a 40A charger at full tilt might actually be pushing it but just have turn the heater down - or maybe turn the charger down (or in YOUR case, get a proper charger )

Trouble reading.? Or is it normal just to read the bits you like. I said the 2.9A was from Cteks own spec sheet. Its not just a best guess to make my figures fit. Maybe they don't try to use smoke and mirrors like some companies.

Victron what they do give you is a consumption figure of 0.5w with no load. They do not give you a figure under full load, which is the bit that matters. neither do they tell you what part of the cycle the 93% is achieved. More than likely at the no load stage. If you have one, shove a meter on it when it is churning out its 30A and tell us what its actual consumption rate is at its worst point.

 

[wildebus]

Trouble reading.? Or is it normal just to read the bits you like. I said the 2.9A was from Cteks own spec sheet. Its not just a best guess to make my figures fit. Maybe they don't try to use smoke and mirrors like some companies.

Victron what they do give you is a consumption figure of 0.5w with no load. They do not give you a figure under full load, which is the bit that matters. neither do they tell you what part of the cycle the 93% is achieved. More than likely at the no load stage. If you have one, shove a meter on it when it is churning out its 30A and tell us what its actual consumption rate is at its worst point.

Well my 93% efficiency is from Victons own printed Product Catalog that they sent me.
if you think a 2.9A power draw from a 25A charger is acceptable, then good on you. I have a bridge going cheap if you are interested. 50% off so better than a CTEK :dance:
If I do do a campsite anfd you happen along, let me know and I'll put in a bigger breaker for your CTEK charger

 

[alwaysared]

Pays you play has to be the fairest way for site owners and campers .even in summer some campers can use a lot of leccy running air conditioning all day .no wonder sites want us off by 10 00 .

I went on a site in Derbyshire that did just that, you had a card from them and put any amount you wanted on it and then put it in the meter, when you'd finished you went back to the site office and they put the card in a reader and refunded any money you had left on it, seemed fair way to do it to me, not only do you pay for what you've used you actually start thinking about what you turn for fear of having to go and top up again lol.

Kind regards,
Del

 

[delicagirl]

Was that a regular campsite for £13?

it was the caravan and camping club and she gave me member rates. this site is in the top 100 of the CCC sites in their literature.

 

[Biggarmac]

it was the caravan and camping club and she gave me member rates. this site is in the top 100 of the CCC sites in their literature.

A single camper is often better on a C&CC site, especially when over 60. For instance at the Green Frog Moffat someone just turning up pays £12.50 for an electric pitch. On the club site next door it is less than £12 for a hardstanding with electric pitch. The Caravan club has a per person fee as well ( no OAP discount though). As a single camper I seldom use CLs or CSs because the clubs suggest they charge such high fees.

 

[GeoffL]

it was the caravan and camping club and she gave me member rates. this site is in the top 100 of the CCC sites in their literature.

Out of season, the C&MC club sites are reasonably priced. We used them a lot earlier this year, staying at C&MC club sites or pub stops for a week or two either side of the March Manouche festival in Anglesey, paying £15 - £16 a night for two people with EHU and full site facilities. However, those same sites in high season usually cost at least twice that.

 

[harrow]

Well you lot have convinced me,

it's better to have a grass field just growing weeds,

than a bunch of whingeing campers complaining about paying £4 a night.

 

[Fazerloz]

you have a 25A Charger that comsumes 2.9A? Seriously? that is an efficiency of less than 50%! I suspect CTEK would take exception to your allegation.
Lets take a more realistic example shall we? Say the Victron 12/25 IP22 Charger. That has an efficiency of 93%

Nows let's so some maths. And let's make it extreme case. Incoming voltage at 230V. 30A output at 14.4V with losses of 7% in the process. So that adds up to 1.68A.
1000W heater is 4.3A by your maths .... so a total of 5.98A - perfect for a 6A breaker :banana: :cool1: :raofl:

Now a 40A charger at full tilt might actually be pushing it but just have turn the heater down - or maybe turn the charger down (or in YOUR case, get a proper charger )

Well I decided to get my information straight from the horses mouth. So I contacted Victron themselves. Not just someone who sold them or the distributor but the head honchos.
The reply was not your 1.68A but 2.02A. So not quite so perfect for the 6A breaker. But then I guess they could be wrong.

