France EHU Plug

[Thornebt]

I don't know if this EHU lead will fit all site supplies in France and Spain. I read somewhere about some sites having an older type socket without an earth.

Do I need an adaptor please or will this lead fit all France / Spain supplies?

 

[Figaro]

I've always found that type will fit with a hole for the earth pin on the odd occasions when the standard 16 amp socket doesn't fit.

I think you'll be ok with just that

Edit : as an adapter, you'll still need the 16amp male socket for most sites.

 

[Imala615]

That plug will be fine and most nowadays will be your normal hook up lead. Out of 40 stops this year only one was the old type 2 pin plug (and some didnt have electric )

 

[autorouter]

I don't know if this EHU lead will fit all site supplies in France and Spain. I read somewhere about some sites having an older type socket without an earth.

Do I need an adaptor please or will this lead fit all France / Spain supplies?

They all have an earth - but sometimes not as we know it. French sockets have a reversed earth pin, which is what the hole in the plug is for. German/Spanish sockets have a pair of sliding metal contacts, top and bottom, which carry the earth connection. Your plug has metal strips top and bottom to connect to those contacts. Because these contacts don't look like a proper pin, some people say it's a 2-pin plug.

Your plug is compatible with both types of socket, and it's the same as plugs on all appliances across Europe.

 

[Thornebt]

They all have an earth - but sometimes not as we know it. French sockets have a reversed earth pin, which is what the mole in the plug is for. German/Spanish sockets have a pair of sliding metal contacts, top and bottom, which carry the earth connection. Your plug has metal strips top and bottom to connect to those contacts. Because these contacts don't look like a proper pin, some people say it's a 2-pin plug.

Your plug is compatible with both types of socket, and it's the same as plugs on all appliances across Europe.

That's good to hear that my plug should be ok across France and Spain. Thank you. As Tribute615 says most sites will use the standard EHU socket we have in the UK.

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[Brains]

Not sure how many sites we have been on since 2020, but must be over 100 by now.
I only remember one that did not have the standard C-Form socket.

Even they offered a plug to C-Form converter, as these days most people don't carry a converter.

I'd presume that any site in geographical Europe still having domestic sockets by now will not be passing it's EHIC certificate, and therefore will not be able to offer electricity.

(Or if they do, they may not have much of a leg to stand on in the event of any incidents that damage people or equipment)

 

[autorouter]

Not sure how many sites we have been on since 2020, but must be over 100 by now.
I only remember one that did not have the standard C-Form socket.

I think that reflects the type of site you decide to stay on. We tend to wander round the more out-of-the-way places that aren't tourist hotspots, and see a lot more of the non-CEE-form sockets. And we also use aires and stellplatze. I have found that the Italian and Danish sites with non-CEE-form sockets will offer adapters, which even the French and Germans have to use because the 'compatible' plug won't fit. The Swiss domestic plug is different too, but I haven't found a site in Switzerland that doesn't have the round blue CEE-form sockets.

 

[Brains]

I think that reflects the type of site you decide to stay on. We tend to wander round the more out-of-the-way places that aren't tourist hotspots, and see a lot more of the non-CEE-form sockets. And we also use aires and stellplatze. I have found that the Italian and Danish sites with non-CEE-form sockets will offer adapters, which even the French and Germans have to use because the 'compatible' plug won't fit. The Swiss domestic plug is different too, but I haven't found a site in Switzerland that doesn't have the round blue CEE-form sockets.

Interesting.

I wonder if their electrics are approved ?

In the UK (a EU directive since adopted by the UK) all private rental properties, hotels, B&B's etc ( and I would presume camp sites) need to have a valid EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) which needs to be checked/renewed every 5 years.

Knowing how strict they are about theses rules, (same as the annual gas safety certificates) I cannot imagine a UK based campsite legally offering domestic 3 pin sockets as the EHU provision.

Perhaps a UK campsite owner that offers EHU could comment ?
Jim Quackers eddievanbitz

 

[Orion]

Interesting.

I wonder if their electrics are approved ?

In the UK (a EU directive since adopted by the UK) all private rental properties, hotels, B&B's etc ( and I would presume camp sites) need to have a valid EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) which needs to be checked/renewed every 5 years.

Knowing how strict they are about theses rules, (same as the annual gas safety certificates) I cannot imagine a UK based campsite legally offering domestic 3 pin sockets as the EHU provision.

Perhaps a UK campsite owner that offers EHU could comment ?
Jim Quackers eddievanbitz

We came across quite a few in Greece and Crete where we had to use the two pin to 16amp adapter.

But then again this was an example of Cretan pavement electrics by a bus stop!

 

[Quackers]

Interesting.

I wonder if their electrics are approved ?

In the UK (a EU directive since adopted by the UK) all private rental properties, hotels, B&B's etc ( and I would presume camp sites) need to have a valid EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) which needs to be checked/renewed every 5 years.

