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Campsite 6A supplies - for the electrically minded
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Somersetjedi
 


Member Since: 01 Aug 2016
Location: Somerset
Posts: 29

United Kingdom 2015 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Causeway GreyDiscovery 4
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??
  
Post #191912426th Feb 2018 12:44 pm
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TigerRecovery
 


Member Since: 31 May 2017
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Wales 2016 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 Landmark LE Auto Waitomo GreyDiscovery 4

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.
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Post #191912726th Feb 2018 12:48 pm
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Somersetjedi
 


Member Since: 01 Aug 2016
Location: Somerset
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United Kingdom 2015 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Causeway GreyDiscovery 4

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
  
Post #191913526th Feb 2018 1:03 pm
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gvw
 


Member Since: 16 Jan 2012
Location: South Yorkshire
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England 2009 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 4

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 Thumbs Up
  
Post #191928626th Feb 2018 5:32 pm
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JackNorris
 


Member Since: 06 Jul 2012
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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 phase
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Post #191934826th Feb 2018 7:46 pm
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Navigator
 


Member Since: 17 Mar 2010
Location: Stay at Home. One of the lives you save could be your own.
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Scotland 2015 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 SE Auto Causeway GreyDiscovery 4

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.  
Post #191936226th Feb 2018 8:21 pm
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Somersetjedi
 


Member Since: 01 Aug 2016
Location: Somerset
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United Kingdom 2015 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Causeway GreyDiscovery 4

JackNorris - you're are absolutely right, live pins and inquisitive kids, say no more. Hang on, my misses usually helps... thats got me thinking....
  
Post #191951027th Feb 2018 8:37 am
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Somersetjedi
 


Member Since: 01 Aug 2016
Location: Somerset
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United Kingdom 2015 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Causeway GreyDiscovery 4

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 Thumbs Up
  
Post #191951327th Feb 2018 8:42 am
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Russell
 


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United Kingdom 

The new air con units are all soft start to over come this issue
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Post #191951527th Feb 2018 8:43 am
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Somersetjedi
 


Member Since: 01 Aug 2016
Location: Somerset
Posts: 29

United Kingdom 2015 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Causeway GreyDiscovery 4

Hey Russell, do you tow something large with your D5? If so, how does it compare to a D4?
  
Post #191952427th Feb 2018 8:54 am
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Navigator
 


Member Since: 17 Mar 2010
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Scotland 2015 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 SE Auto Causeway GreyDiscovery 4

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.  
Post #191954127th Feb 2018 9:57 am
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Hardware
 


Member Since: 28 Jun 2016
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United Kingdom 2011 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 XS Auto Sumatra BlackDiscovery 4

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.
  
Post #191954227th Feb 2018 9:57 am
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Ted Newman
 


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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.
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Post #191954427th Feb 2018 10:28 am
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Somersetjedi
 


Member Since: 01 Aug 2016
Location: Somerset
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United Kingdom 2015 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Causeway GreyDiscovery 4

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.
  
Post #191955527th Feb 2018 10:44 am
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Gazellio
 


Member Since: 08 Jan 2011
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United Kingdom 2009 Discovery 4 TDV6 SE Auto Indus SilverDiscovery 4

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.....
  
Post #191956327th Feb 2018 11:30 am
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