 

[wildebus]

Well I decided to get my information straight from the horses mouth. So I contacted Victron themselves. Not just someone who sold them or the distributor but the head honchos.
The reply was not your 1.68A but 2.02A. So not quite so perfect for the 6A breaker. But then I guess they could be wrong.

good info - and also a hell of a lot better than the 2.9A of the CTEK.

 

[Fazerloz]

good info - and also a hell of a lot better than the 2.9A of the CTEK.

It is . If you know of anyone with one in their van be sure to tell them . Oh and by the way, I haven't .

 

[QFour]

As I said earlier a 6 amps supply would limit the amount of electricity used but as others have said you may need more. On boats that use more power than the 16 amps available on the pontoons they use a double cable and connect to two outlets giving them 32 amps. Both outlets would be on the same phase. Something similar could be used on CL's or Club sites as a simple way to give extra power.

One of the problems of course is the manufacturers and suppliers of camping equipment. When we first started camping many years ago when it got dark you went to bed. Flash lights were battery powered and didn't last long especially if you forgot to switch them off. Now days you have Electric Hobs, Blown Air Heating, Central Heating, Oil Radiators, Fan Heaters, Microwaves, Fridges, Freezers, Battery Charges, Electric Bike Charges, Electric Car Chargers, Electric Ovens and many other 12v items that run off the caravan / Mh 12v Dc Supply.

The problem at the moment is the guy who turns up with his Electric Everything is paying the same as someone who just plugs the fridge in. Something fairer certainly needs to be done and the low user should not have to subsidise the high users

..

 

[Drover]

Well you lot have convinced me,

it's better to have a grass field just growing weeds,

than a bunch of whingeing campers complaining about paying £4 a night.

I have thought of it on our couple of acres in a conservation area,
It's still in weeds for this very reason, electric abuse... or the cost to rectify it.
c&mc club also didn't like the idea of an honesty box , though they wanted showers, electric and water alongside waste disposal.

 

[harrow]

I have thought of it on our couple of acres in a conservation area,
It's still in weeds for this very reason, electric abuse... or the cost to rectify it.
c&mc club also didn't like the idea of an honesty box , though they wanted showers, electric and water alongside waste disposal.

I though it would make a interesting hobby but you would get a load of grief and would be out of pocket as well.

Weeds don't whinge !

 

[kenj]

CL site

I was on a small CL cold day and had my diesel heater on away from everyone quite the owner asked what it was and said have you not got a electric heater I replied it’s quicker and does not cost much to run then the owner pointed out your not plugged into mains?? I had just returned from shopping my reply cheaper for you also did not sound bothered but agreed it’s nice and warm

 

[jagmanx]

Should you want to Organise

A CL or CS site
I suggest 6 amps is sufficient and indeed a good limit.
Mainly to prevent excessive Usage.

But I suggest again
Most who wish to use cheaper sites are happy with this and also limited Facilities

We use
A) a farm site which is quite rough and ready
No EHU but water and sewage £6

B) a C&CC CS
EHU a proper Toilet Water Sewage £12 ans Wifi.. another farm site

As has been posted farm sites simply want to diversify and get some more income

Not sure it works as the main income !

 

[Nabsim]

I have used c&mc farm site a couple of times, £5 a night with water disposal and fresh water also bins for rubbish. Brilliant value for summer use, only in bad weather/winter that solar is needed. Meter the supply that’s the way, use it pay for it. If a site only wants you if you use ehu then they only offer pitches inclusive.

No problem, if I need one I pay for it. Doesn’t make it the best way though

 

[mistericeman]

Frankly we mostly wild camp (i'm severely adverse to people )

BUT we have a (Growing ) list of places we happily pay to stay .....A wide mix of

Farmers fields at @ £5 a night with little IF any facilities

Camping and caravanning club 5 pitch sites @ £10-£14 a night with Chem dump/water

Mainstream campsite at in a very special location @ £24 a night with hot and cold running everything BUT in a very discrete/avoidable way and CAN feel like wild camping ....


ALL have their place when im in the zone for each flavour .....

Cost isnt king with me .....location and solitude is ALL