Knowing how strict they are about theses rules, (same as the annual gas safety certificates) I cannot imagine a UK based campsite legally offering domestic 3 pin sockets as the EHU provision.

Perhaps a UK campsite owner that offers EHU could comment ?
Jim Quackers eddievanbitz

A few years ago we were considering adding EHU at Woodside Field but it is now just not worth the agro, expense and red tape for a 5 van site.

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[Brains]

A few years ago we were considering adding EHU at Woodside Field but it is now just not worth the agro, expense and red tape for a 5 van site.

Until such time as the first caravan pulled by an EV turns up .......
(Followed in a couple of years by the fist EV motorhome)

I'm afraid you will need to bite electrical supply bullet sooner or later, as after a pitch and access to water and sewage, access to electricity and WiFi/mobile signal will become borderline essential.

 

[Ian Bosman]

That's good to hear that my plug should be ok across France and Spain. Thank you. As Tribute615 says most sites will use the standard EHU socket we have in the UK.

i would carry an adapter as in this year 2023 in france i only ever encounters 16 amp sockets

 

[Thornebt]

i would carry an adapter as in this year 2023 in france i only ever encounters 16 amp sockets

What sort of adaptor please? I've got the standard UK type EHU lead and the French type shown in my photo at the top of this thread. Do I also need something else?

 

[Cal54]

I’ve always carried an adapter whilst in France and this year is the first time I’ve needed to use it. Once on a small family run site and currently on a large site previously a municipal site but now run by an off shoot of Hutopia.

 

[VXman]

What sort of adaptor please? I've got the standard UK type EHU lead and the French type shown in my photo at the top of this thread. Do I also need something else?

I think there is a typo in there somewhere. That doesn't make sense.

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[rosalan]

Of the many sites in Spain France and Portugal visited this year, I think 4 had the old two pin sockets. Without a conversion cable, we would have been without power.
We also carry the power testing socket. Have abandoned using it as so many sites fail. If it works, unless looking really iff, we use what we get.

 

[Thornebt]

I think there is a typo in there somewhere. That doesn't make sense.

I'm not sure how else to phrase it. Ian Bosman recommends having an adaptor as he's only encountered 16A sockets in France. Is the adaptor the one shown in my photo at the top of this thread? If so then I'm ok.

Are the '16A sockets' the UK types?

 

[autorouter]

I'm not sure how else to phrase it. Ian Bosman recommends having an adaptor as he's only encountered 16A sockets in France. Is the adaptor the one shown in my photo at the top of this thread? If so then I'm ok.

Are the '16A sockets' the UK types?

There's a bit of confusion here, because the standard domestic French and German sockets are 16A. However the round blue CEE-form sockets used on most hookup posts are also 16A. So calling a socket '16A' doesn't really help.

The round blue 16A weatherproof types are standard across the whole of Europe for outdoor use. Also called 'Commando' (in the UK), or 'Mennekes' (outside the UK) or CEE-form. They are called CEE-form because they conform to regulation CEE17.

Most sites have these round blue CEE-form sockets. The ones that don't will have whatever the standard domestic socket happens to be in the relevant country. For the countries nearest to the UK, the 'compatible' adapter shown at the top of this thread is all you need. It is good for France, Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium.

Further from the UK, in Italy and Denmark for example, the compatible adapter won't work, but remember most sites have the round blue sockets anyway. And if not, the campsite will probably have the relevant adaptor to loan out, because even the French and Germans will need one.

 

[Thornebt]

There's a bit of confusion here, because the standard domestic French and German sockets are 16A. However the round blue CEE-form sockets used on most hookup posts are also 16A. So calling a socket '16A' doesn't really help.

The round blue 16A weatherproof types are standard across the whole of Europe for outdoor use. Also called 'Commando' (in the UK), or 'Mennekes' (outside the UK) or CEE-form. They are called CEE-form because they conform to regulation CEE17.

Most sites have these round blue CEE-form sockets. The ones that don't will have whatever the standard domestic socket happens to be in the relevant country. For the countries nearest to the UK, the 'compatible' adapter shown at the top of this thread is all you need. It is good for France, Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium.

Further from the UK, in Italy and Denmark for example, the compatible adapter won't work, but remember most sites have the round blue sockets anyway. And if not, the campsite will probably have the relevant adaptor to loan out, because even the French and Germans will need one.

Thank you very much for a very comprehensive reply. I entirely understand now. I thought Ian was saying about taking an adaptor in addition to the two leads I already have but now see that he also would take an adaptor! I misread it I think.

It doesn't help when there are so many descriptions for the same type of connection! Thanks everyone.

 

[Ian Bosman]

What sort of adaptor please? I've got the standard UK type EHU lead and the French type shown in my photo at the top of this thread. Do I also need something else?

The adapter is a French plugs and uk 1am amp socket on a short lead

Thank you very much for a very comprehensive reply. I entirely understand now. I thought Ian was saying about taking an adaptor in addition to the two leads I already have but now see that he also would take an adaptor! I misread it I think.

It doesn't help when there are so many descriptions for the same type of connection! Thanks everyone.

Keep the adapter short so that it fits inside the cabinet (if there is one)which many do have that it is out of the possible rain. Mine has a one foot lead length. I also carry what I call a switcher which has the live/neutral reversed so that while using a "French" plug you get the polarity correct in the van. Also carry a plug for checking polarity. Should explain that continental practice is to switch both live/neutral unlike UK which switches only live. Sorry if this is teaching "granny to suck eggs" but many people I have encountered are not aware. I personally have a short UK13 amp adapter for use at home running off the garage socket, which saves on my installing a 16 amp socket.

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[Thornebt]

The adapter is a French plugs and uk 1am amp socket on a short lead

Keep the adapter short so that it fits inside the cabinet (if there is one)which many do have that it is out of the possible rain. Mine has a one foot lead length. I also carry what I call a switcher which has the live/neutral reversed so that while using a "French" plug you get the polarity correct in the van. Also carry a plug for checking polarity. Should explain that continental practice is to switch both live/neutral unlike UK which switches only live. Sorry if this is teaching "granny to suck eggs" but many people I have encountered are not aware. I personally have a short UK13 amp adapter for use at home running off the garage socket, which saves on my installing a 16 amp socket.

Thanks. I've also got a reverse polarity adaptor and a socket tester which confirms lots of the wiring stuff.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Until such time as the first caravan pulled by an EV turns up .......
(Followed in a couple of years by the fist EV motorhome)

I'm afraid you will need to bite electrical supply bullet sooner or later, as after a pitch and access to water and sewage, access to electricity and WiFi/mobile signal will become borderline essential.

The EV will supply electric power to its caravan so all will be well.

The EV occupants merely need proper planning for en-route charging, in order to arrive at a CL with a fully charged HV battery.

A faff of course but that's what they effectively chose when they replaced their diesel tow car.

 

[VXman]

I'm not sure how else to phrase it. Ian Bosman recommends having an adaptor as he's only encountered 16A sockets in France. Is the adaptor the one shown in my photo at the top of this thread? If so then I'm ok.

Are the '16A sockets' the UK types?

I meant I didn't understand Ian Bowman's comment. "i would carry an adapter as in this year 2023 in france i only ever encounters 16 amp sockets"

He says "he would" carry an adapter but he has only encountered 16 amp sockets (meaning he's never needed to use it?)

Basically,from my experience I've used and adapter twice in 3 years and 9 months of European travelling. So yes, take the adapter you have but you won't need it most of the time.

 

[Ian Bosman]

I meant I didn't understand Ian Bowman's comment. "i would carry an adapter as in this year 2023 in france i only ever encounters 16 amp sockets"

He says "he would" carry an adapter but he has only encountered 16 amp sockets (meaning he's never needed to use it?)

Basically,from my experience I've used and adapter twice in 3 years and 9 months of European travelling. So yes, take the adapter you have but you won't need it most of the time.

i have had to use it as some of the sites in the past i have needed it but not this year, three sites, maybe the Eu rulesar being tightened up at last some sites in the past were horrors electically

 

[Ian Bosman]

i have had to use it as some of the sites in the past i have needed it but not this year, three sites, maybe the Eu rulesar being tightened up at last some sites in the past were horrors electically

BTWi my family have never been archers we are men of the wood from the flemish Bos mean wood Spell checkers may not like my surname!

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[Ian Bosman]

There's a bit of confusion here, because the standard domestic French and German sockets are 16A. However the round blue CEE-form sockets used on most hookup posts are also 16A. So calling a socket '16A' doesn't really help.

The round blue 16A weatherproof types are standard across the whole of Europe for outdoor use. Also called 'Commando' (in the UK), or 'Mennekes' (outside the UK) or CEE-form. They are called CEE-form because they conform to regulation CEE17.

Most sites have these round blue CEE-form sockets. The ones that don't will have whatever the standard domestic socket happens to be in the relevant country. For the countries nearest to the UK, the 'compatible' adapter shown at the top of this thread is all you need. It is good for France, Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium.

Further from the UK, in Italy and Denmark for example, the compatible adapter won't work, but remember most sites have the round blue sockets anyway. And if not, the campsite will probably have the relevant adaptor to loan out, because even the French and Germans will need one.

I work on the basis that some of our brethren (sister?) may not follow the reasons for adapters

 

[cyberyacht]

I've only had to use the continental 2 pin once in five years.

 

[SpeedyDux]

I've only had to use the continental 2 pin once in five years.

Like me I suppose, but we still have one in that "very useful" box just in case.

 

[Ian Bosman]

on checking today, i has two"french"adapters, one inherited with the "new" van, included is a 13 amp uk style (2)- one belongs in the garage so i can power the hab battery, not sure why i have the second except when visiting a non site place, eg friends., plus a swisher for reversed polarity.They are all on a short appropriate power capable leads that mean i can hide it in a stir electrical box where necessary(keeps joint out of the rain)